You have been scheduled for an immigrant visa interview at the U.S. Embassy in Accra, Ghana.

• Please follow the instructions below.  

Failure to follow the instructions below or to present all required documents will delay your case.

Step 1: Schedule a medical exam in Ghana

Now that you have received an appointment date, you need to schedule a medical exam in Ghana.  

• Click the “Medical Exam Instructions” button below for a list of designated health facilities in Ghana.
  
• You must take a medical exam with one of these doctors at least three (3) weeks before your interview.

If you do not take your medical exam at least three (3) weeks before your interview, your case will be delayed.

Medical Exam Instructions >>

Step 2: Complete your pre-interview checklist

You must bring all required original documents to your interview.

• Click the “Pre-Interview Checklist” button below for a list of all required documents you must bring.  
• Please print the checklist and bring it to your interview together with the required documents. 
• You must bring original copies of documents to your interview, as indicated. 
  • Even if you previously provided documents to USCIS or to the National Visa Center, you must bring the required documents with you to your interview. 

If you do not bring all required documents, your case will be delayed.

Pre-Interview Checklist >>

Step 3: Review interview guidelines

Read our interview guidelines to learn about any special actions that you need to take before your immigrant visa interview. Information is also provided about what happens after your immigrant visa interview.

Information is also provided about what happens after your immigrant visa interview.

Interview Guidelines >>

Medical Exam Instructions

All immigrant visa applicants, regardless of age, require a medical examination prior to the issuance of a visa.

Only a physician accredited by the U.S. Embassy can perform this exam.  

It is your responsibility to schedule a medical exam at one of the clinics listed below at least three (3) weeks before your visa interview at the U.S. Embassy.

If you do not attend your medical exam at least three (3) weeks before your interview, your case will be further delayed.

Medical examination results from other physicians will not be accepted.

Approved Physicians:

Akai House Clinic
No 1, Sixth Circular Road,
Cantonments, Accra
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM
Phone: +233 (0)302 784 772, +233 (0)302 784 773, +233 (0)302 784 774 or +233 (0)595 014 334

Holy Trinity Medical Centre 
Nii Amar Koranteng Street
Swanlake, North Kaneshie
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM
and Saturday, 8 AM to 4 PM
Phone: +233 (0)57 8291 160, +233 (0)26 7425 160, +233 (0) 57 5065 051, +233 (0)26 4315 061, +233 (0)57 8585 061, or +233 (0)57 8261 160

Items to bring to your medical examination

You must bring the following items to your medical exam:

• Your visa interview letter or printed email
• Your valid passport
• Three (3) recently taken 2” x 2” (5cm x 5cm) color photographs
• A copy of your immunization records
• Your immigrant visa application (Form DS-260) confirmation page

You should allow at least three (3) weeks to complete the medical examination process, from start to finish.

You must pay all medical examination fees, including x-ray and blood test fees, directly to the examining physician.

During the medical exam

The medical examination will include a medical history review, physical examination, and chest X-ray, gonorrhea test, and blood tests (for applicants 15 years of age or older).

• The United States also requires tuberculosis (TB) testing for all applicants two years of age and older. 

Please be prepared to discuss your medical history, medications you are taking, and current treatments you are undergoing. More information on general medical requirements for U.S. immigrants is available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website. 

U.S. immigration law requires immigrant visa applicants to obtain certain vaccinations prior to the issuance of a visa. Current immigrant visa vaccination requirements are available on CDC.gov. You can also read Frequently Asked Questions about our medical examination requirements on Travel.State.Gov.

After the medical exam

When your examination is completed, the doctor will send the medical report directly to the U.S. Embassy.

Any X-rays taken will be given to you by the doctor.

• You DO NOT need to bring the x-rays to your visa interview unless you suffer from tuberculosis (TB).
• However, you must carry the X-rays with you when you travel to the United States for the first time.
• The medical report must be less than six (6) months old when you enter the United States as an immigrant. 

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Pre-Interview checklist

Please use the list below to determine the items that every applicant MUST bring to the immigrant visa interview.

• Even if you previously provided one or more of these documents to USCIS or to the National Visa Center, you MUST bring the documents listed below to your visa interview. 

