The United States is set to significantly reduce the number of diplomatic posts in Africa that handle visa applications, consolidating services into 20 designated hubs across the continent. The decision, confirmed through an internal State Department memo and cited by the Associated Press, will see nearly 50 embassies and consulates lose their visa-processing functions in the coming weeks.
The directive was approved by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and communicated to US consular officials during a conference call last Friday, according to officials familiar with the matter. One official described the briefing as direct and procedural, noting that posts were instructed to prepare for a rapid transition of visa services to regional centres.
“Processing responsibilities will be centralized to ensure consistency and efficiency across the region,” the memo reportedly stated, according to AP’s reporting of the document. While the State Department has not publicly issued a detailed statement outlining the policy, officials indicated the change is expected to take effect in June, though implementation timelines may vary by post.
Under the new structure, visa applications from across Africa will be routed to 20 remaining hubs: 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. These locations will handle all non-immigrant and immigrant visa processing functions previously distributed across a wider network of missions.
A second official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the restructuring aims to “reduce duplication of services and concentrate resources where application volumes are highest.” The official added that staffing and infrastructure constraints had also influenced the decision to narrow processing locations.
Embassies and consulates not included in the list will continue to operate but with reduced consular responsibilities. They will no longer process visa applications but will retain limited services, including emergency assistance for US citizens, passport renewals, certain diplomatic visa categories, and cases classified as urgent or in the national interest.
Consular officers are expected to begin transitioning applicants to the designated hubs once internal systems are updated. The shift will likely require applicants in affected countries to travel internationally or regionally to complete visa interviews and biometric appointments, a change that could increase both financial and logistical burdens.
The move comes amid broader adjustments in US immigration and border policy. In recent months, Washington has tightened screening procedures and introduced additional financial requirements for certain visitor visa categories. Some applicants from African countries are already facing proposed security bond requirements that could reach up to $15,000 for B1/B2 visitor visas, depending on risk assessments.
An internal briefing referenced by AP noted that the consolidation is part of a wider effort to “modernize consular operations” and align staffing levels with demand patterns. However, critics of similar measures in the past have argued that centralization can create bottlenecks and reduce accessibility for applicants in countries without direct processing access.
The policy also intersects with existing travel restrictions affecting several African nations, where partial entry limitations remain in place for certain categories of travellers. These measures have already reshaped mobility patterns between the United States and parts of Africa over the past year.
For many applicants, particularly those in countries losing direct visa services, the change will mean longer wait times, additional travel requirements, and increased costs. Businesses, students, and families seeking US visas are expected to be among those most affected by the consolidation.
While the State Department has not confirmed whether further reductions in visa-processing posts are planned, officials familiar with the matter described the current restructuring as part of an ongoing review of global consular operations rather than a one-time adjustment.
