The US Embassy in Accra processed 38,000 non-immigrant visa applications in the first six months of 2026, a 60 per cent increase driven by travel demand for the FIFA World Cup.
The Chargé d'Affaires of the US Embassy, Rolf Olson, disclosed the figures during a 2026 FIFA World Cup Coverage Debrief session organised by the Embassy in Accra, explaining that the surge came after Ghana qualified for the tournament late last year, prompting the government to urge the US, Mexico and Canada to make visa appointments available to Ghanaians wishing to travel to watch matches.
"We took that very seriously and worked hard with Washington to try to add staff," Olson said. "We cannot make appointments here out of nowhere. We need to have officers."
With Washington's assistance, the embassy brought in dozens of consular personnel from US embassies and consulates around the world on temporary assignment, rotating staff from January through June.
The result was a significant increase in processing capacity. In the same period in 2025, the embassy had handled 24,000 non-immigrant visa applications.
"In the first six months of 2026, with the additional staffing that we had, it was 38,000," Olson said. "So 60 per cent increase in the amount of work."
He noted that not all of the additional applications were World Cup-related, but the tournament was the priority driving the surge. Additional interviews were conducted across all categories of applicants.
The embassy also dramatically reduced wait times for B1 and B2 visitor visas, cutting the interview wait time to "just a few weeks" at the height of the effort.
"That's not something that has happened in recent memory," Olson said.
He added that the embassy was pleased to have facilitated travel for World Cup attendees while continuing to serve tourists and other travellers who rely on US visa services. The embassy is proud of the work, which has enabled travel for thousands of Ghanaians since the start of the calendar year.
