US to drastically slash the number of embassies in Africa that can process visas
WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department plans to drastically reduce the number of U.S. embassies and consulates in Africa Visa procedures for foreigners He aims to come to the United States.
The number of about 50 U.S. embassies and consulates that process visa applications will be reduced to 20 in the coming weeks, according to three U.S. officials and an internal memo obtained by The Associated Press. There is no set date yet for the change, but it is expected to happen in June, according to officials who were not authorized to comment to the media and spoke on condition of anonymity.
The move is part of the Trump administration’s effort to crack down on Iran issuance of both immigrant and non-immigrant visas as part of its broader goal of limiting immigration to the United States and Restriction for those traveling with temporary visas but then get over them. The administration also reduced staff at embassies and consulates around the world.
In a conference call last Friday, U.S. diplomats, including consular chiefs, were told the United States would reduce visa services across Africa, according to one of the officials who participated in the call.
Under a directive approved last week by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the State Department will reduce consular operations in all but 20 “centers” in Africa, according to officials and the memo.
Visa processing in Africa has already been affected by the travel ban on certain countries as well as the requirement for applicants to obtain a visa. Post bonds up to $15,000 for the purpose of implementing it and, more recently, due to restrictions caused by the Ebola epidemic.
The new rules mean that a citizen of a non-hub country will have to travel to one of 20 approved regions; This can cause major travel difficulties and costs.
Consular sections in non-central countries will remain open, but the services they can offer will be limited. They will continue to assist American citizens with passport renewals and urgent consular requests, as well as special national interest cases and diplomatic visa applications.
According to the statement, the 20 centers that will remain open for all transactions are: 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; Kinshasa, Congo; Lagos, Nigeria; Lome, Togo; Luanda, Angola; Malabo, Equatorial Guinea; Monrovia, Liberia; Nairobi, Kenya; Port Louis, Mauritius; Praia, Cape Verde; and Yaounde, Cameroon.
___
Mednick reported from Tel Aviv.
