WASHINGTON – The U.S. State Department is poised to implement significant changes to its visa processing capabilities across Africa, drastically reducing the number of embassies and consulates authorized to handle visa applications for foreign nationals seeking entry into the United States.
According to three U.S. officials and an internal memo reviewed by The Associated Press, the number of operational U.S. embassies and consulates managing visa applications will plummet from nearly 50 to just 20 in the coming weeks. Although an exact implementation date has not been finalized, sources suggest that the changes may take effect in June.
This decision aligns with the broader objectives of the Trump administration, which has emphasized a crackdown on both immigrant and non-immigrant visa issuance. The administration’s push for stricter immigration policies has also led to the reduction of personnel at U.S. embassies and consulates globally, further complicating the visa application process.
During a conference call last Friday, U.S. diplomats, including consular chiefs, were informed of the forthcoming reduction in visa services across the African continent. This information was conveyed by one official who participated in the call, emphasizing the administration’s shifting priorities.
Under a directive sanctioned by Secretary of State Marco Rubio last week, the State Department plans to concentrate consular operations in only 20 designated “hubs” in Africa. This strategic move is expected to create significant hurdles for citizens of non-hub countries, who will now be required to travel to these hubs to submit their visa applications, potentially incurring substantial travel costs and logistical challenges.
The visa processing landscape in Africa has already faced numerous obstacles, including travel bans targeting specific countries, bond requirements that can reach as high as $15,000, and recent restrictions spurred by the Ebola outbreak. The implications of these changes are particularly concerning for individuals in non-hub countries.
While consular sections in non-hub nations will remain operational, their services will be severely restricted. They will continue to assist American citizens with passport renewals and emergency requests, as well as handle special national interest cases and diplomatic visa applications.
The 20 hubs designated for continued visa processing include:
- Abidjan, Ivory Coast
- Accra, Ghana
- Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Cape Town, South Africa
- Dakar, Senegal
- Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania
- Djibouti, Djibouti
- Johannesburg, South Africa
- Kampala, Uganda
- Kigali, Rwanda
- Kinshasa, Congo
- Lagos, Nigeria
- Lome, Togo
- Luanda, Angola
- Malabo, Equatorial Guinea
- Monrovia, Liberia
- Nairobi, Kenya
- Port Louis, Mauritius
- Praia, Cape Verde
- Yaounde, Cameroon
As these changes unfold, the impact on visa applicants and overall diplomatic relations within the region remains to be seen.
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Mednick reported from Tel Aviv.
