March 31, 2021
By: Francis F.M.Harding
The Embassy of the United States of America has informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation through a note verbal of the decision by the Secretary of States of the United States of America to reduce the B1 and B2 visa Sanctions on Sierra Leone under Section 243(d) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, effective Wednesday 31st March, 2021.
According to the United States Embassy, the decision to lift the B1 and B2 visa Sanctions on Sierra Leone came as a result of the increased Cooperation of the Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone in facilitating the timely return of its nationals who have been subjected to final order of removal from the United States of America.
The Embassy further stated that the Government of the United States of America recognizes the Government of Sierra Leone’s increased responsiveness to the request from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Visa Sanctions, the Embassy maintained would only apply to B1, B2 and B1/B2 Nonimmigrant Visa for Sierra Leonean officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
The Embassy continued that the Government of the United States will justify the complete removal of visa Sanctions of Sierra Leone at a later date if the Government of Sierra Leone sustains the level of Cooperation.
In could be recalled that in August, 2017, the United States of America’s Secretary of Homeland Security informed the Secretary of States of an unreasonable delay by the Government of Sierra Leone to accept its citizens from the United States.
In September, 2017, the Embassy informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the Secretary of States has expanded these sanctions to apply to all Immigrant and Nonimmigrant Visa with some exception due to insufficient removal Cooperation of Sierra Leonean nationals from the United States of America.
It is against this background that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, on behalf of the Government of Sierra Leone expresses sincere appreciation to the United States Government and reiterates its commitment to further deepen the Cooperation between Sierra Leone and the United States of America.