U.S. Embassy in Ghana warns visa holders against legal violations, urges compliance with immigration rules

The U.S. Embassy in Ghana has issued a stern advisory to visa holders, emphasizing that violations of U.S. laws could lead to visa revocation, deportation, and permanent ineligibility for future travel to the United States.

In a Facebook post shared on Monday, the Embassy declared: “Breaking U.S. laws can have serious consequences for your visa. If you are arrested or violate any laws, your visa may be revoked, you may be deported, and you could be ineligible for future U.S. visas.”

The Embassy reminded travelers that “a U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right,” as it launched an online campaign tagged #RespectVisaRules to reinforce the importance of strict adherence to immigration and legal standards.

The announcement comes amid heightened visa scrutiny and enforcement in the U.S., with recent government reports citing a rise in revocations linked to criminal offenses, overstays, and fraudulent applications.

Highlighting the risks, the Embassy noted that even minor offenses may trigger deportation or a lifetime ban, urging visa holders to obey all federal, state, and local laws, including traffic and immigration rules.

In a related development, the U.S. State Department last week announced new guidelines for F, J, and M visa applicants including international students and exchange visitors.

Applicants are now expected to make their social media profiles public, as a lack of transparency may be interpreted as an attempt to conceal online behavior.

“Those who keep their social media accounts private may be deemed as trying to hide their activity,” a State Department spokesperson warned.

The new screening measures are intended to ensure visa applicants meet eligibility standards and pose no security risk.