Nonimmigrant visa applicants must have a Machine Readable Visa (MRV) application and proof of payment from Standard Chartered Bank. In Ghana, there are two Standard Chartered Bank locations, as of August 2010, one in Accra and the other in Kumasi. MRV receipts are valid for one year, and applicants must be interviewed within a year of obtaining the MRV receipt.
The DS-160 application form, available on the Ghanian U.S. Embassy website ghana.usembassy.gov, is required for nonimmigrant visa applicants. The DS-160 is part of the Consular Electronic Application, and the DS-160 confirmation form must be brought along when being interviewed by a U.S. consulate officer. If the application is not properly filled out, it will be forfeited.
Application photographs must be 2 inches by 2 inches and shot on a white background. The photo of the head and upper torso should be taken with the applicant directly facing the camera. Headgear, excluding those worn daily for religious purposes, should not be worn in the photograph. If the applicant regularly wears glasses, then glasses should be worn in the photograph.
Nonimmigrant visa applicants must be in possession of a passport that is valid for at least six months past the date of intended arrival in the United States. Applicants must also submit all previous visas for the United States, even if they've expired.
A Ghanaian citizen wishing to seek permanent residency in the United States must apply for an immigrant visa and must be sponsored by a relative who is already a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident or prospective employer.
