U.S. to Consolidate African Visa Processing into 20 Regional Hubs

The United States Department of State plans to centralise routine non‑immigrant visa interviews across Africa, cutting the number of embassies and consulates that conduct interviews from roughly 50 locations to about 20 regional processing centres. Cities such as Nairobi, Johannesburg, Addis Ababa, Accra, Dakar and others are expected to host the new hubs. Embassies will remain open for diplomatic work, but most will no longer handle routine visa interviews, requiring applicants to travel to a neighbouring country for their appointment.

The move is presented as a way to standardise decision‑making, improve oversight, detect fraud and address staffing pressures at overstretched posts. It does not alter the legal criteria for visa eligibility, and more than 540,000 non‑immigrant visas were issued to African applicants in fiscal year 2024. Analysts warn that longer travel distances, higher costs and potential delays could deter students, families and small‑business owners, reducing overall application numbers. Critics say the policy, rooted in the Trump administration’s tighter immigration stance, could also diminish U.S. influence on the continent as rival powers expand visa facilitation.