US to Slash Visa Processing Services at 30 African Embassies in Major Diplomatic Shake-Up
The United States is preparing to significantly reduce visa processing operations across Africa, a move that could force thousands of travellers to seek consular services in neighbouring countries and potentially increase the cost and complexity of obtaining a US visa.
According to a report by the Associated Press (AP), the US State Department plans to cut the number of African embassies handling visa applications from nearly 50 to just 20 regional hubs in the coming weeks as part of a broader restructuring of its diplomatic and immigration operations.
The decision was reportedly communicated to American diplomats and consular chiefs during a conference call held last Friday. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is said to have approved the directive, which could take effect as early as June, although officials have yet to announce a specific implementation date.
The planned overhaul would mark one of the most significant changes to US visa processing operations in Africa in recent years, affecting millions of people who rely on American embassies for travel, education, business and immigration-related services.
Nairobi Among Key Regional Visa Hubs
Under the proposed arrangement, Nairobi is expected to become one of the continent’s major visa-processing centres, placing Kenya at the heart of the new system.
Other cities designated as regional hubs include Abidjan in Ivory Coast, Accra in Ghana, Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, Cape Town and Johannesburg in South Africa, Dakar in Senegal, Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, Djibouti City, Kampala, Kigali, Kinshasa, Lagos, Lome, Luanda, Malabo, Monrovia, Port Louis, Praia and Yaounde.
The restructuring means applicants from countries whose embassies lose visa-processing functions may be required to travel to one of these designated centres to attend interviews, submit biometric information, or complete other immigration procedures.
For many Africans, especially those living in countries without direct access to a processing hub, the changes could result in higher travel expenses, accommodation costs, and longer waiting times.
Embassies to Remain Open
Despite the reduction in visa services, the affected embassies and consulates are not expected to close.
Instead, their operations will reportedly focus primarily on assisting American citizens abroad, including passport renewals, emergency consular support, diplomatic visa services, and other cases deemed to be of special national interest.
The AP report indicates that routine visa processing for foreign nationals will be concentrated in the selected regional centres as Washington seeks to streamline operations and reduce administrative costs.
Part of Broader Immigration Strategy
The move comes amid wider efforts by President Donald Trump’s administration to tighten immigration controls and overhaul aspects of the US diplomatic network.
Since returning to office, the administration has prioritised measures aimed at strengthening border security, reducing illegal migration and reassessing overseas government operations.
The visa-processing changes follow earlier diplomatic adjustments that saw ambassadors recalled from more than two dozen countries, with African nations among those most affected.
While the State Department has not publicly outlined the full rationale behind the latest restructuring, observers say the move could reshape how millions of Africans access US consular services in the years ahead.
If implemented as planned, the changes are expected to place additional pressure on the designated regional hubs while raising concerns among travellers, students, businesspeople and families seeking entry into the United States.
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