The US administration has unveiled plans to cut the number of embassies and consulates in Africa that process traveller visas from more than 50 to 20.
As a result, applicants will have to submit their visa applications at fewer diplomatic posts across the continent, as the US government stops processing visas at dozens of locations.
The State Department also claimed this decision was based on the need to deploy more resources to US policy priorities, according to AP.
According to the Associated Press, the US State Department will scale back consular activities at all but 20 “hubs” across Africa in the upcoming weeks at the order of Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Meanwhile, Nigeria is also affected by the policy, as the US plans to limit visa services to its consulate in Lagos and discontinue visa processing at its embassy in Abuja under the new strategy.
This “includes a visa process that maintains rigorous standards of security screening and vetting and aligns resources and operational capacity with America’s national interests.”
Meanwhile, authorities expect the policy to take effect this month, although they have not announced a specific date. In addition, the US government instructed its envoys in Africa last week to begin reducing the number of visa services available across the continent.
Furthermore, under the new policy—which centralises operations in a few regional hubs—prospective visitors from non-hub countries must travel to one of the 20 authorised centres to obtain a US visa.
Open Centers
The 20 hubs to remain open include: Lagos, Nigeria; Abidjan, Ivory Coast; Accra, Ghana; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Cape Town, South Africa; Dakar, Senegal; Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Djibouti, Djibouti; Johannesburg, South Africa; Kampala, Uganda; Kigali, Rwanda.
Others are: Kinshasa, Congo; Lome, Togo; Luanda, Angola; Malabo, Equatorial Guinea; Monrovia, Liberia; Nairobi, Kenya; Port Louis, Mauritius; Praia, Cape Verde; and Yaounde, Cameroon.
Following a broad restriction on several visa categories affecting many African countries, including Nigeria, and the suspension of green card applications by temporary visa holders in the US, the policy marks the latest step in President Donald Trump’s wider crackdown on immigration.
Recall that, the US had earlier required visa applicants from African countries to post bonds of up to $15,000 before applying.
