Morocco has joined seven other African countries: Uganda, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Zambia, facing growing delays in U.S. visa processing.
- Nine African countries, including Morocco, are facing extended U.S. visa processing times.
- Delays predominantly impact first-time B1/B2 applicants, students, business travelers, and family visitors.
- The rise in application numbers and stricter security protocols are central causes of the delays.
- Additionally, new visa restrictions for some nations are contributing to the bottlenecks.
Travelers most affected include first-time B1/B2 applicants, students, business visitors, and those travelling to see family.
Rising application volumes, combined with stricter security procedures, are putting increasing pressure on U.S. consular services across Africa.
The situation is further complicated for certain countries by newly announced U.S. visa restrictions. As a result, delays are expected to worsen during the Christmas holiday season and could continue into the early months of the new year.
Morocco
In Morocco, the U.S. embassy in Casablanca is experiencing longer processing times as applicants seek visas for business, education, tourism, and family visits. The surge in applications, combined with more stringent vetting procedures, has extended wait times to several months, particularly affecting first-time B1/B2 applicants. As the holiday season approaches, the embassy’s resources are increasingly stretched.
Nigeria
Nigeria remains one of the hardest-hit countries. The U.S. embassy in Nigeria is one of the busiest in Africa, and the high volume of applications, combined with new security vetting procedures, has strained its resources.
The embassy’s limited capacity, especially for first-time B1/B2 applicants, has led to wait times of several months, with significant delays expected to continue in the coming year. In Lagos and Abuja, in-depth background checks and additional administrative processing have compounded delays. Furthermore, Nigeria is now subject to partial restrictions on visa issuance, including B‑1/B‑2 visas, which will take effect from January 2026.
Egypt and Uganda
Egypt and Uganda are also grappling with substantial backlogs. At the U.S. embassy in Cairo, the rising number of applications and tighter security measures have created long queues for visa interviews.
This backlog affects both Egyptian nationals and third-country applicants who apply through Egypt. Similarly, the U.S. embassy in Kampala is under pressure as demand rises, particularly from students and business travelers, stretching consular capacity further.
South Africa
South Africa is experiencing comparable challenges. Consulates in Pretoria, Cape Town, and Johannesburg are managing increased applications from business and tourism sectors, while stricter administrative checks have slowed processing times.
Consequently, waiting periods have lengthened, creating congestion across the country’s consular services. Reports indicate that, from mid-December, Afrikaner applicants were being prioritised in line with directives from the President, adding another layer to the backlog and affecting the scheduling of other applicants.
Tanzania
Tanzania is seeing similar delays. The U.S. embassy in Dar es Salaam has limited capacity and is processing applications more slowly due to enhanced security procedures. First-time visitors are particularly affected. Additionally, Tanzania is included in the partial U.S. visa restrictions list taking effect from January 2026, which is expected to further impact visa processing times.
Ethiopia
In Ethiopia, the U.S. embassy in Addis Ababa is managing increased applications, particularly from business travelers and students. Limited resources and enhanced security protocols have lengthened processing timelines, especially for first-time B1/B2 applicants. Holiday closures in late December may push back appointment availability into early 2026.
Zambia
Zambia is experiencing comparable delays. The U.S. embassy in Lusaka is under pressure due to the high volume of applications and stricter security procedures. First-time visitors are especially affected. Zambia also appears on the U.S. partial visa restriction list effective January 2026, adding to the challenges in processing applications during the peak holiday season.
Regional Trend
Overall, these delays reflect a broader trend across Africa, where interest in U.S. travel for business, education, tourism, and family visits continues to rise. Heightened security measures, including more comprehensive background checks and additional vetting, are further straining consular resources.
Across the continent, applicants are facing longer waits for U.S. visas, with peak periods such as the Christmas holiday season and the early months of the new year likely to see some of the most significant delays in recent years.
