Impact of U.S. Visa-Processing Reductions in Africa

President Donald Trump’s administration plans to drastically cut visa-processing services across Africa. This move will impact thousands of potential green card lottery winners and relatives of U.S. citizens, according to a Newsweek analysis.

Reduction of Visa-Processing Centers

The U.S. State Department intends to decrease visa-processing locations in Africa from nearly 50 sites to 20 regional hubs. This information comes from The Associated Press, citing a leaked memo and anonymous officials. A State Department representative did not confirm this directly with Newsweek but mentioned that the department continually evaluates overseas operations, including maintaining rigorous visa security screening and vetting standards.

Impact on African Countries

Newsweek analyzed the available State Department immigrant visa data from July to September 2025. The analysis identified that Egypt would face the most significant impact, with relatives of U.S. citizens being the largest group affected after Diversity Visa applicants.

Countries with the Most Visas at Stake

• Egypt: Cairo processed 1,995 immigrant visas
• Algeria: Algiers issued 867 visas
• Morocco: Casablanca handled 752 visas
• Benin: Cotonou processed 365 visas
• Tunisia: Tunis issued 194 visas

The State Department has not issued detailed guidance on the African plan, but general guidelines suggest applicants apply at a designated processing post if operations are suspended. For example, Cairo’s nearest hub would be Djibouti, 1,486 miles away. Algiers and Casablanca would use Dakar, about 1,979 miles and 1,443 miles away, respectively. Cotonou would be closest to Lagos, 66 miles away, and Tunis would also find Lagos nearest, 2,136 miles away.

Groups Most Affected

Diversity Visas

The Diversity Visa (DV) category, part of the green card lottery, accounted for 2,165 of 4,778 total issuances across affected posts. The program has been a unique path to U.S. residency without family or employer ties. The Trump administration has been tightening screening to reduce fraud.

Visas for Families of U.S. Citizens

The IR1 visa for the spouse of a U.S. citizen saw 674 issuances during the study period. The IR5 visa, issued to a parent of a U.S. citizen, totaled 417. Both the F4 visa, for siblings of a U.S. citizen, and the IR2 visa, for unmarried children under 21, had 334 issuances.

Trump’s Immigration Measures

President Trump has emphasized immigration restrictions during his presidency. This change would further limit pathways for immigrants seeking to enter the U.S. Legislation such as travel bans has already affected numerous African and Asian nations. The administration claims these steps are critical for national security and fraud prevention. However, critics argue these measures create barriers for legal U.S. entry.

Methodology of Analysis

Newsweek identified affected African posts using the AP’s reported list of 20 visa-processing hubs and compared it with the current U.S. diplomatic presence in Africa. Visa issuance data from July, August, and September 2025 was examined by post and visa class. The analysis assessed posts in countries losing routine visa processing and calculated total immigrant visa issuances.