US to slash visa processing embassies across Africa to 20

Wednesday 03 June 2026 - 15:47

By: Dakir Madiha

US to slash visa processing embassies across Africa to 20

The United States plans to sharply reduce the number of embassies and consulates across Africa authorized to process visas, cutting operations from nearly 50 locations to 20. The decision follows an internal directive approved by senior leadership at the State Department and is expected to be implemented in the coming weeks. Officials familiar with the plan say the overhaul aims to centralize visa services into a smaller number of regional hubs.

Under the new structure, 20 designated locations will retain full visa-processing capacity. These include major diplomatic posts in cities such as Abidjan, Accra, Addis Ababa, Dakar, Nairobi, Lagos, and several others across West, East, and Southern Africa, including Cape Town and Johannesburg. Outside these hubs, consular sections will continue limited operations focused on emergency services, passport renewals for US citizens, and select diplomatic cases.

The policy is part of a broader tightening of US immigration and non-immigration visa procedures. It follows earlier measures that increased scrutiny of applicants, introduced higher financial requirements in some cases, and expanded restrictions affecting several countries. Authorities argue the restructuring is intended to improve security screening and reduce overstays linked to temporary visas.

For applicants across much of Africa, the changes will significantly increase travel and financial burdens. Many will now need to cross borders to reach one of the designated hubs for interviews and documentation processing. Officials acknowledge that the shift may slow down access to visas while consolidating resources in fewer, more heavily staffed missions.

Morocco’s position remains uncertain. The country hosts both a US embassy in Rabat and a consulate general in Casablanca. It is not included in the list of African visa-processing hubs, but its classification within a different regional bureau raises questions about whether the new restrictions apply. The recent opening of a major US diplomatic facility in Casablanca adds further ambiguity to its status under the new system.

That facility, inaugurated in Casablanca’s financial district, represents a significant investment in bilateral relations. Covering several hectares and equipped with renewable energy systems, it was presented as a long-term commitment to cooperation between the two countries. The project also reflects longstanding diplomatic ties, as Morocco was the first nation to recognize the United States, a relationship that continues to shape strategic engagement today.