US Slashes Africa Visa Offices to 20 Hubs in Major Immigration Policy Shift

The US State Department plans to drastically reduce visa-processing embassies and consulates in Africa, cutting their number from nearly 50 to just 20 as part of a broader immigration enforcement drive under the Trump administration, according to officials and an internal memo.

The decision will consolidate visa services into 20 designated processing hubs across the continent, forcing applicants from non-hub countries to travel internationally to complete visa procedures.

Officials said the move is part of a wider effort to strengthen immigration controls , reduce visa overstays, and streamline overseas operations. The State Department has already scaled back diplomatic staffing and consular services in several regions as part of this restructuring.

Under the new system, most embassies and consulates outside the designated hubs will no longer process routine visa applications. However, they will continue limited services, including assistance for US citizens, emergency cases, and select diplomatic visa requests.

The 20 approved visa hubs will include major posts such as Nairobi, Lagos, Accra, Johannesburg, Addis Ababa, Dakar, Kigali, Kinshasa, and Cape Town , among others listed in the internal memo.

The policy is expected to significantly affect applicants across Africa, who will likely face higher travel costs, longer wait times, and logistical hurdles due to reduced access points.

The US administration has defended the changes as part of efforts to improve security screening, resource allocation, and administrative efficiency , while aligning visa operations with national priorities.

The move also comes amid a broader tightening of US immigration policy, which has included expanded visa restrictions, increased financial requirements for applicants, and enhanced scrutiny of foreign travellers.

Officials have not yet announced the exact rollout date, but implementation is expected within weeks.