Why Washington is reducing visa processing across Africa

The United States is planning to centralise visa processing across Africa, reducing the number of embassies and consulates handling applications from about 50 locations to roughly 20, according to an internal US Department of State memo cited in US media reports. Under the proposal, routine visa interviews would be moved out of many posts and concentrated in smaller regional hubs. Embassies are expected to remain open and continue their diplomatic work. The plan does not change who can get a US visa. It changes where applicants go to apply – and, for some, how far they may need to travel. What is changing? Visa interviews would no longer be handled in many individual embassies and consulates, but instead centralised in regional processing hubs across the continent. Most embassies would stop handling routine visa interviews, even if they continue with other consular and diplomatic functions. Applicants in affected countries would then need to travel to another country to complete their visa interview. Cities such as Nairobi, Johannesburg, Addis Ababa, Accra and Dakar are expected to take on larger roles, although the final structure has not been confirmed publicly. It is not yet clear when the proposal would be implemented, but according to officials cited in US media reports, the changes could take effect in the coming weeks. Why is the US considering this? The State Department has not publicly provided a detailed explanation for the proposal. …