The Consul General at the United States Embassy in Ghana, Elliot Fertik, has emphasised that visa applications can be completed independently, without the involvement of "agents" or "intermediaries," by simply using the embassy’s official website.

According to him, anyone who promises to assist with a visa application for a fee is either lying or committing fraud.

He noted that relying on such consultants often contributes to the high rate of unsuccessful visa applications.

"I will say, in general, that the visa application process is something you can do by yourself. Visa fixers claim they have influence over the process and demand thousands of dollars, promising they can guarantee you a visa because they know someone inside the Embassy. Let me be clear, they are lying, and they are ripping you off. It is probably not legitimate," Fertik was quoted by myjoyonline.com

He emphasised that personally applying through the embassy's website reduces the risk of submitting incomplete or inaccurate documents, which often leads to visa denials.

Fertik urged applicants to carefully follow the instructions provided on the website and stressed the importance of obtaining accurate information directly from the U.S. Embassy’s official channels.

"You can complete the process on our website, and there are also phone numbers and email addresses available there for assistance if you encounter any difficulties," he added.

SSD/MA