KAMPALA, Uganda — The United States has significantly curtailed the validity of non-immigrant visas for Ugandan nationals, reducing them from two years to a maximum of three months for single entry. This decision comes in response to concerns regarding the misuse of the American visa system.
US Ambassador to Uganda William Popp announced the change on Monday 14, July 2025, during a press briefing at the American Centre in Kampala. He stated that this measure is part of the US government’s ongoing commitment to safeguard national security and public safety by ensuring the integrity of its visa processes.
“The overarching effort to achieve this goal has been laid out in President Trump’s Executive Order (E.O.) 14161 issued on 20th January 2025, entitled ‘Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats,” said Popp.
He further explained that President Trump directed the Secretary of State to evaluate all visa programs to ensure they are not exploited by any foreign national state or other hostile actor to compromise the security, economic, political, cultural, or other national interests of the United States.
To achieve this, Popp indicated that the Department of State and other US government agencies assessed other countries’ security capabilities, information-sharing practices, identity management protocols, and any exploitation of the US visa system, including fraud, overstays, and failure to facilitate the repatriation of removable nationals.
“New nonimmigrant visas for Ugandan citizens will now be issued as valid for one entry, three months, which mirrors the validity that Ugandan visas issued to American tourists and business travellers have been,” Popp stated.
He emphasized that this alteration in validity enhances the United States’ capacity to detect and prevent abuse of its immigration system. Popp confirmed that the changes have taken immediate effect but will not impact visas issued prior to this announcement.
Previously, Ugandan citizens could obtain non-immigrant visas valid for up to two years. Data from the Department of Homeland Security Entry/Exit Overstay report, concerning visitors whose authorized period of admission expired between October 1, 2022, and September 30, 2023, reveals Uganda’s B1/B2 (business/tourist) visa overstay rate at 8.42%, while the F, M, J (students and exchange visitors) visa overstay rate stands at 16.71%.
Tania J. Romanoff, US Embassy Consular Section Chief, elaborated on the visa adjudication process, stressing that national security remains their top priority when screening applicants. She noted that individuals who intentionally provide inaccurate information during a visa application and interview will not receive a visa, may be permanently ineligible to obtain one, and could potentially face prosecution in Uganda or the US.
Romanoff also clarified that the change in visa validity from two years to three months will not alter visa fees. These fees are set globally, based on the actual cost of conducting face-to-face interviews, maintaining the application website, and the physical printing of visas.
Regarding birth tourism, Romanoff issued a warning that using a US visa primarily for the purpose of giving birth in the United States is prohibited. Consular officers will deny a visa application if they have reason to believe this is the main objective of travel.
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“We have seen that many Ugandan parents travel to the United States to give birth in the US, and then they use US government assistance to pay for the birth. These costs are then passed on to the American taxpayer,” she revealed.
When questioned about the number of Ugandans who have previously utilized tourism visas for birth tourism in the United States, Romanoff stated that they do not currently have a specific number, as such cases are handled on a one-off basis.
Brian Jolda, Supervisory Special Agent with the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) and the in-charge of Overseas Criminal Investigations at the US Embassy, affirmed that providing fraudulent documents during the visa process constitutes a crime.
He disclosed that in the past two weeks, they have assisted in the arrest of five visa applicants who presented fraudulent documents, including O’level and A’level certificates, university transcripts, and bank statements.
Jolda cautioned that those who commit fraud and abuse the visa application process face arrest and will be held accountable.
