Thousands of Africans seeking U.S. visas could soon face higher travel costs and longer application processes following a U.S. government decision to reduce the number of diplomatic missions handling visa applications across the continent.
Under the new arrangement, nearly 50 U.S. embassies and consulates in Africa that currently process visas will be consolidated into 20 designated hubs in the coming weeks. The move is part of broader efforts by President Donald Trump’s administration to tighten immigration controls and strengthen oversight of visa issuance.
Applicants from countries without designated visa-processing centers may be required to travel to another African country to submit applications or attend visa interviews, increasing both financial and logistical burdens for prospective travelers.
While visa services will be reduced at many locations, affected U.S. embassies and consulates will continue to provide services for American citizens, including passport renewals, emergency assistance and other consular support.
Diplomatic visa applications and cases considered to be in the U.S. national interest will continue to receive attention.
According to reports, the 20 locations expected to retain full visa-processing capabilities are Abidjan, Accra, Addis Ababa, Cape Town, Dakar, Dar es Salaam, Djibouti, Johannesburg, Kampala, Kigali, Kinshasa, Lagos, Lomé, Luanda, Malabo, Monrovia, Nairobi, Port Louis, Praia and Yaoundé.
The policy is the latest in a series of immigration measures introduced by the Trump administration, including stricter visa requirements and increased scrutiny of applicants from several countries.
Analysts say the change could make access to U.S. visas more difficult for many Africans, particularly those living in countries that will no longer offer full visa-processing services. The shift could also lead to longer waiting times and increased travel expenses for visa applicants across the continent.
