The United States Department of State is planning to significantly reduce the number of embassies and consulates in Africa that process visa applications, according to an internal memo and U.S. officials cited by the Associated Press (AP).
The report, published on Monday, said the number of U.S. diplomatic missions handling visa applications across the continent will be cut from nearly 50 to 20 in the coming weeks.
According to AP, the proposed restructuring is part of a broader effort by the administration of President Donald Trump to tighten immigration controls and strengthen scrutiny of both immigrant and non-immigrant visa applicants.
Under the plan, only 20 designated “hub” embassies and consulates will continue to process routine visa applications. Applicants from countries without a designated hub may be required to travel to another African country to attend visa interviews and complete application procedures.
U.S. officials familiar with the matter said there is no fixed implementation date yet, but the changes are expected to take effect in June.
The report stated that embassies and consulates that lose routine visa-processing responsibilities will remain operational and continue to provide services such as assistance to U.S. citizens, passport renewals, emergency consular support, and diplomatic visa processing.
Among the cities expected to remain major visa-processing hubs are Lagos in Nigeria, Accra in Ghana, Nairobi in Kenya, Johannesburg in South Africa, Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, Dakar in Senegal, and Kampala in Uganda.
The move is expected to raise concerns among travellers, students, business people, and families seeking U.S. visas, as applicants from several African countries could face additional travel costs, longer waiting times, and logistical challenges.
The State Department has not yet publicly announced the policy change, but officials quoted by AP said U.S. diplomats across Africa were informed of the planned reduction during a recent conference call.
If implemented, the measure would represent one of the most significant changes to U.S. consular operations in Africa in recent years and could affect thousands of visa applicants across the continent.
