The United States government is set to significantly reduce the number of its embassies and consulates across Africa that are authorized to process visa applications, retaining only 20 regional hubs under a major restructuring of consular services.
According to an internal State Department memo cited by multiple U.S. officials, nearly 50 diplomatic missions currently handling visa applications across the continent will be streamlined to 20 designated processing centers in the coming weeks.
Among the locations selected to remain operational for full visa processing is the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, while the U.S. Embassy in Abuja is not included on the list of approved hubs.
Other cities designated as visa-processing centers include Accra, Nairobi, Dakar, Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Addis Ababa, among others.
The development means Nigerians seeking U.S. visas may be required to process their applications through Lagos, potentially increasing travel demands for applicants previously served through Abuja.
The proposed changes are expected to take effect in June, although U.S. authorities have not announced a specific implementation date.
The restructuring is part of a broader effort by the administration of Donald Trump to tighten immigration controls and strengthen visa screening procedures. The initiative also follows reductions in staffing levels at several U.S. diplomatic missions worldwide.
Officials familiar with the plan said consular personnel were informed during a recent conference call that visa operations across Africa would be consolidated into a smaller number of regional centers. The directive was reportedly approved by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Under the arrangement, citizens from countries without designated visa-processing hubs may be required to travel to one of the approved locations to complete their applications, potentially increasing costs and logistical challenges for travelers.
While visa services will be scaled back at non-hub embassies and consulates, those missions are expected to continue providing assistance to U.S. citizens, including passport renewals, emergency consular services, diplomatic visas, and certain cases deemed to be in the national interest.
Responding to inquiries about the restructuring, the U.S. State Department said it routinely reviews its overseas operations to ensure resources are deployed efficiently and in line with national priorities. The department added that the visa system would continue to emphasize rigorous security screening and vetting procedures while aligning operational capacity with U.S. interests.
