Visa Applicants at U.S. Consulate in Monrovia Face Harsh Waiting Conditions Amid High Denial Rates

By Emmanuel Degleh

Visa applicants at the U.S. Consulate in Monrovia are enduring not only high denial rates but also harsh waiting conditions, as they line up on Benson Street, exposed to speeding traffic and unpredictable weather.

Many applicants arrive as early as 6 AM, hoping to secure a spot for their interviews before the U.S. Embassy opens at 8 AM. These early morning gatherings often leave visa seekers vulnerable to inclement weather. Recently, dozens of hopeful applicants were seen braving a heavy downpour, as police officers called them in one by one for their interviews.

On a particularly rainy Friday in August 2024, several applicants huddled together, attempting to stay dry. a  lady, on her third attempt to obtain a U.S. visiting visa, expressed her frustration.

“Imagine being here since 5 AM, under this kind of weather, just to likely get denied again,” she said, adding, “I doubt they would give more than one person a visa today.”

A man, denied a visa in 2023, expressed his concern about facing another rejection. “It’s surprising and worrying, considering last year’s denial,” he said.

The high rate of visa denials has been a growing concern among applicants. U.S. Ambassador to Liberia, Mark C. Toner, explained that the primary issue lies in the high number of Liberians overstaying their permitted duration in the U.S. According to Ambassador Toner, over 50% of Liberians who travel on tourist visas fail to return within the allotted time, prompting stricter visa controls.

“This is not a targeted action against Liberia but part of standard U.S. immigration policies and border control measures,” Ambassador Toner stated. He urged Liberians to adhere to visa regulations, emphasizing that sincerity and honesty in applications, along with compliance with U.S. immigration rules, are key to improving approval rates for future visa requests.