The U.S. Embassy, Accra has disclosed that over 1,000 appointment slots for non-immigrant visas are now open with immediate effect.

Officials stated that many B1/B2 visa interview slots, which cover business and tourist travel, are currently accessible and urged applicants to make use of the opportunity.

The availability is expected to allow travellers to secure interview dates within the coming week.

In a notice posted on Facebook on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, the embassy encouraged individuals intending to apply for visas to the United States to schedule their interviews promptly.

“There are more than 1,000 B1/B2 visa appointment slots available in the next week – one of those could be yours,” the notice said.

The decision is part of wider preparations by the United States to support increased travel ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by Mexico and Canada.

Individuals who already have interview dates scheduled later in the year have also been encouraged to reschedule for earlier slots where possible.

“Book a new appointment – or move up one scheduled for later in the year – we want to interview you now!” the Embassy added.

Prospective applicants have been directed to visit the embassy’s official visa portal for further details on eligibility requirements and application procedures.

The announcement is expected to reduce anxiety among travellers who have faced extended waiting periods for interview appointments in recent months.

The Embassy reported a significant surge in the number of Ghanaians applying for visas to the US, exceeded increased resources allocated for faster processing.

Despite acknowledging that increased travel between the two countries will strengthen people-to-people ties, the US mission is facing challenges due to the tripling of visa applications since 2019, resulting in a growing backlog.

These comments came at a time when the US Embassy was preparing to transition all visa applications to a new system, which commenced on August 16 2024.

During a roundtable discussion at the US Embassy in Accra, American Consul General Elliot Fertik highlighted that the high demand was flattering for the US, as it suggested a strong interest among Ghanaians in visiting the United States temporarily.

“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 number 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” Mr Fertik noted.

He added “We’re seeing it’s not just non-immigrant visas on the immigrant visa side. Diversity visa. Again, the numbers are through the roof. And, you know, we want to encourage as much legitimate travel between the United States and Ghana as we can. It is incredibly important to us. We want to encourage qualified students to study in the United States. And that’s why, as I said, that’s why we’ve had to bring more resources to doing interviews. Unfortunately, the demand is outstripping even the increased resources we’ve had and we’re going to continue increasing our resources”.

The U.S. Embassy in Accra will switch to a new visa services provider starting August 26, 2024, resulting in the current provider's website and services being unavailable after August 16, 2024.

From August 16 to August 26, 2024, the U.S. Embassy in Accra's current visa services provider will be inaccessible, as the transition to a new provider takes effect. During this time, applicants cannot schedule, cancel, or modify visa appointments, but existing nonimmigrant visa appointments will still be honored.

Key Details for Visa Applicants:

Interviews on or Before August 16:

No further action is required.

Continue to access your account at ustraveldocs.com to review appointment details and contact customer service as needed.

Interviews between August 16 and August 26:

No further action is required, but you will lose access to your ustraveldocs.com account after August 16. Print your appointment confirmation letter before August 16.

Attend your scheduled visa interview as rescheduling or cancellation will not be possible during this period. If you miss your interview, check the website after August 26 for rescheduling instructions.

Interviews on or After August 26:

No further action is required, but access to your ustraveldocs.com account will end on August 16. Print your appointment confirmation letter before August 16.

Beginning August 26, visit the new visa services website to create a new user account for managing appointments and accessing customer service.

For Applicants Who Have Paid the Visa Application Fee:

Schedule a visa appointment as soon as possible and follow the guidance based on your interview date.

For Those Planning to Travel to the U.S. in August or September:

Pay the visa application fee and schedule your appointment promptly. Note that appointment slots are limited during these months.

For Those Planning to Travel After September:

Consider waiting until after August 26 to begin the visa application process.

Important Dates to Remember:

August 16: Last day to access ustraveldocs.com for fee payments, appointment scheduling, and customer service.

August 21: Last day to drop off documents at Premium Delivery locations.

August 23: Last day to drop off documents at Ghana locations for Embassy delivery.

August 26: New visa appointment website goes live with updated services.

The U.S. Embassy encourages all applicants to take necessary actions before the transition to avoid any disruptions in their visa application process.