US to Cut Visa Processing Locations in Africa from 50 to 20

Economy

US to Cut Visa Processing Locations in Africa from 50 to 20

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SCMP

LATIMES

AFRICANEWS

US to Cut Visa Processing Locations in Africa from 50 to 20

Credited from: LATIMES

The US will reduce embassies processing visas in Africa from nearly 50 to 20 locations.
This decision aims to limit immigration and tighten visa issuance.
Travel requirements will increase as applicants from non-hub countries must travel to designated sites.
The adjustments will come into effect in June, with limited services remaining in non-hub embassies.
20 visa processing hubs have been designated across the continent.

The U.S. State Department is set to significantly reduce the number of embassies and consulates in Africa that process visas for foreign applicants. The current number will be cut from nearly 50 to just 20 designated "hubs" in the coming weeks, as revealed by three U.S. officials and an internal memo obtained by the Associated Press. Though a precise date has not been established, these changes are expected to take effect in June, according to the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, according to South China Morning Post, Los Angeles Times, and Africa News.

This initiative forms part of the Trump administration's broader effort to tighten immigration controls and reduce the number of both immigrant and non-immigrant visa approvals while addressing concerns regarding visa overstays in the United States. The State Department has also been scaling back staffing at embassies and consulates worldwide, which impacts the capacity to process visas, based on information provided by South China Morning Post, Los Angeles Times, and Africa News.

South China Morning Post, Los Angeles Times, and Africa News.

The confirmed hubs for visa processing in Africa will include locations such as Abidjan (Ivory Coast), Accra (Ghana), Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Cape Town (South Africa), and more. This restructuring reflects a significant shift in how visa services will be accessed across the continent, stressing the need for U.S. officials to regularly review overseas operations to align resources with national interests, according to South China Morning Post, Los Angeles Times, and Africa News.