U.S. embassy warns Ghanaian visa holders: follow the law or lose travel privileges

The U.S. Embassy in Ghana has issued a strong warning to visa holders, urging them to follow all U.S. laws or risk serious consequences, including visa revocation, deportation, and being permanently banned from future travel to the United States.

In a post on its official Facebook page, the embassy stated: “Breaking U.S. laws can have serious consequences for your visa.” It added, “If you are arrested or violate any laws, your visa may be revoked, you may be deported, and you could be ineligible for future U.S. visas.”

This message comes as the U.S. government increases efforts to enforce visa rules more strictly. U.S. immigration policies already state that visa holders found guilty of any offense even minor ones can be deported and may never be allowed to return.

The embassy stressed the importance of obeying all laws in the U.S., including federal, state, and local regulations. This includes traffic rules and immigration laws.

The warning also follows a recent update from the U.S. State Department, which announced new measures affecting students and scholars applying for F, J, and M nonimmigrant visas. These visa categories are used by international students, exchange visitors, and vocational students.

From now on, applicants are encouraged to keep their social media profiles public, as online presence will be reviewed during the visa selection process. A State Department official explained that people who hide their social media activity by keeping accounts private may be seen as trying to conceal something.

The embassy ended its advisory with a strong reminder: “Follow the rules and don’t jeopardize your travel. A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right.”

The message, tagged with #RespectVisaRules, is a timely alert to Ghanaians planning to travel or study in the U.S. It highlights growing concerns about visa overstays, fraudulent applications, and violations of U.S. laws all of which can result in visa cancellation.