The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which was signed into law on July 4 under the Donald Trump administration, has introduced a “visa integrity fee” of $250.

Non-immigrants, including Ghanaians applying for a US visa, will now have to incur this additional cost on top of the existing visa application cost. This affects all tourists and international students as well as workers, according to a report by TheIndependent.co.uk.

Section 10007 of the Act states that “In addition to any other fee authorized by law, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall require the payment of a fee, equal to the amount specified in this subsection, by any alien issued a nonimmigrant visa at the time of such issuance.”

Per reports, the new charge cannot be reduced or waived; however, the fee could be reimbursed to non-immigrant visa applicants should they comply with all US visa conditions while in the country.

“Those who depart the US no later than five days after their visa expires or gain “lawful permanent resident” status will also be eligible for a reimbursement.

The charge is not yet set up to be collected but will be effective during the US fiscal year, which runs from 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2025,” TheIndependent.co.uk further reports.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of State—Bureau of Consular Affairs limited the number of entries and duration given under non-immigrant visa classifications.

Ghanaian visa applicants, including those applying for B-class visas—covering business and tourism travel—will be issued single-entry visas valid for just three months. They can no longer access the 5-year visa and multiple-entry.

The updated guidelines, published under the U.S. Visa, reveal that Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country for Ghana also affect student visa applicants.

F-1 visa holders, who are typically enrolled in full-time academic programmes in the U.S., will now be issued visas that allow for only one entry and expire after three months.

Diplomats and government officials will, however, continue to receive multiple-entry visas with validity ranging from 24 to 60 months.

The K1 visa, issued to the foreign-citizen fiancé(e) of a US citizen intending to marry within 90 days of arrival in the United States, and the K2 visa, provided to the unmarried dependent child (under 21 years old) of a K1 visa holder, are single-entry visas that will be valid for 6 months.

The K3 visa, for the foreign-citizen spouse of a US citizen, and the K4 visa, for their unmarried dependent child (under 21 years old), are multiple-entry visas that will be valid for 24 months.

All other visa applicants, including those applying for B-class visas, which cover business and tourism travel, will now be issued single-entry visas valid for just three months.

A total of 40,648 visas have been issued by Ghana's missions in Washington, D.C., and New York from January 2025 to date. Out of this, 28,626 are multiple-entry visas to Ghana.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs made this information known while debunking reports that it is responsible for the United States government's revision of the reciprocity schedule for a considerable number of African countries, including Ghana, reducing the B1/B2 visa validity from 5 years multiple entry to 3 months single entry.

It was reported that the Foreign Ministry had limited the number of entries and duration given to US passport holders, hence the reciprocity by the US government.

However, in a statement, the Ministry refuted this claim, noting that, consistent with bilateral arrangements, US passport holders are entitled to a maximum visa validity of five years, and in most instances, five-year multiple-entry visas are issued upon request.

"Some applicants, however, apply for single-entry visas owing largely to limited validity of their passports," the statement read.

Besides the maximum five-year multiple visas, Ghana also issues multiple-entry 6-month, one-year, two-year, three-year, and four-year visas based on various considerations.

The statement further indicated that "The official statistics clearly demonstrate that contrary to false narratives, Ghana has issued, on average, an impressive 70.42% of multiple long-term visas to US passport holders, consistent with our bilateral arrangements."

The Foreign Ministry noted that the present limitations imposed by the United States vary substantially from the prior reciprocal arrangements that Ghana has kept with the United States.

The US' decision has sparked concerns, and the Ministry has acknowledged the legitimate concerns of Ghanaian travellers to the United States for professional, business, educational, touristic, medical and family purposes inconvenienced.

The Ministry has expressed its firm solidarity with all those

Ghana recognizes the sovereign right of every country to determine its visa regime.

While the Government of Ghana studies the current developments more closely and considers its options, it remains committed to working expeditiously with its longstanding partner, the US Government.

"We hope for an early resolution of the concerns that have led to the revision of the schedule which have been confirmed to be overstays, including by ensuring that the conduct of applicants align with the visa application procedures and requirements of the United States," the statement added.

Government has stated that it will, at its highest levels, sustain best efforts in strengthening relations with the United States in a manner that further enhances people-to-people relations in the mutual interest of both countries.

Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has confirmed that Ghana has been included in a list of 36 countries that risk being banned from traveling to the United States of America (USA).

Engaging the media on Thursday, June 26, the sector minister noted that his outfit has been formally informed by the US State Department of some 12 criteria Ghana is supposed to meet to avert the travel ban.

"I can confirm to you this evening that the government led by your Foreign Minister has engaged US officials. US authorities have now formally brought it to our attention. They informed us that 10 days ago, they were informed by the White House of plans to take an expanded view of the President Trump ban."

The ban, according to US officials, will affect countries not complying with some 12 criteria. These items look at issues such as countries funding terrorism, countries that have served as havens for violent extremists, countries not cooperating with ongoing deportation, and countries that have a high rate of overstays.

The US authorities have indicated that the challenges Ghana faces have to do with overstays.

According to the Foreign Minister, his outfit is engaging the US authorities to address the matter.

A recent report from the US government revealed that Ghana's visa compliance has worsened. About 1,910 individuals out of a total of 25,454 who were issued B1/B2 visas overstayed. 537 out of 2,559 student and exchange visitor visa holders remained in the US unlawfully.

News of the travel ban on the African-dominated countries list emerged after a memo from The Washington Post. The countries set to be affected include Ghana, Angola; Antigua and Barbuda; Benin; Bhutan; Burkina Faso; Cabo Verde; Cambodia; Cameroon; Democratic Republic of Congo; Djibouti; Dominica; Ethiopia; Egypt; Gabon; Gambia.

The others are Ivory Coast; Kyrgyzstan; Liberia; Malawi; Mauritania; Niger; Nigeria; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Sao Tome and Principe; Senegal; South Sudan; Syria; Tanzania; Tonga; Tuvalu; Uganda; Vanuatu; Zambia; and Zimbabwe.

Prior to the minister's recent briefing, the United States Embassy in Accra assured Ghanaians that their doors remain open.

In a statement shared on their official X (Twitter) page on June 17, the embassy stated that “We remain committed to welcoming visitors from Ghana who wish to study, invest, or engage in business activities in the United States.”

“It is essential for all applicants to comply with U.S. laws. Any attempts to enter the United States illegally, falsify information for a visa, work without proper authorisation, or overstay a visa will incur significant penalties,” the embassy clarified.

Some countries, including Haiti, Libya, Somalia, and six other Islamic-dominated countries, have already been banned from entry into the US. The ban was effected on Monday, June 9.

The entry of people from seven other countries—Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela—has been partially restricted.

This follows a directive issued on Wednesday, June 5, by U.S. President Donald Trump banning citizens of 12 countries from entering the United States, citing it as a move to protect his country from "foreign terrorists.”

The proclamation includes exceptions for lawful permanent residents, existing visa holders, certain visa categories, and individuals whose entry serves US national interests.