The United States Embassy in Ghana has urged Ghanaians traveling to the U.S. for this year’s World Cup to comply with American immigration laws and not overstay their authorised period.

Speaking at a news conference in Accra on Friday, Chargé d’Affaires Rolf Olson emphasised that obtaining a visa and match ticket does not guarantee entry or determine the length of stay.

"The visa itself is a permission to apply for entry at the port of entry. So the visa allows you to get on the plane. Without the visa, the airline won’t let you travel," he explained. 

"You get to the border at the airport… it is the Customs and Border Patrol officer who then officially grants you entry into the country. It is that individual who will determine how long you have to stay."

Mr Olson noted that while a B visa typically allows up to six months, the period may be shorter depending on the officer’s discretion. He also reminded prospective visitors that multiple-entry visas, often valid for five years, are not automatic and remain subject to consular approval.

"If they give you 90 days, you have 90 days. If you have the six months, six months is a long time. And I think we can all agree that six months is enough time to go watch the World Cup matches, spend some time with friends, go on a vacation if you want to do that, and still return," he said.

The Embassy has engaged Ghanaian authorities on travel plans and stressed that complying with visa conditions ensures future travel opportunities, warning that overstaying is a legal violation taken seriously in the United States.

"We very, very strongly encourage people and expect people who are granted a visa to go to the U.S. and observe the terms of that visa, from the length of time they’re there to what they’re actually doing," Mr Olson said. 

"People who have exceeded the terms of their visa are breaking the law. And needless to say, we take that very seriously in the United States."