Immigration lawyer, Attorney Aba, a regular guest on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle Worldwide show with DJ Nyaami, has revealed important updates regarding US immigration for Ghanaians.
She explained that many Ghanaians are currently stranded in Mexico while attempting to cross into the United States. Student visa holders also face serious challenges, especially when trying to transition into permanent residency. According to her, obtaining a Green Card through a student visa route is now very difficult because such applications can easily be flagged for fraud.
However, there is good news. Ghana has regained eligibility for the five-year US visa. This means that Ghanaians who apply for visas from now on will receive the full five-year validity, unlike during the visa restriction period when shorter durations were issued.
On the issue of employment, she noted that the H-1B work visa program is under review. US authorities are pushing for companies to prioritize recruiting from within the country unless they can prove that certain specialized skills are not available in the US. She added that Ghana had previously been among the restricted countries due to high rates of overstaying, though it is unclear if this was linked to the country’s acceptance of deportees.
Regarding marriages, Attorney Aba clarified that while marriage-based applications have not been completely banned, the rules have been restructured. Many people who file asylum cases through marriage are now being arrested in court, and some end up in detention for months while their cases are processed.
Her advice to Ghanaians is simple: “Be cautious, know the rules, and don’t fall for shortcuts. The US system has become stricter, and one mistake can cost you your freedom.”