RELEASE
Monrovia, Liberia – The Assistant Minister for Public Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Saywhar Nana Gbaa, has conducted a meeting with representatives of the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia in an effort to avoid any limits on U.S. visas for Liberian citizens. The discussion was conducted with Mr. Raymond Stephens, Public Affairs Officer, and Mr. Nicolas Worden, Acting Consular Chief, to discuss U.S. government concerns that might lead to strict visa restrictions at the end of the year 2025.
The bilateral meeting, which took place at the U.S. Embassy, was a component of a larger initiative by the Liberian government to preserve solid diplomatic ties with the United States and guarantee ongoing access to US visas for immigration, business, tourism, and education.
U.S. officials voiced increasing worry throughout the discussion about a number of visa-related issues coming from Liberia. These include the overstay of tourists and non-immigrant visitors, the filing of forged documents, and the rise in instances of visa applicants lying about their identities, family links, and travel intentions.
About 20% of Liberians who are given non-immigrant visas to the United States do not return at the conclusion of their permitted stay, Mr. Worden said. This figure has led to enhanced scrutiny of Liberian visa applications and a rise in the percentage of visas denied in a number of categories.
The U.S. delegates recognized the proactive measures already being taken by the Liberian government, including the establishment of a high-level presidential task team directed by H.E. President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. and co-led by Foreign Affairs Minister Mme. Sara Beysolow Nyanti.
This task group was established in order to promptly and effectively address and resolve the U.S. issues in a diplomatic way. As a way to handle the problem, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed the need of cooperative public affairs and communication tactics.
In order to inform the public about the significance of adhering to visa conditions and U.S. immigration laws, Hon. Saywhar Nana Gbaa and her team pledged to lead extensive public awareness efforts that included media outreach and community involvement.
According to Hon. Gbaa, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs considers this subject to be of national importance. “We are still totally dedicated to cooperating with the United States to resolve these issues by openness, diplomacy, and calculated public involvement. We strongly advise all Liberians to follow the guidelines that govern their visit to the United States.”
Numerous visa types, such as tourist (B-2), business (B-1), student (F-1), fiancée (K-1), non-immigrant, and the well-known Diversity Visa (DV) program, are subject to the possible restrictions listed by the U.S. government. Ordinary Liberians looking for temporary or permanent travel possibilities to the United States would be greatly impacted by the limitations, even if they would not apply to lawful permanent residents.
According to reports, the U.S. administration is considering 36 nations for possible visa restrictions, including Liberia. These worries stem from evaluations carried out by the Trump administration that uncovered flaws in passport security, identity verification, overstay rates, and insufficient cooperation in repatriating deportees. According to the U.S., nations that don’t fulfill certain requirements within 60 days after the declaration risk severe visa restrictions.
With just 50 days left, both administrations decided that the concerns listed must be addressed immediately and consistently. The Ministry is urging support for this national initiative from all pertinent Liberian stakeholders, like as travel agents, immigration officials, and community leaders.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirms its commitment to safeguarding Liberia’s global mobility and fostering strong bilateral ties with the United States. Further updates will be provided as diplomatic and public affairs efforts continue in the days ahead.
