US to reduce African visa processing centers to 20 hubs
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
The United States Department of State plans to reduce its visa processing operations in Africa, consolidating them from nearly 50 embassies and consulates to 20 designated hubs. This restructuring, expected to take effect in June, will centralize both immigrant and non-immigrant visa applications. The move aligns with the Trump administration's broader immigration policy to tighten visa issuance and address overstays. While consular sections in non-hub countries will remain open, their functions will be limited to services like assisting American citizens, emergency support, and diplomatic visa processing. The State Department stated this evaluation of overseas operations aims to deploy taxpayer resources efficiently and maintain rigorous security screening. This change will likely require applicants from non-hub countries to travel to the designated locations, potentially increasing costs and logistical challenges. The 20 hubs include 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. This marks a significant reduction in US visa processing access across Africa.
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