US Releases List of Countries With Highest Visitor Visa Refusal Rates, Ghana Makes Top 20 in Africa
- The United States of America has published a ranking of countries with the highest visitor visa refusal rates
- Ghana made the list of the top 20 African countries and was ranked 17th overall, with a rating of 64.34 per cent
- Reacting to the data, US-based immigration visa lawyer, Akua Poku, sent a word of assurance about the ranking
The US Department of State has caused a stir with the release of B-visa (visitor visa) refusal rates for Fiscal Year 2025.
The statistics have detailed which countries had the highest number of residents refused visas in the previous year.
Source: Getty Images
In Africa, the ranking of the top 20 countries with the highest visa refusal rates showed that Ghana was ranked 16th, with a percentage of 64.31%.
Somalia ranked first with 83.52%, South Sudan came in second with 76.09%, Gambia was ranked third with 75.29%, Guinea-Bissau took the fourth spot with 75.17%, and Senegal followed in fifth with 73.96%.
Nigeria were not in the top 20 African countries, having a 57 per cent refusal rate.
Akua Poku, a US-based immigration lawyer, took to Facebook to react to the ranking and gave an assurance to Ghanaians and nationals from other African countries in the top 20.
She explained that countries having high refusal rates do not mean visa applications by their residents will be automatically denied, as they are assessed on an individual basis.
"The U.S. Department of State has released B-visa (visitor visa) refusal rates for Fiscal Year 2025. The list shows the top 20 African countries with the highest B-visa refusal rates. Some countries saw refusal rates as high as 80%+, with many others above 60%. A high refusal rate does not automatically mean your visa will be denied. Each application is reviewed individually," her post read.
Below is the Facebook post:
US immigrant visa pause still in force
The latest data from the United States comes on the back of the immigrant visa pause for Ghana and 74 other countries, which was announced on January 14, 2026, by the Department of State.
The Department of State stated that persons eager to be issued immigrant visas can still apply and attend interviews.
However, it stated that the US would not issue immigrant visas while the pause is still in effect, while tourist visas would not be affected.
Source: UGC
According to the Department of State, new immigrants do not rely heavily on government benefits.
At the time of writing the report, the announcement by the US has stirred reactions online.
One user, Oheneba Kwame Ebenezer Bonsie, gave a possible reason:
"Majority of B1/B2 visa applicants from Africa are not able to prove strong or compelling economic ties to their home countries."
US imposes travel ban on selected countries
YEN.com.gh also reported that the US had placed a travel ban on Burkina Faso, barring its nationals and those of four additional countries.
The ban, which took effect from January 1, 2026, was aimed at protecting national security amid the country's current immigrant crackdown.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
