Burkina Faso at a glance
| Visit with an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) | No: a visitor visa is needed |
| E-1 treaty trader visa | Not available |
| E-2 treaty investor visa | Not available |
| Own line in the Visa Bulletin | No: worldwide line |
| Green card lottery (last published list, DV-2026) | Eligible |
| Entry restrictions | Full: most visas suspended |
| Temporary Protected Status (TPS) | Not designated |
| Where visas are processed | Routine visa services in Ouagadougou are no longer offered; residents apply for nonimmigrant visas at the U.S. Embassy in Lomé, Togo, and for immigrant visas at the U.S. Embassy in Dakar, Senegal. |
Green card lottery: registration for DV-2027 had not opened as of mid-October 2026. A federal court ordered the State Department to open it, and that order may be appealed.
What is specific to Burkina Faso right now
- Under Proclamation 10998 (since January 1, 2026), the U.S. has suspended issuance of all immigrant and nonimmigrant visas to nationals of Burkina Faso (in effect as of October 2026), with limited exceptions such as green-card holders, dual nationals traveling on another country's passport and visas issued before the restriction. Routine visa services at the U.S. Embassy in Ouagadougou were paused in October 2025 and formally moved to regional hubs on August 1, 2026.
Common U.S. immigration paths for people from Burkina Faso
AsylumProtection for people who fear persecution in their home countryMarriage green cardGreen card through your U.S. citizen or resident spouseFamily petitionSponsor children, adult sons and daughters, or siblingsImmigration waiversForgiveness for unlawful presence, past removal and other barsExtend or change statusStay longer or switch to another nonimmigrant status
How MyUSVisa helps
- Answer a guided questionnaire in your language and upload your documents once — we read, sort and assemble them into a clear case file and timeline.
- Your organized case is offered to licensed U.S. immigration attorneys who handle this type of case. Interested attorneys send you offers, and you compare and choose — or don't.
- Once you choose, you and your attorney work in one place: messages, documents, deadlines and automatic USCIS status updates, on the web and in the mobile app.
Frequently asked questions
Can people from Burkina Faso visit the U.S. with an ESTA?
No. Burkina Faso is not in the Visa Waiver Program, so a visitor visa (B-1/B-2) from a U.S. embassy or consulate is usually needed.
Can people from Burkina Faso get an E-2 investor visa?
Not on Burkina Faso nationality alone: there is no E-2 treaty between Burkina Faso and the United States. Some people qualify through a second nationality from a treaty country, or use other paths such as EB-5.
Can people from Burkina Faso enter the green card lottery?
Burkina Faso was eligible in the last published program (DV-2026). Eligibility is set again every year, so check the official instructions when registration opens.
Where do people from Burkina Faso have their visa interview?
Routine visa services in Ouagadougou are no longer offered; residents apply for nonimmigrant visas at the U.S. Embassy in Lomé, Togo, and for immigrant visas at the U.S. Embassy in Dakar, Senegal.
Can I work with a U.S. attorney while I am still in Burkina Faso?
Yes. MyUSVisa works online: you tell your story from anywhere, licensed U.S. immigration attorneys review it and send proposals, and you choose. This works before you travel or once you are already in the United States.
More countries in Africa
Last checked by the MyUSVisa team and counsel in October 2026. Country rules change often, especially entry restrictions, TPS and parole programs. Always verify on travel.state.gov and uscis.gov, or ask your attorney.
MyUSVisa is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Not affiliated with USCIS or any government agency.