U.S. Visa Processing Shift to Dakar Affects Mali and Mauritania

Effective 1 August 2026, the U.S. Embassy in Bamako stopped issuing visas, requiring Malian applicants to submit their paperwork and attend interviews at the U.S. Embassy in Dakar, Senegal. The same regional consolidation redirects Mauritanian visa seekers, as announced by the U.S. Department of State on 31 July 2026, and applies to roughly twenty West African nations.

The re‑organisation groups African visa services into regional hubs to “enhance national security and improve processing efficiency,” according to a State Department statement. While the move centralises consular operations in Dakar, it adds travel, accommodation and fee burdens for thousands of applicants, especially low‑income students and families seeking entry to the United States.