Report reveals Ghana now leads Nigeria in U.S. visa overstay rates
A recent report from the U.S. government indicates a notable shift in visa overstay patterns, with Ghana now leading Nigeria in the misuse of B1/B2 and F, M, and J non-immigrant visas from October 2022 to September 2023.
Data analysis reveals 510,363 suspected in-country overstays, making up 1.31% of expected departures, alongside 54,792 out-of-country overstays, which constitute 0.14% of anticipated departures.
According to 2023 data, Ghanaian citizens received 25,454 B1/B2 visas, primarily for business or tourism purposes. Notably, 1,910 individuals, or 7.50%, failed to depart on schedule. This represents a decline in visa compliance compared to 2019 pre-pandemic levels, when 28,844 B1/B2 visas were issued with an overstay rate of 5.09%. Furthermore, the student visa overstay rate in 2019 was 12.7%.
Nigeria reported 84,051 B1/B2 visa issuances in 2023, resulting in a modest overstay rate of 7.14%, affecting 6,000 individuals. This contrasts with 2019, where 177,835 B1/B2 visas were issued, yielding a 9.88% overstay rate, and a 13.43% rate for student visas.
African nations with notable overstay rates, as outlined in the report, include: Togo at 19%, Burkina Faso at 12.13%, Ivory Coast at 7.48%, and Mali at 5.27%.
