Four African countries have been impacted by the recent United States, U.S. visa validity cuts.
The U.S. slashed visa validity periods for non-immigrant travelers from Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Nigeria, effective July 8, 2025.
These U.S. visa validity cuts have reduced most non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas to single-entry permits valid for just three months, a sharp departure from the previous two-year, multiple-entry allowances.
This policy shift, announced by the U.S. Department of State, has started raising concerns about strained diplomatic relations.
Although the U.S. said the visa validity cuts are part of a “global reciprocity realignment” to mirror visa policies of these African nations, this notion has been rejected by the affected nations.
The Nigerian government denied reports that it only offers single-entry e-visas for three months to US citizens.
The Nigerian government also expressed its concern, describing the move as disproportionate and calling for reconsideration.
It added that the restriction could hamper cultural and educational exchanges that have long been a foundation of US-Nigeria relations.
Also, the Government of Ghana expressed its discontent on Friday regarding the U.S. decision to reduce the validity of B1/B2 visas for Ghanaian nationals from five years of multiple entry to just three months of single entry.
The government described this change as being disruptive to the longstanding bilateral arrangements that have existed between the two nations.
This was contained in a press release dated July 10, 2025, Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the new visa policy as a “substantial variance” from the existing reciprocal terms that had been in place.
The statement reads in part: “The ministry acknowledges the legitimate concerns of Ghanaian travellers to the United States, for professional, business, educational, touristic, medical, and family purposes, and expresses its firm solidarity with all those inconvenienced.
“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 aligns with the visa application procedures and requirements of the United States.”
The Ghanaian government also claimed that between January and July 2025, its missions in Washington D.C. and New York issued over 40,000 visas, 70 per cent of which were multiple-entry visas to US citizens. The ministry said this proves Ghana’s commitment to reciprocity.
While Nigeria and Ghana have reacted to the U.S. visa validity cuts, Cameroon and Ethiopia have yet to comment.
