🇬🇭 Ghanaian citizens · 🇺🇸 USA · Tourist / Visitor
USA tourist / visitor visa refusal rate for Ghanaian citizens (FY2025)
64.3% of Ghanaian B1/B2 visitor-visa applications to the United States were refused in FY2025, the US fiscal year that ended on 30 September 2025 — so on the same adjusted basis about 36 in every 100 cases ended in a visa. That is up from 55.6% in FY2024. The State Department publishes this on an adjusted basis, excluding refusals that were later overcome. It is a nationality-wide outcome across every US post, not a probability for your own case: it takes no account of your finances, employment, ties to Ghana, travel history or any previous refusal — which is what the consular officer actually weighs. On the money side: No official minimum. Show funds that comfortably cover the whole trip plus evidence of ongoing income and ties — officers weigh your entire profile, not a single number. The estimator below weighs your own finances, ties, travel history and refusal record against that.
Last reviewed August 2026 per our editorial standards. Rate: U.S. Department of State — Adjusted Refusal Rate, B-Visas Only, by Nationality . Rules: U.S. Department of State — Bureau of Consular Affairs .
For Ghanaian citizens applying, a tourist visa to the United States is decided mainly on whether you are a genuine visitor who will return home on time. Public statistics point to an approximate base approval of around 41% for this route — but your own profile can move that figure a lot in either direction. Ghanaian applicants historically face high refusal rates across most destinations, so strong ties and well-documented finances matter most.
Estimate my personal oddsEstimate your personal odds
Pre-filled for this route. A few taps and it’s done — privately, in your browser.
Your trip
The essentials. Pre-filled if you came from a specific page.
Key requirements
- Passport valid at least 6 months beyond your stay
- Completed DS-160 online application + confirmation page
- US$185 MRV application fee (2026)
- In-person interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate
- Evidence of strong ties to home, funds covering the trip, and intent to return
Visa fee (cost)
US$185 MRV application fee per applicant (non-refundable, paid before the interview).
Money & funds
No official minimum. Show funds that comfortably cover the whole trip plus evidence of ongoing income and ties — officers weigh your entire profile, not a single number.
Typical timeline
Complete the DS-160, pay the fee and book an interview; appointment wait times vary widely by consulate (days to many months). The visa is usually issued a few business days after approval.
Common refusal reasons
- Section 214(b) — weak home ties or perceived immigrant intent (the most common reason)
- Insufficient or unexplained funds for the trip
- Vague or undocumented trip purpose
- Inconsistent answers at interview
- Prior U.S. overstay or immigration violation
Where Ghana sits in the official data
Two governments publish visa outcomes broken down by country. Neither predicts an individual decision, but together they show how Ghanaian applicants fare relative to everyone else, and which of the destinations we cover currently refuses the fewest applications from Ghana.
US visitor visas — FY2025
A 64.3% adjusted refusal rate places Ghana 175th of 199 nationalities the State Department publishes — a lower refusal rate than 12% of them. The median nationality sits at 31.8%, so Ghana is 32.5 points above it.
Schengen short-stay visas — 2025
Across all Schengen consulates in Ghana, 46.5% of short-stay applications were not issued — 119th of 127 countries with a meaningful application volume, and 30.9 points above the 15.6% median.
| Destination | Refused | Issued | Decided |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | 33.5% | 66.5% | 9,106 |
| Spain | 36.9% | 63.1% | 5,288 |
| France | 37.5% | 62.5% | 10,485 |
| Italy | 42.2% | 57.8% | 2,758 |
| the Netherlands | 54.7% | 45.3% | 17,828 |
Among Schengen states, applications lodged in Ghana were refused least often by Germany at 33.5% and most often by the Netherlands at 54.7% — a gap of 21.2 points on a like-for-like basis. That gap reflects who applies where as much as how strictly each state decides, so it is a starting point for choosing a main destination, not a ranking of leniency. You must still apply to the state where you will spend the most nights.
Demand and outcome moved together for Ghana between 2024 and 2025. Schengen consulates there decided 63,142 short-stay applications, against 54,860 the year before — up 15.1% — while the refusal rate went from 45.5% to 46.5%. Had 2024's rate held, roughly 624 of the 63,142 applicants refused in 2025 would have been issued a visa instead.
Sources: U.S. Department of State — Adjusted Refusal Rate, B-Visas Only, by Nationality and European Commission — Schengen short-stay visa statistics for consulates . Schengen figures are grouped by the country an application was lodged in, not by passport.
Frequently asked questions
What is the USA tourist visa refusal rate for Ghanaian citizens?
64.3% in FY2025, against 55.6% in FY2024 — meaning 35.7% of decided cases ended in a visa. Share of Ghana B1/B2 visitor-visa cases refused in the US fiscal year ending 30 September 2025, on the State Department's adjusted basis: refusals that were later overcome are removed from both the numerator and the denominator, so the figure is refusals ÷ (issuances + net refusals). It covers visitor visas only and describes the nationality as a whole — it is not a probability for an individual application. Your own case is assessed on its own evidence, so use the estimator on this page rather than the average.
Where does this USA refusal-rate figure come from?
From U.S. Department of State — Adjusted Refusal Rate, B-Visas Only, by Nationality, covering FY2025. We restate the published figure without adjustment and link the source file directly, so you can check it yourself.
What matters most for a USA tourist visa?
Officers focus on whether you are a genuine visitor who will return home on time. In practice the single biggest lever is return intent, so make that part of your application as strong and well-documented as possible.
Does a previous visa refusal affect my chances?
Yes. A prior refusal weighs on new applications until its underlying reason is addressed. Find out exactly why you were refused, fix what caused it, and clearly show what is different this time.
Is this a guarantee of approval?
No. GetVisaOdds is an educational planning tool, not legal advice and not a guarantee. Only a consular or immigration officer can decide your application. We show approximate odds and the reasons behind them so you can prepare better.
Is my information private?
Completely. The estimate runs entirely in your browser. Your answers are never sent to a server or stored — there is no sign-up and nothing to leak.
How much money do I need for a US tourist visa?
There is no official minimum. You must credibly show you can pay for the whole trip and that you have income and ties pulling you home. Officers assess your overall financial picture, not a set balance.
What is 214(b) and why does it matter?
Section 214(b) of U.S. law presumes every B1/B2 applicant intends to immigrate. You overcome it by proving strong ties — a stable job, family, property, or studies — that show you will return.
How long does a US tourist visa take?
Interview wait times vary enormously by consulate, from days to several months. After approval the passport is usually returned within a few business days.
