US to Consolidate African Visa Processing to 20 Hubs, Down From Nearly 50
The US State Department, under Secretary of State Marco Rubio's directive, plans to reduce visa processing locations across Africa from nearly 50 to just 20 designated hubs later this month. Citizens from countries without a hub will need to travel to an approved site to apply, creating potential logistical and financial barriers. The move further restricts access to US visas for African citizens amid existing restrictions including travel bans and bond requirements.
The US State Department is consolidating visa processing operations across Africa by reducing authorized embassy and consulate hubs from nearly 50 to 20 locations, according to reporting from the Associated Press. The 20 approved hubs will be located in cities including Abidjan, Addis Ababa, Djibouti, Johannesburg, Kinshasa, Lagos, Luanda, Nairobi, and Yaoundé. Non-hub embassies and consulates will remain open for American citizen services and diplomatic visas, but standard visa applicants will be required to travel to designated hubs. The consolidation follows a directive from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and represents a significant additional restriction on African citizens seeking US entry. This move compounds existing barriers implemented under the Trump administration, including travel bans on certain countries, bond requirements of up to $15,000 for some applicants, and disruptions caused by the ongoing Ebola outbreak.
What's missing
The stated rationale for the consolidation is not provided. Additionally, the specific timeline for implementation beyond 'later this month' and the potential impact on visa processing timelines and approval rates are not detailed.
What different sources said
- SemaforCenter
US slashes visa processing hubs across Africa
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