The United States will relocate routine visa services in Durban, South Africa, to regional processing hubs starting August 1, 2026, as part of a larger restructuring of visa operations across the continent (iol.co.za). The decision marks a shift in how the U.S. manages its visa services in Africa, aiming to streamline operations and improve efficiency.
Under the new arrangement, applicants in Durban will no longer have access to routine visa services at the local level. Instead, they will need to apply at designated regional hubs, which are expected to be located in other major cities across Africa. The exact locations of these hubs have not yet been disclosed.
The move is part of a broader strategy to centralize and optimize visa processing across the African continent. Officials have not provided further details on the rationale behind the decision or the expected benefits of the new system. The change is expected to affect thousands of applicants seeking U.S. visas in South Africa.
