A recent report from the U.S. government has revealed a striking shift in visa overstay patterns, with Ghana eclipsing Nigeria in the misuse of non-immigrant visas.
According to the report, Ghana recorded a 7.50% overstay rate for B1/B2 visas, typically granted for business or tourism purposes, and a 21% overstay rate for F, M, and J visas, issued for student and exchange visitor purposes.
In contrast, Nigeria recorded a 7.14% overstay rate for B1/B2 visas and a 15.60% overstay rate for F, M, and J visas.
The report highlighted 510,363 suspected in-country overstays, representing 1.31% of expected departures, and 54,792 out-of-country overstays, or 0.14% of expected departures.
Ghana’s visa compliance has worsened compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019, when the overstay rate stood at 5.09% for B1/B2 visas and 12.7% for student visas.
Other West African countries, including Togo, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, and Mali, also recorded significant overstay rates.
The U.S. government’s report emphasizes the importance of accurate data collection to address visa compliance issues.
This development may impact Ghana’s relations with the United States and potentially affect future visa policies.
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