Attorney Godfrey Smith’s US visa revoked

BELMOPAN, Mon. Nov. 9, 2026 

   The United States visitor’s visa of Senior Counsel Godfrey Smith, a former attorney general and foreign minister of Belize, has been revoked, according to a notice issued by the U.S. Embassy in Belmopan. 

   Smith shared a copy of an email sent to him by the Embassy’s Consular Section on Monday morning, informing him that the U.S. Department of State had revoked his B1/B2 visa on November 7 under Section 221(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The notice stated that information had come to light indicating that Smith “may be ineligible” for the visa. However, it did not identify the information or provide a specific reason for the decision. According to the correspondence, the revocation took effect immediately if Smith was outside the United States at the time. If he was already in the country, it would become effective upon his departure. The notice further advised that he could no longer travel to the United States using the revoked visa, and would have to apply for a new one if he wished to visit in the future. 

   Smith, however, says he has no intention of challenging the decision or seeking another visa. He indicated that he is prepared to accept the U.S. Government’s position without pursuing an appeal. “I have no intention or interest in appealing. I have no intention or interest in reapplying for a U.S. visa. The people said they don’t want you in their country; I am okay with that. I won’t beg them to let me into their country,” Smith said. 

   The revocation of Smith’s visa has taken place amid increased scrutiny of U.S. visa holders under the administration of President Donald Trump. Smith has also been publicly associated with efforts to strengthen engagement between Belize and mainland China in recent months. He has organized visitor programmes to China involving journalists and at least one parliamentarian.

   Notably, the development comes less than a month after China announced sanctions against Belize’s Foreign Minister, Francis Fonseca, further drawing attention to the diplomatic tensions surrounding Belize’s engagement with both countries. However, the U.S. Embassy’s notice did not link Smith’s visa revocation to his activities involving China.

   Smith is the chairman of the University of Belize’s board of directors and the founder and senior partner of his law firm. He served as Belize’s attorney general from 1999 to 2003, and as foreign minister from 2003 to 2005. He later served as a High Court judge and acting Justice of Appeal of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court between 2017 and 2020. His legal career has included appearances before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, the Caribbean Court of Justice and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, among other international legal bodies. 

   The revocation also comes against the backdrop of a broader increase in U.S. visa cancellations. In October, the U.S. State Department reported that the Trump administration had revoked more than 300,000 visas since January 2025, describing the pace of revocations as unprecedented.