Elliot Fertik, the Consul General at the U.S. Embassy in Ghana, has advised Ghanaians planning to travel to the United States for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 not to remain in the country beyond the validity of their visas, warning that such violations could lead to serious legal and long-term consequences.
Speaking on World Cup Central on Channel One TV on Friday, May 15, Fertik expressed concern that some individuals may attempt to use the football tournament as a means of staying illegally in the United States after the event ends.
He explained that overstaying visas and unlawful residence in the U.S. constitute breaches of immigration regulations and can also create difficulties for other Ghanaians seeking legitimate travel opportunities.
According to Fertik, immigration authorities carefully track visa overstay statistics based on nationality, adding that repeated infractions by citizens of one country could negatively influence visa approval decisions for future applicants from that nation.
“There are some people who think they can use this as an opportunity to overstay or just to illegally stay in the United States. And that’s really unfortunate because not only are they breaking the law, but they’re also making it harder for other Ghanaians,” he stated.
Fertik encouraged prospective travellers to strictly respect the conditions attached to their visas, emphasising that overstaying carries significant risks.
“We do pay attention to how many people from a given country overstay, and the higher that rate, frankly, the harder it is sometimes to be able to give visas and to facilitate the level of travel that we want to.
“We have been trying to get this message out that illegal immigration, overstaying, is just not worth the risk,” he said.
He further stressed that illegal immigration and visa overstays weaken trust within immigration systems and reduce legitimate travel opportunities for genuine applicants.