If you're applying for a US visa from an African country and your local embassy used to handle interviews, that may no longer be true. Since August 1, 2026, the State Department has consolidated routine visa processing across the continent from nearly 50 posts down to just 20 regional hubs — and for applicants in the wrong country, that can mean an international trip just to get to an interview. From 50 Embassies to 20: What the US Visa Hub Consolidation in Africa Actually Me