Any documents that are not in English MUST be accompanied by a certified English translation:

• A copy of your NVC interview letter (does not apply to Diversity Visa, fiancé, adoptive, or asylee/refugee applicants).
• Your valid passport: Your passport must be valid for six (6) months beyond your intended date of entry to the United States. You must also bring a photocopy of the biographic page (where your name and photo are located). 
• Two (2), 2” x 2” (5cm x 5cm) color passport-size photographs of each person applying for a visa. 
  • Please review our online photo requirements.
• Confirmation page from your immigrant visa application (Form DS-260) you submitted online at ceac.state.gov/iv.
• Your original birth certificate and a photocopy. 
• Original or certified copies of birth certificates for all children of the principal applicant (even if he or she is not accompanying) 

Applicants who fall into any category listed in italics below MUST bring these additional documents. 

• Even if you previously provided these documents to USCIS or to the National Visa Center, you must bring the documents listed below to your visa interview.  If you do not bring the documents listed below, your case will be delayed. 

If you do not bring the documents listed below, your case will be delayed.

For family-based visa applications:

The appropriate Form I-864 Affidavit of Support for each financial sponsor along with a photocopy of the sponsor’s IRS transcript or most recent U.S. federal income tax return, and all relevant W-2s.  

There are four different types of affidavits of support:  I-864, I-864EZ, I-864W, and I-864A.

Please fill out (and upload, when necessary) the correct form before your interview.  Click on the link for each form for more information: 

• Form I-864,
• Form I-864EZ,
• Form I-864W (Request for Exemption for Intending Immigrant’s Affidavit of Support) (for biological children under 18 years old), and
• Form I-864A o   (Contract Between Sponsor and Household Member).

Proof of your U.S. petitioner’s status as a U.S. citizen or as a U.S. lawful permanent resident and proof of that they are living (domiciled) in the United States

• a photocopy of a U.S. passport, naturalization certificate, or lawful permanent resident card.

Evidence of the relationship between the petitioner and visa applicant

• such as photographs, letters, call and chat records, emails, receipts of money transfers, flight itineraries, etc. 

If you are married: Your original marriage certificate and a photocopy.

If you were previously married: Your original divorce decree and a photocopy (or your former spouse’s original death certificate and a photocopy).

If you are older than 16 years of age: The original police certificate from your country of current residence, any countries where you lived for more than 12 months, and any country where you have been arrested.

If the following three things are all true, you must upload a copy to your case and bring a more recent police certificate to the interview:

1. You are older than 16 years;
2. You obtained a police certificate and submitted it to NVC more than one year ago; and
3. You still live in the country that issued the police certificate.

For employment-based visa applications:  A letter from your U.S. employer stating that you are currently employed or that you will be employed starting on a specific date.  The letter must be dated less than one month before your visa interview.

If you have ever been convicted of a crime: The original court and criminal records (or certified copies) and a photocopy.

If you have served in any country’s military:  Military records and a photocopy.

If you are adopted:  Adoption papers or custody documents, and a photocopy.

If you are the petitioner’s stepchild: 

• You must also bring original divorce decrees for all previous marriages of both the petitioner and your biological parent and a photocopy of each divorce decree. 
• If a previous marriage ended because of the death of one of the spouses, you must bring the original death certificate and a photocopy.  

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Interview Guidelines

Sending documents to the U.S. Embassy

If you do not bring ALL the required documents to your visa interview, your case will be delayed.

• The consular officer who interviews you will provide you instructions on how to submit documents to the embassy that you did not bring to your interview.
• If the U.S. Embassy requests additional information or documentation from you, the consular officer will also provide instructions on how to submit those additional documents to the embassy following your interview.

Rescheduling or cancelling your interview

You should make every effort to attend your assigned appointment.

• If you are unable to attend your appointment, please email ConsularAccra@state.gov as soon as possible and the consular section will send instructions on how to schedule a new appointment at a future date.
• Applicants rescheduling to a future date should expect a wait of many months before the next available appointment, so please attempt to attend the date already assigned.

For some family-based and employment preference visa categories, the number of visas we can issue each month is limited.

• You were scheduled for your interview date because a visa became available for your interview date.
• If you miss your appointment, you will likely have to wait until another visa becomes available.
  • That wait may be long.  

