The United States government is preparing to significantly reduce the number of its embassies and consulates across Africa that handle visa processing, cutting them from more than 50 locations to just 20 designated hubs.
Under the proposed policy, visa services at several US diplomatic missions across the continent will be suspended, requiring applicants to travel to a smaller number of approved centres for processing. The move is expected to affect multiple African countries, including Nigeria.
According to reports attributed to the Associated Press, the directive from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio would see consular operations scaled back in most locations, with services consolidated into 20 regional hubs within the coming weeks.
In Nigeria’s case, the policy would reportedly end visa processing in Abuja, leaving the US consulate in Lagos as the only location handling visa applications.
The State Department has said the restructuring is intended to redirect resources toward key policy priorities while maintaining strict security screening and aligning visa operations with national interests.
Although an exact implementation date has not been confirmed, diplomatic officials in Africa have reportedly been instructed to begin preparing for the reduction in services, which could take effect within the month.
Under the new arrangement, applicants from countries without designated hubs would be required to travel to one of the remaining approved locations, including cities such as Lagos, Accra, Nairobi, Johannesburg, Addis Ababa, Dakar, and others across the continent.
The policy is part of a broader tightening of US immigration measures, which has included stricter visa rules, bond requirements for certain applicants, and restrictions affecting several categories of migrants.
While non-hub consular sections will remain operational, they are expected to limit their services primarily to emergency assistance, passport renewals for US citizens, and select diplomatic visa processing.
The development signals a further consolidation of US immigration processing systems across Africa, with significant implications for travel access and visa applicants on the continent.
