The United States plans to sharply reduce visa processing centres across Africa, cutting the number of embassies and consulates handling applications from nearly 50 to 20.
The change, expected in June 2026, follows a directive approved by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Under the plan, selected cities including Lagos, Accra, Nairobi, Johannesburg, and Addis Ababa will serve as regional visa hubs.
This means applicants in countries without hubs may need to travel long distances to process U.S. visas.
In Nigeria, Lagos remains a designated hub, while Abuja may no longer process standard visa applications.
Impact On African Visa Applicants
The decision could increase travel costs and waiting times for many applicants across the continent.
Applicants from non-hub countries will have to visit one of the approved centres, which may involve cross-border travel.
Meanwhile, consular offices outside the hubs will still operate but with limited services.
They will handle U.S. citizen support, emergency cases, and diplomatic visas, but not routine visa processing.
The move follows earlier measures, including stricter visa rules and financial requirements for applicants.
Policy Shift And Broader Context
The changes form part of the Trump administration’s wider immigration policy.
Officials say the goal is to tighten visa controls and prevent overstays by temporary visitors.
The U.S. State Department said it is reviewing global operations to align resources with national priorities.
“It is constantly evaluating its overseas operations in order to deploy taxpayer resources in a way that advances America’s priorities.”
“This includes a visa process that maintains rigorous standards of security screening and vetting.”
Recent disruptions, including travel restrictions and the Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa, have already affected visa processing timelines.
The new structure is expected to reshape how African applicants access U.S. travel documents, with fewer locations handling full visa services.
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