US Cuts Number of Visa Processing Embassies in Africa

The US government is planning to cut down the number of American embassies and consulates in Africa that handle visas from over 50 to just 20.

This means that many diplomatic missions across Africa will stop processing visas. Applicants will need to go to fewer embassies and consulates for their visa needs.

The Associated Press says that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has directed the US State Department to reduce consular services to only 20 "hubs" in Africa soon.

This change will also impact Nigeria. The US will halt visa-processing in Abuja and limit visa services to the consulate in Lagos.

The State Department explained that this decision was made to focus more resources on US policy priorities, according to AP.

This includes a visa process that upholds strict security checks and aligns with America’s national interests.

While there is no set date for this change, it is expected to begin this month. Last week, US officials in Africa were told to start reducing visa services across the continent. This new policy will mean that people from countries without a hub will have to travel to one of the 20 approved centers to apply for US visas.

The 20 hubs that will stay open include: Lagos, Nigeria; Abidjan, Ivory Coast; Accra, Ghana; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Cape Town, South Africa; Dakar, Senegal; Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Djibouti, Djibouti; Johannesburg, South Africa; Kampala, Uganda; and Kigali, Rwanda.

The list also includes: Kinshasa, Congo; Lome, Togo; Luanda, Angola; Malabo, Equatorial Guinea; Monrovia, Liberia; Nairobi, Kenya; Port Louis, Mauritius; Praia, Cape Verde; and Yaounde, Cameroon.

This policy is part of US President Donald Trump’s wider crackdown on immigration. It follows a ban on several visa categories from many African countries, including Nigeria, and the stopping of green card applications by temporary visa holders in the US. PREMIUM TIMES reported on a new rule that requires Nigerians and other foreign nationals in the US who want to switch from temporary visas to permanent residency to return home to apply for a Green Card.

The US also introduced bond requirements for African countries, asking applicants to post a bond of up to $15,000 before they can apply for a visa.

This new US policy makes it even harder for Africans to immigrate and travel. Consular sections in countries that are not hubs will still be open but will only provide limited services, such as passport renewal for US citizens, special national interest cases, and diplomatic visa applications.