US Denies NDC Bigwig 5-Year Visa Renewal, Issues 3-Month Single Entry Instead
- Ras Mubarak has caused a stir after opening up about his experience trying to renew his American visa
- He stated that instead of five years like before, he was issued a three-month visa valid for a single entry
- Social media users took to the comments section of his post to share their views on the US restrictions
The former Member of Parliament for Kumbungu Constituency, Ras Mubarak, has expressed frustration over the US government's new visa policy for Ghanaian nationals.
He took to Facebook on July 10 to state that he applied to renew his previous five-year visa, which expired in January, but was only issued a three-month, single-entry version.
Source: TikTok
He said that upon inquiry, he was informed the reason for not receiving another long-term visa was due to policy changes for Ghanaian nationals.
"My five-year U.S. visa expired this January. I applied to renew it, and they issued a three-month, single-entry instead of five years. They say they have a new policy, which reduces the validity period of B1/B2 and F1 visas for Ghanaian nationals from five years to three months, with a single entry permitted."
He also shared plans to travel across Africa as part of a campaign for visa-free movement across the continent.
Ras Mubarak lamented that the new US visa policy would affect Ghanaians in the areas of business, tourism, and academic travel.
New US visa conditions on Ghana backed by law
US-based immigration lawyer Akua Aboagye, in a comment to YEN.com.gh, stated that the new visa conditions on Ghana are backed by US law.
She explained that the US, in introducing these visa conditions, took into account the reciprocal treatment meted out to its citizens applying for Ghanaian visas.
Akua Aboagye added that the quest to have these conditions reviewed would necessitate the Government of Ghana negotiating with its counterparts in the US.
"Simply put, this is the principle of reciprocity, kind of like 'you do me, I do you'. So when the US sets visa conditions for another country, it looks at how that country treats US citizens applying for similar visas," she said.
Source: UGC
"But this is why I am leading a campaign to embark on a road trip from August 18, from Accra to 39 African countries, to meet governments and promote a visa-free policy for Africans travelling within Africa, as a way of boosting economies and creating opportunities for our African people.
"If we open Africa and create opportunities here, who would want to leave this beautiful continent to go overstay in America or Europe? We have everything here. And I say this as a man who’s visited 85 countries in the world."
At the time of writing, his post had received over 1,000 likes and 100 comments.
Reactions to Ras Mubarak's US visa issue
Social media users who took to the comments section of the post have shared varied opinions on the new policy.
Mumuni Mutala-Mohammed wrote:
"Honourable, this splendid move.May you succeed."
Bawatuwey Ntigiyelsim Nsorwinne Amenga-Etego stated:
"I am absolutely your fan at this stage. God be with you."
Ibrahim Garba reactive:
"My people lets upgrade our institutions of higher learning to a world standard so to avoid this sort of humiliation from the West, they always threaten us with common visa a sticker with a rubber stamp."
US Embassy pledges to Ghanaians
YEN.com.gh earlier reported that the US Embassy in Ghana gave assurances of a fair and transparent visa application process.
The Consul General, Elliot Fertik, also advised Ghanaians to follow due process and only use the official application channels.
He also advised prospective travellers between the countries to use only official application channels and avoid third parties.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
