U.S. to Concentrate Visa Processing in 20 African Hubs as Part of Overseas Efficiency Drive

An internal State Department memorandum lists 20 African cities that will retain full visa-processing capabilities, according to a report by the Associated Press. The cities are 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.

The decision is part of a wider restructuring of American diplomatic operations overseas that includes staff reductions at embassies and consulates.

U.S. priorities. Applicants in countries that lose visa-processing authority will have to travel across borders to designated hubs, potentially increasing costs, travel time and logistical challenges for students, tourists, business travellers and immigrants.

Embassies and consulates in non-hub countries will remain operational but with limited services, the AP said. They will continue providing assistance to American citizens, including passport services and emergency consular support, as well as handling diplomatic visas and select cases deemed to be in the national interest.

The State Department did not directly comment on the internal memo but said it continuously reviews its overseas operations to ensure taxpayer resources are used efficiently while maintaining rigorous security standards in visa processing.

The move follows a series of recent restrictions affecting visa applicants in Africa, including travel bans targeting certain countries, financial bond requirements for some applicants, and disruptions linked to the Ebola outbreak.