DV applicants should be aware that visas are numerically limited and must be issued by September 30 of the program year.  There is no guarantee that a visa will still be available on the date of your rescheduled interview.

Please carefully consult the Visa Bulletin before you request to reschedule your interview.

Security screening procedures

All visitors to the U.S. Embassy in Accra must follow all required security procedures.  Any visitor who declines to be screened by U.S. Embassy security personnel will be unable to enter the embassy.

• To avoid delaying your entry and that of those in line behind you, please bring only what is required for your interview.
• You may NOT enter the embassy compound with any weapon (gun, knife, nunchucks, etc.) or electronic items (any type of cellphone, tablets, laptops, smart watches, etc.).
• Please plan ahead.
• The embassy does not offer storage facilities.
  • Individuals located outside the embassy who offer to hold prohibited items for a price are NOT affiliated with the embassy.
  • The embassy strongly encourages you not to bring any items to your visa interview that cannot be brought into the embassy. 

Accompanying persons

The following persons may accompany a visa applicant to their interview:

• Interpreter:  Applicants may bring ONE interpreter if they do not speak English well enough to participate in an interview.
• Special Needs Visitors:  Applicants may bring ONE person to help if they are elderly, disabled, or a minor child.
• Any applicant under age 14 must be accompanied by an adult bearing government-issued photo identification (passport, driver’s license, or ECOWAS / Ghana ID card). 
  • We do not accept Ghanaian voter identification or health insurance cards for this purpose.  

Attorneys are not permitted to accompany clients into the waiting room or to their interview.

Immigrant visa fees

If you have not paid all required fees to the National Visa Center, please be prepared to pay these fees on the day of your interview.

• All fees must be paid in cash, U.S. dollars or Ghanaian Cedis.
• We do not accept credit cards.
• Please note that if you are found ineligible to receive a visa, the application fee will not be refunded.
• A complete list of fees can be found here.

Do not make travel plans outside of Ghana

If your visa is approved, we will keep your passport at the embassy while we prepare your immigration packet and print a visa for your passport.

The consular officer will let you know how and when to pick up your passport and visa.

If you have to travel within Ghana while your passport is still with us, please make sure you have a valid picture ID other than your passport.

A consular officer can make a decision on a visa application only after reviewing the formal application and interviewing the applicant.

• There is no guarantee that you will receive a visa.
  • Do not sell your house, car or property, resign from your job or make non-refundable flight or other travel arrangements until you have your immigrant visa in your possession.

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After Your Visa Interview

A consular officer can make a decision on a visa application only after reviewing the formal application and interviewing the applicant. There is no guarantee that you will receive a visa. Do not sell your house, car or property, resign from your job or make non-refundable flight or other travel arrangements until you have your immigrant visa in your possession.

If more information is needed

Sometimes a consular officer is unable to make a decision on a visa application because he/she needs to review additional documents, or the case requires further administrative processing.

• When additional documents are requested, the consular officer will give you a refusal letter that lists the additional documents that you must submit.
• The letter will include instructions on how to send those documents to the embassy.
• Administrative processing takes additional time after the interview.
  • Usually, routine administrative processing can be resolved within 60 days as long as any missing documents are timely submitted.
  • If you fail to submit required documents, your case will remain in administrative processing indefinitely.
  • Please note that the timing of administrative processing varies based on the circumstances of each case.
  • Before inquiring about the status of administrative processing, please wait at least 60 days after the date you have submitted all required documents.

What happens after visa approval

Passport, Visa, and Sealed Immigrant Packet –

We will place your immigrant visa on a page in your passport.

• Upon receipt, please review your visa to make sure that all the information on the visa is correct (the spelling of your name, your date of birth, your gender, etc.)
• Some immigrant visa holders will receive a sealed envelope containing documents that you must give to U.S. immigration authorities when you arrive in the United States for the first time.
  • If you do receive an envelope with your immigrant visa, do not open this envelope.
    • You must carry the unopened envelope with you on board the airplane.
    • Do not put it in your checked luggage.
• If you do not receive an envelope with your immigrant visa, this means that all your documents can be accessed electronically when you enter the United States.
• If you receive X-rays during your medical examination, carry those with you when you travel.
  • do not put them in your checked luggage
  • give them to the U.S. immigration authorities when you arrive in the United States.

