State Department To Cut African Visa Processing Posts To 20 Hubs

The Trump administration is preparing to reduce the number of U.S. diplomatic posts in Africa that process visa applications, shifting services to 20 designated hubs across the continent.

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom

The Trump administration is preparing to sharply reduce the number of U.S. embassies and consulates in Africa that process visa applications, part of a broader State Department effort to tighten entry procedures and concentrate resources at fewer diplomatic posts.

There are currently 50 U.S. embassies and consulates across Africa with the ability to process visa applications and conduct applicant vetting. Under the new plan, that number would be cut to 20 designated visa-processing hubs, according to an Associated Press report.

The change was disclosed during a conference call with U.S. diplomats and staff based in Africa, according to the report.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio approved a directive last week outlining the shift toward roughly 20 visa application centers across the continent. The State Department is not expected to close the other diplomatic posts, but their ability to provide visa-related services to migrants and visitors would be limited.

The plan comes as the administration continues tightening visa rules and reducing the number of migrants entering the United States. Visas from parts of Africa have already faced additional restrictions, including new visa blocks for several regions, higher costs through a $15,000 filing bond and limits tied to areas affected by the ongoing Ebola outbreak.

The State Department said it continues to review policies to ensure taxpayer resources are used efficiently and in line with U.S. priorities. The department also said the visa process must maintain strict security screening and vetting standards while aligning resources and operations with national interests.

The 20 U.S. embassies and consulates expected to continue processing visa applications are 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; and Yaounde, Cameroon.

The restructuring would mark a major operational change for U.S. consular services in Africa, requiring many applicants to travel farther for visa processing while concentrating interviews, screening and related services at fewer posts.