19/08/2026
Routine Visa Services Update Effective August 1, 2026
Effective August 1, 2026, the Department of State will realign and consolidate visa services in Sub-Saharan Africa. Routine visa services will cease to be offered at the following U.S. diplomatic posts: Abuja, Antananarivo, 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. Visa services previously offered at these posts will be consolidated within a smaller number of select regional visa hubs. From August 1, 2026 onwards, nationals and residents of countries where the aforementioned posts are located who wish to apply for a visa must schedule an appointment and pay the required visa fee at the appropriate designated regional hub.
If you have a scheduled interview at one of these locations, please monitor your email for specific guidance about your application. For more information, go to Realignment of U.S. Visa Services in Africa to Regional Hubs.
https://za.usembassy.gov/visas-2/
(Source: U.S. Embassy and Consulates in South Africa)
A citizen of a foreign country who seeks to travel to the U.S. generally must first obtain a U.S. visa, which is placed in the traveler's passport.