USCIS Immigrant Fee – All individuals who are issued immigrant visas overseas must pay an Immigrant Fee to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

We will place your immigrant visa on a page in your passport.

• Upon receipt, please review your visa to make sure that all the information on the visa is correct (the spelling of your name, your date of birth, your gender, etc.)
• Some immigrant visa holders will receive a sealed envelope containing documents that you must give to U.S. immigration authorities when you arrive in the United States for the first time.
  • If you do receive an envelope with your immigrant visa, do not open this envelope.
    • You must carry the unopened envelope with you on board the airplane.
    • Do not put it in your checked luggage.
• If you do not receive an envelope with your immigrant visa, this means that all your documents can be accessed electronically when you enter the United States.
• If you receive X-rays during your medical examination, carry those with you when you travel.
  • do not put them in your checked luggage
  • give them to the U.S. immigration authorities when you arrive in the United States

When You Should Travel – You must enter the United States before the expiration date on your visa, which is usually about six (6) months from the issuance of the medical report.

• Your visa cannot be extended, and all fees are nonrefundable.
• This means that if your visa expires, you will have to pay new fees.
• The principal applicant must enter before or at the same time as other family members with visas.
  • Unless they are elligible for benefits under the Child Status Protection Act, children who are issued a visa before turning 21 years of age must enter the United States before their 21^st birthday to avoid losing their immigrant status.

Getting a Green Card – Your Form I-551 Permanent Resident Card, also known as a green card, will be automatically mailed to the address in the United States that you write in your visa application form.

• This is a very important document that proves you have permission to reside in the United States.
• If you plan to travel outside the U.S. before your green card arrives: 
  • Please consult USCIS’s and CBP’s websites for rules about what documents you need to re-enter the country.
  • We also recommend you check with the airline to ensure you are in compliance with their rules.
• Once your card is issued, you should not stay outside of the United States for more than one year. If you do, you may lose your status as a Lawful Permanent Resident.

Children’s Issues – In the United States, children are required to have certain vaccinations before they can enroll in school.

• We recommend that you bring your child’s complete vaccination records with you to the United States.
• If your child is adopted, you have full custody as a result of a divorce, or you share custody with another parent, you should bring a copy of all applicable adoption or custodial papers from the authoritative court in your home country.
• You will need these papers (translated into English) for issues such as school enrollment, medical care, and eventual citizenship.

Information for New Immigrants – Please visit the USCIS web page for helpful information on moving to the United States.

• You can read their publication “Welcome to the United States: A Guide for New Immigrants” online.

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Diversity Visa Applicants - Additional Information

If you are interviewing for a Diversity Visa (DV), all of the above instructions apply to you. Please schedule and attend a medical examination at least three weeks before your visa interview, and gather the required documents.

Below are additional instructions that apply only to Diversity Visa (DV) applicants.

Bring to your DV interview

In addition to the documents listed on the Pre-Interview Checklist in this package, DV applicants should also bring the following items to your visa interview:

• Appointment information printed from the “Entrant Status Check” on the E-DV website.
• Documents showing that you have either a qualifying high school education OR two (2) years of qualifying work experience in the five (5) years immediately prior to application 
  • For the principal applicant only; more information is available online.
• Payment in cash of the $330 Diversity Visa Application Fee for each visa applicant. 
  • This fee must be in U.S. dollars or Ghanian cedis.  
  • We do not accept credit cards.

Review your DV Program Application

Prior to your visa interview, we recommend that you review the data on your initial E-DV entry.

• On your initial E-DV application, you must have correctly entered your marital status.
• If you are legally married you must have listed your spouse, even if you are currently separated from him/her (unless your spouse is a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident).
• Additionally, you must have listed ALL of your living children who are unmarried and under 21 years old.
  • This includes your natural children, your spouse’s children, or children you have formally adopted in accordance with the laws of your country.
• If you failed to include a child who had already been born, or a spouse to whom you were married when you entered the lottery, you should NOT proceed with the visa application.
• Failure to have listed an existing spouse or children at the time of your entry in the Diversity Visa lottery will result in the denial of your visa and visas for your family.
• Any fees paid to the U.S. government in support of your visa application(s) are NOT refundable.

You can review the eligibility requirements online.

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