US Visa Shift Ends 3rd-Country Applications, Hitting Africa Hardest

The United States has moved to end the practice of applying for visas in third countries, a policy shift that will particularly affect Africans who relied on more flexible rules to secure entry to America.

Under the new rules, applicants must now schedule their visa interviews in their country of nationality or residence.

The change removes a decades-old practice that allowed travellers to seek interviews at US missions abroad, a system widely used to sidestep long wait times or strict documentation demands at home.

The so-called “visa runs” became common during the pandemic, when backlogs in major African capitals forced many applicants to look elsewhere.

Some Kenyans preferred to travel to South Africa, where interview slots were more readily available, while others from Nigeria turned to neighbouring Ghana or Côte d’Ivoire.

For many, it offered a quicker route to study abroad, attend conferences, or reunite with family.

That flexibility has now been scrapped. Consular officials say only limited exceptions will be made, such as where embassies are closed or in cases of urgent humanitarian need.

For the vast majority, applicants will be forced into home-country systems that are often overstretched and under-resourced.

The impact is expected to be sharp in Africa, where US embassies already struggle to meet demand.

Kenya’s embassy in Nairobi, for example, has faced criticism for months-long wait times for interviews, while Nigerian applicants contend with strict appointment quotas.

With the end of third-country processing, these queues are set to grow.

The move comes as Washington has introduced other measures tightening access, including scrapping interview waivers for many categories and raising visa fees.

Officials argue the changes will improve security and streamline processing, but critics warn they could discourage legitimate travellers and place an added burden on students, business visitors and tourists.

For many Africans, the end of the visa-run era closes off what was often the only practical option.

Without the ability to shop for faster or less stringent appointments abroad, applicants face longer waits, higher costs and tougher scrutiny at home.

gandae@businessdayafrica.org