Overview:
U.S. Ambassador to Uganda, William Popp, said the changes are part of a broader effort outlined in President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14161 issued on January 20, 2025,
Ugandan citizens applying for U.S. nonimmigrant visas will now receive visas valid for only three months, following a directive from the U.S. Department of State. This change, which took immediate effect, aligns with efforts to enhance U.S. national security and ensure reciprocal visa arrangements with other countries.
Speaking at the American Centre in Kampala on Monday, U.S. Ambassador to Uganda, William Popp, said the changes are part of a broader effort outlined in President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14161 issued on January 20, 2025, titled “Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.” Ambassador Popp emphasized that the order directed U.S. authorities to evaluate visa programs to ensure they are not exploited by foreign actors to harm the country’s security, economy, or public safety.
“In furtherance of the executive order, the Department of State has revised the nonimmigrant visa validity for nationals of several countries, including Uganda,” Ambassador Popp said. “Going forward, new visas for Ugandan citizens will be valid for one entry and a duration of three months—mirroring the visa terms Uganda applies to American tourists and business travelers.”
Previously, nonimmigrant visas for Ugandans were valid for up to two years. Despite the shortened validity, the consular fees remain unchanged, as they are globally standardized and based on processing and operational costs.
Tania J. Romanoff, the U.S. Embassy’s Consular Section Chief, said national security remains paramount in the visa adjudication process. She warned against the misuse of U.S. visas, particularly for birth tourism, where applicants travel primarily to give birth in the U.S. to gain citizenship benefits for their children. “Consular officers will deny visas if they believe birth tourism is the applicant’s main purpose,” Romanoff noted, adding that such cases shift the financial burden to American taxpayers.
While exact numbers on birth tourism are unavailable, Romanoff confirmed that these cases are handled individually and are not separately tracked in visa databases.
On the issue of visa fraud, Brian Jolda, the U.S. Embassy’s Supervisory Special Agent with the Diplomatic Security Service, revealed that five Ugandans were recently arrested for presenting fake academic and financial documents during their visa applications. “Fraud will not be tolerated. Offenders will be arrested and held accountable,” he stated.
According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s latest Entry/Exit Overstay Report, 8.42% of Ugandans with B1/B2 (business/tourist) visas overstayed their authorized stay in the U.S. between October 2022 and September 2023. The overstay rate for Ugandan students and exchange visitors (F, M, J visas) stood at 16.71%.
The U.S. Embassy reiterated that any deliberate misrepresentation or fraudulent conduct in the visa process can lead to permanent ineligibility, visa denial, or even prosecution in both the U.S. and Uganda.