IMPORTANT: US VISA PROCESSING IN AFRICA – CHANGES JUNE 2026
The United States will reduce the number of embassies/consulates in Africa that process visas from 50 to 20, starting in June 2026. Source: AP/Reuters citing US officials + internal memo.
WEST AFRICA HUBS REMAINING – Only 6:
1. Abidjan, Ivory Coast
2. Accra, Ghana
3. Dakar, Senegal
4. Lome, Togo
5. Lagos, Nigeria
6. Monrovia, Liberia
Full list of 20 hubs: Abidjan, Accra, Addis Ababa, Cape Town, Dakar, Dar-Es-Salaam, Djibouti, Johannesburg, Kampala, Kigali, Kinshasa, Lagos, Lome, Luanda, Malabo, Monrovia, Nairobi, Port Louis, Praia, Cape Verde.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR US:
1. If your country is NOT a hub, you MUST travel to one of these 6 West African cities for any visa interview – B1/B2, F1 student, DV Lottery, etc.
2. Expect higher costs: flights + hotel + longer waiting times. Abidjan, Dakar & Accra will be overloaded.
3. Non-hub embassies stay open but ONLY for US citizens’ services: passport renewal, emergencies.
Reason: The US says “cost optimization + security screening”. Linked to stricter immigration policy
If you have a US visa appointment already booked in a non-hub country, contact the embassy ASAP
