The United States will discontinue routine visa processing at its embassy in Abuja from August 1, 2026, as part of a wider restructuring that affects 25 diplomatic missions across Africa.
The policy, announced by the US Department of State, is aimed at centralising visa operations in designated regional hubs to strengthen security screening, improve efficiency and standardise visa adjudication procedures.
In a statement, the Department said the reorganisation aligns with the Trump administration’s efforts to streamline overseas operations while prioritising the safety and security of Americans.
“The Department of State is constantly evaluating its overseas operations in order to advance America’s priorities as efficiently and effectively as possible,” the statement said.
It stressed that the changes would not affect the operational status of the affected embassies and consulates, which will continue to provide other diplomatic and consular services.
The Department also clarified that visas already issued remain valid and that the policy only affects where routine visa applications will be processed.
Besides Abuja, routine visa services will cease at US diplomatic missions in Asmara, Bamako, Banjul, Brazzaville, Bujumbura, Conakry, Cotonou, Durban, Freetown, Gaborone, Harare, Juba, Libreville, Lilongwe, Lusaka, Maputo, Maseru, Mbabane, N’Djamena, Niamey, Nouakchott, Ouagadougou and Windhoek.
The affected visa categories include immediate relative, family preference, employment-based, fiancée and fiancé visas, adoption cases, diversity visas, and follow-to-join refugee and asylee applications.
According to the State Department, applicants from the affected countries will be required to submit their applications at designated visa processing hubs beginning August 1.
For Nigeria, routine visa processing will continue at the US Consulate in Lagos, which is among 20 diplomatic missions across Africa selected to serve as regional processing centres.
Other designated hub locations include Abidjan, Accra, Addis Ababa, Cape Town, Dakar, Dar es Salaam, Djibouti, Johannesburg, Kampala, Kigali, Kinshasa, Lomé, Luanda, Malabo, Monrovia, Nairobi, Port Louis, Praia and Yaoundé.
The Department said the selected hubs will continue to process both immigrant and non-immigrant visas, including tourist, business and petition-based applications.
It noted, however, that existing restrictions under Presidential Proclamation 10998, visa bond requirements and temporary pauses on immigrant visas for certain nationalities remain in force.
The State Department advised intending applicants in countries affected by the changes to schedule appointments and pay the required fees at their designated visa processing centres.
The new arrangement is expected to affect thousands of Nigerian applicants who previously relied on the US Embassy in Abuja for routine visa services and will now have to process their applications through Lagos or other approved regional hubs.
- Why PFIPC DG missed Reps hearing — IG - July 29, 2026
- Zamfara expects 2,000 jobs from new lithium processing plant - July 29, 2026
- Tension mars INEC stakeholders’ meeting ahead of Osun governorship poll - July 29, 2026
