How to get a United States of America visa from Ghana

• Business/Tourist Visa

  • The B-1/B-2 visitor visa is for people traveling to the United States temporarily for business (B-1) or for pleasure or medical treatment (B-2).
  • Generally, the B-1 visa is for travelers consulting with business associates, attending scientific, educational, professional or business conventions/conferences, settling an estate or negotiating contracts.
  • The B-2 visa is for travel that is recreational in nature, including tourism, visits with friends or relatives, medical treatment and activities of a fraternal, social or service nature.
  • Often, the B-1 and B-2 visas are combined and issued as one visa: the B-1/B-2.
  • This category of visa does not allow you to take permanent residence in the country.
  • You can neither study or be gainfully employed with this category of visa.
  • Evidence of employment and family ties which shows you have the intention of returning to Ghana after the duration of your trip.
  • If you are traveling to the country for medical purposes, there is a need to get the diagnosis from your local doctor and the reason why you cannot get the treatment in Ghana.
  • You need a letter from the medical institution in the United States that is willing to treat you, the letter should state in detail the length and cost of the treatment.
  • Applicants who are less than 18 should make sure they have the original copy of their birth certificate.
  • This visa expires after 90 days.
  • If you intend to extend your stay, you must file a request with the U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Student Visa

• For you to study in the United States, you need a student visa.
• The school you intend to attend and the course of study determine what category of student visa you will be applying for.
• The F-1 visa is the most common type of student visa.
• If you wish to engage in academic studies in the United States at an approved school, such as an accredited U.S. college or university, private secondary school, or approved English language program then you will need an F-1 visa.
• You will also need an F-1 visa if your course of study is more than 18 hours a week.
• M-1 visa is for those attending a vocational or technical course or other non-academic institution.
• You should have applied to study in the institution of choice and must have been accepted before you can apply for any of the categories of the student visa.
• The admission letter from the institution you have been admitted to is mandatory.
• It is also necessary to provide proof of accommodation.
• Those with an M-1 visa may not work until their have completed their study.
• F-1 allows you to do on-campus work with restrictions.
• Minors should ensure their parents sign the application form.

Work Visa

• This visa allows a Ghana citizen to take up paid employment in the United States.
• An H-1B visa is required if you are coming to the United States to perform services in a pre-arranged professional job.
• To qualify, you must hold a bachelor's or higher degree (or an equivalent degree) in the specific specialty for which you seek employment.
• USCIS will determine whether your employment constitutes a specialty occupation and whether you are qualified to perform the services.
• Your employer is required file a labor condition application with the Department of Labor concerning the terms and conditions of its contract of employment with you.
• H-2B visa is required if you are coming to the United States to perform a job which is temporary or seasonal in nature and for which there is a shortage of U.S. workers.
• Your employer is required to obtain a Department of Labor certification confirming that there are no qualified U.S. workers eligible for the type of employment on which your petition is based.
• An H-3 visa is required if you are coming to the United States to receive training from an employer in any field of endeavor, other than graduate education or training, for a period of up to two years.
• You can be paid for your training and "hands-on" work is authorized. Training cannot be used to provide productive employment and cannot be available in your home country.
• If you are the principal holder of a valid H visa, your spouse or unmarried children (under age 21) may receive an H-4 visa to accompany you to the United States.
• However, your spouse/children are not permitted to work while in the United States.
• Type O visas are issued to people with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business and athletics, or extraordinary achievement in motion picture and television production, and their essential support personnel.

Transit Visa

• This visa is for those traveling to another country from the US.
• Applicants of this visa type intend to board a connecting flight from the US to their destination country.
• Applicants may be passengers on a ship coming from Ghanaian port and is proceeding to another country.
• Holders of this visa are not allowed to visit friends or go sightseeing,
• Under this visa, you are not allowed to work.
• You need to present the visa of your destination country. Also, the flight ticket to your destination is required.
• Minors should apply for their visa separately from their parents and their application forms should be signed by their parents.
• The visa ceases to be valid after you exit the country.

