The United States Embassy in Ghana has revealed that the number of Ghanaian visa applications it receives has tripled since 2019.
According to the Embassy, although the increasing demand for US visas is flattering, it far outweighs the increased resources allocated to expedite visa application processes.
This was disclosed by the American Consul General in Ghana Elliot Fertik who noted that the surge in demand for visas has contributed to a backlog of applications.
Elliot Fertik was speaking at a roundtable to announce plans by the US Embassy to migrate all Visa applications onto a new system starting August 16.
“What is driving the backlog is visa demand and I’ve said before that if you look at the number of people who paid the visa application fee in 2019 before the pandemic and compare it to the amount of people who did so in 2023, the number in 2023 is triple what it was in 2019. So certainly, we hope this new system will provide some additional enhancements and will be more efficient”, he explained.
He also mentioned that a lot more applications are being processed to help clear the backlog.
“What is going to drive down the backlog is our efforts to do more interviews and again we have been processing a lot more applications. This summer we processed 65% more visa applications for students than we did in the corresponding time in 2023”, Mr. Fertik noted.
Effective August 26, 2024, the Embassy will transition to a new visa services provider.
Consequently, access to the current visa service provider’s website and services will cease on August 16, 2024.
During the transition period, from August 16 to August 26, applicants will not be able to make new visa appointments, cancel or reschedule existing appointments, or access customer service.
However, all current non-immigrant visa interview appointments remain valid.
Key Information for Visa Applicants:
– Interviews Scheduled on or Before August 16: Applicants can continue to access their accounts at ustraveldocs.com to review appointment details and contact customer service as necessary. No further action is required.
– Interviews Scheduled Between August 16 and August 26: Applicants must print their appointment confirmation letters before August 16. They will not be able to cancel or reschedule appointments or access customer service during this period. It is strongly encouraged to attend the scheduled interviews. If an applicant fails to appear, instructions for rescheduling will be available after August 26.
– Interviews Scheduled for August 26 or Later: Applicants must also print their appointment confirmation letters before August 16. Beginning August 26, they will need to create new user accounts on the new visa services website to manage their appointments and contact customer service.
Action Required for Different Applicant Groups:
– Applicants Who Have Paid the Visa Fee but Not Scheduled an Interview: It is advised to schedule visa appointments as soon as possible and follow the instructions based on the interview date.
– Applicants Planning to Travel in August or September Who Have Not Paid the Visa Fee: It is recommended to pay the visa fee and schedule appointments immediately, noting that slots are limited. If unable to schedule before travel, consider waiting until after August 26 to begin the visa process.
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– Applicants Planning to Travel After September Who Have Not Paid the MRV Fee: It is suggested to wait until after August 26 to start the visa process.
Important Dates:
– August 16: Last day to access ustraveldocs.com for fee payments, scheduling appointments, and contacting customer service.
– August 21: Last day to drop off documents at Premium Delivery locations.
– August 23: Last day to drop off documents at locations in Ghana for delivery to the Embassy.
– August 26: Launch of the new visa appointment website. Fee payments, appointment scheduling, and customer service will be available, along with new document drop-off and pickup locations.
The U.S. Embassy emphasizes the importance of understanding the specific visa requirements and ensuring all necessary steps are completed promptly to avoid any disruptions during this transition period.
