Ghanaians applying for non-immigrant visas in the United States will now have to pay an additional $250 charge, according to a new policy announced by the US government.
The price, known as a visa integrity surcharge, is applicable to a variety of visa categories, including tourist, student, exchange, and work visas.
This additional fee brings the overall cost of a typical US visa application for Ghanaians closer to $500, excluding other fees like travel, documentation, and appointment-related costs.
According to Independent.co.uk, the recently announced $250 visa integrity cost would apply to all non-immigrant visa holders from Ghana and other countries that are not part of the United States Visa Waiver Program. This comprises visitors, students, and temporary workers.
The cost will not apply to travellers utilising ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation), which is primarily available to citizens of the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, and Singapore who are eligible for visa-free short-term travel to the United States.
In addition to ordinary visa fees, the US has raised the Form I-94 charge, which is required for recording arrivals and departures, from $6 to $24, increasing the entire expense burden.
The new $250 fee is part of Section 10007 of a larger immigration reform bill. It is not waiveable or reducible under any circumstances.
However, it may be repaid only if visa holders properly follow U.S. immigration procedures, such as leaving the country within five days of their visa expiring or obtaining lawful permanent status during their stay.
Any breach, including working without authorisation, results in automatic forfeiture of the money.
While the US Department of Homeland Security has stated that the charge collection procedures are not currently in place, the tax will be implemented during the current fiscal year.
A spokesman stated that executing the charge “requires cross-agency coordination” and is part of larger attempts to “restore integrity to the U.S. immigration system.”
The fee will be reviewed and modified annually for inflation.
Travellers from over 40 visa-waiver nations, including Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom, will not be charged the new $250 fee for stays of less than 90 days.
However, the cost of filing for an ESTA is expected to nearly double, rising from $21 to $40.
According to a US official study, approximately 11 million non-immigrant visas were issued in 2024, with a substantial majority going to Africans, Asians, and Latin Americans — the populations most affected by the new price.
For Ghanaian travellers, particularly students, tourists, and temporary workers, the extra tax adds to an already costly and difficult process.
This is on top of the hefty visa application fees, medical exams, and flying costs.
Most Ghanaians are handed three-month single-entry visas, which require them to pay the whole amount again if they leave and need to return.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry has yet to comment on the new policy or its potential impact on visa services at the United States Embassy in Accra.
