Visa Services Realigned for 25 African Nations—Local Embassies No Longer Processing Visas
Effective August 1, citizens of 25 African countries seeking F, J, H, and O visas must now apply at designated regional hubs instead of their country's embassy or consulate.
On July 15, 2026 the Department of State announced that as of August 1, 2026, they will realign routine visa services at embassies in 25 African countries to a regional visa hub, requiring citizens and residents of these countries who wish to apply for an F, J, H, or O visa on or after August 1, 2026, to schedule an appointment and pay the required visa fee at the appropriate designated Nonimmigrant Visa Locations.
Affected countries include Madagascar, Nigeria, Eritrea, Mali, The Gambia, Congo, Burundi, Guinea, Benin, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Sudan, Gabon, Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, Lesotho, Eswatini, Chad, Niger, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, and Namibia.
What This Means
Students from these nations seeking F visas, exchange visitors applying for J visas, and workers applying for H-1B or O-1 visas can no longer apply locally. Travel to a regional visa hub is now required, adding time and expense to the visa application process.
Next Steps
If you are a citizen of one of these 25 countries planning to study or work in the U.S., research which regional hub serves your country early and factor in travel time and costs to your application timeline.
Sources
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