B-2 (Visitor and Medical purposes) Visa

• This visa allows you to visit relatives and friends in the United States of America.
• It is also used for tourism purposes.
• Foreigners who seek medical attention that cannot be gotten in their country can apply for this visa type.
• You can take up short recreational courses such as a two-day cooking class while on vacation.
• You can participate in amateur events or contests, if there is not payment for it.
• Applicants are not allowed to take up permanent residence in the country.
• You are not allowed to take part in any paid performances.
• Applicants cannot take up a course in any institution of learning or be employed in the United States of America.
• Visa interviews are required for only those within the age of 14 -79 years.
• If you are required to pay for the visa fees before interview, the application fee payment receipt is required.
• Medical diagnosis from your local doctor explaining the nature of your ailment and the reason you need the treatment in the United States.
• Letter from the medical facility that is willing to treat your ailment in the United States. The length and cost of treatment should be included in detail in the letter.

B-1 (Business) Visa

• This allows foreigners to visit the United States to conduct business.
• You can meet with business associates to discuss business.
• Negotiation and signing of contracts are allowed with this visa type.
• Foreigners can attend scientific, educational, professional or business conferences.
• Applicants are not allowed to study in any of the institutions of learning while they are in the country.
• You cannot take up any paid employment only as a personal or domestic employee for a U.S citizen.
• Your completed visa application form is required.
• Receipt of application fee payment.
• You must have a document which shows that you are in perfect health condition.

H1-B (Foreign Workers) Visa

• H1-B visa is meant for Ghanaians who want to work in the United States.
• This visa is only issued to Ghanaians when there is no citizen of the United States available to take up the job.
• The visa is issued for a period of 3 – 6 years.
• At the expiry of the visa, an extension of 1 – 3 years may be granted.
• Minor children and spouse of a holder of H-1B visa can accompany the H-1B visa holder with the H-4 visa.
• Your minor children are allowed to study with the H-4 visa.
• H1-B visa holders wanting a green card need to wait for an average of 6 years before getting it.

H-2B (Temporary Foreign Workers) Visa

• This visa allows foreigners work in the United States on a temporary basis.
• These workers usually work in the non-agricultural sectors.
• Foreigners who do this temporary work are usually on a low salary.
• You are expected to return to Ghana at the conclusion of the work in the United States.
• A letter from your local physician showing that you have a perfect health condition.
• Traveling with a minor requires you to have the minor’s original birth certificate.
• Proof of accommodation for the duration of stay in the country.

L-1 (Intracompany Transfers) Visa

• This visa allows employees of a company with offices both in Ghana and the United States of America to work in the branch in U.S.
• It is valid for a period between 3 months to 5 years.
• Your spouse and minor children can accompany you by applying for an L-2 visa.
• Spouse of L-1 visa holders may work with a L-2 visa.
• Applicants of this visa must have worked for the company for at least 12 months over the past 3 years.
• Proof of accommodation for the duration of your stay in the country.
• The original copy of your minor’s birth certificate should be presented during the visa application process.
• Certificate of employment in the company is required.
• A letter from the United States of America division of the company requesting for your presence.
• Receipt of payment of visa application fee is required.

O (Extraordinary Ability) Visa

• If you have extraordinary abilities in your field, you will be issued this visa.
• Foreigners with special abilities in athletics, business, education or sciences, you will be issued an O-1 visa.
• If your special ability is in arts, television or motion picture fields, you will be issued the O-2 visa.
• Children and partners of the O-1 and O-2 visa types may accompany or join you at a later time by applying for the O-3 visa.
• If you will be accompanied by an assistant, the person is to apply for an O-2 visa.
• The O visa allows you to stay for a period of 3 years. After that time, the duration of extension will be decided by the USCIS.
• Original copy of minor’s birth certificate is required during the visa application process.
• Receipt of payment of visa application fee is required.
• Proof of extraordinary ability.

An F1 visa allows you to stay in the U.S. for up to two months after you've completed your program. If you are accepted into the OPT program, you receive permission to stay in the United States for an additional 12 months or more. An F1 visa prohibits you from remaining in the U.S. with the intention of abandoning your home country, though.

You can get a B-2 visa by visiting visa application centers near you.