US plans to shrink visa processing network in Africa

The United States is planning to centralize visa processing in Africa, reducing the number of embassies and consulates handling applications from about 50 locations to roughly 20, according to an internal State Department memo cited by US media.

Under the proposal, routine visa interviews would be moved away from many diplomatic posts and concentrated in smaller regional hubs. Embassies are expected to remain open and continue diplomatic work.

The plan does not change who is eligible for a US visa, only where they apply—and for some, travel distances could become longer.

Specific changes

Visa interviews would no longer be conducted at many individual embassies and consulates but instead concentrated at regional processing centers across the continent. Most embassies would stop handling routine visa interviews, while maintaining other consular and diplomatic functions.

Applicants in affected countries would need to travel to another country to complete their visa interviews. Cities such as Nairobi, Johannesburg, Addis Ababa, Accra and Dakar are expected to take on larger roles, though the final structure has not been publicly confirmed.

The timeline for implementation is not yet clear, but according to officials cited by US media, changes could take effect within weeks.

Why the US is considering the change

The State Department has not released a detailed explanation for the proposal. However, visa policy experts and former consular officials say such reforms are often tied to efforts to standardize decision-making, strengthen oversight and fraud detection, and address staffing pressures at overburdened embassies.

Many consular sections have faced high workloads in recent years, and consolidating casework could allow more efficient deployment of resources.

“This consolidation fits squarely within the second-term foreign policy posture of the Trump administration—one that has systematically deprioritized multilateral engagement in favor of transactional, security-first relationships,” Aaliyah Vayez, an international relations analyst based in South Africa, told Al Jazeera.

Will approval rates change?

According to US State Department data, more than 540,000 nonimmigrant visas were issued to applicants in Africa in fiscal year 2024, reflecting sustained demand across the continent for travel, study and business opportunities.

There is no indication that the proposal will change the legal criteria for approving or denying visa applications. Applicants will continue to be assessed under current US immigration laws and regulations.

However, experts say higher travel costs, visa fees and logistical barriers may discourage some people, particularly students, families and small business owners.

“While the latest development falls within the broader context of the Trump administration’s tightening immigration policy, it also signals a decline in US leadership in Africa. It will certainly make it harder for Africans to obtain visas, as the additional cost of traveling to a consulate will be a deterrent,” Mubarak Aliyu, a political and security analyst based in Nigeria, told Al Jazeera.

Thus, while approval rates may remain unchanged, the total number of applications from some countries could drop.

What it means for applicants

For most applicants, the impact is more practical than procedural. If visa services are no longer available locally, applicants will need to travel abroad for interviews, adding cost, time and logistical challenges. Some may also face longer or less predictable wait times as demand concentrates on fewer processing centers.

The impact is expected to vary significantly across the continent. Countries that retain visa processing facilities may see little disruption, while others could lose local access to the process entirely.

Alignment with Trump’s Africa policy

The proposal comes as the Trump administration undertakes a broader review of US government operations overseas, with a greater focus on migration control, security concerns and administrative cost-cutting. Since returning to power, the administration has also proposed changes to aspects of foreign aid and diplomatic engagement, arguing that government programs should align more closely with US strategic interests.

Analysts say the visa processing changes reflect that broader approach, placing efficiency, oversight and security considerations at the center of policy decisions.

Will this reduce the US presence in Africa? Not significantly. US embassies and consulates remain open and continue diplomatic work, including political engagement, security cooperation and economic ties.

Reaction from Africa

Some analysts say the proposal could be seen in parts of Africa as part of a pattern of tightening travel rules and increasing access barriers. “From what the US embassy is putting forward, they are not reducing but rather suspending immigrant visa issuance for applicants from the listed countries because they do not want these applicants to become a public financial burden when they enter the US,” Dennis Amchree, a former director of the Nigerian State Security Service, told Al Jazeera.

Others, however, view the move within broader structural conditions. “The continent is being asked to absorb yet another significant restriction with fewer tools than ever to push back,” Aaliyah Vayez said.