South Africans in KwaZulu-Natal planning to travel to the United States will soon have to make additional arrangements after the US government announced that routine visa services at its Durban office will end, Cape {town} Etc reports.
Picture: Weyland Swart / Unsplash
Reportedly, from 1 August 2026, applicants who previously relied on the Durban Consulate will need to submit their visa applications through the US visa facilities in Cape Town or Johannesburg.
The decision forms part of a broader move by the United States Department of State to consolidate visa processing across Africa into regional hubs, with officials saying the change is aimed at improving security screening, consistency and operational efficiency.
While the Durban office’s visa services are being withdrawn, the US Embassy stressed that the closure does not mean the consulate itself is shutting down or that other diplomatic services will be affected.
‘All routine visa services remain available, including both nonimmigrant and immigrant visas,’ the embassy said in an official statement.
Although the US government says the new system will create more streamlined visa processing, travel industry representatives have raised concerns about the practical impact on South African applicants.
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Reportedly, Heather Lavery, owner and travel director of The Travelling Agent, said the change could place additional pressure on already busy visa centres.
‘The closure will impact not only Durban travellers but all travellers. The Johannesburg and Cape Town offices already deal with applications from other African countries whose offices have closed or are closing,’– Heather Lavery, owner and travel director of The Travelling Agent said.
She warned that increased demand could affect appointment availability at the remaining South African centres.
Peter-John de Klerk from Coast to Coast Visa Services said additional capacity would be needed to prevent longer waiting periods.
‘The remaining two centres will need to receive a substantial increase in capacity to accommodate demand previously handled by the Durban office,’ he said. ‘Without an increase in available slots, applicants are likely to experience even longer waiting times and greater difficulty securing appointments.’
Durban is among dozens of locations across Africa affected by the US Department of State’s regionalisation plan. Other cities losing routine visa processing include:
- Windhoek
- Lusaka
- Maputo
- Maseru
- Mbabane
- Harare
- Gaborone
The US says applicants will still be able to apply for a wide range of visas, including tourist and business visas, employment-related visas, family-based immigrant visas and fiancé(e) visas. Applicants will also still be able to complete required medical examinations either in their home country, where approved panel physicians are available, or at their designated processing hub.
For residents in KwaZulu-Natal, the biggest change will be logistical. Instead of attending appointments locally, applicants will need to plan for travel to either Johannesburg or Cape Town.
While the US government views the change as a step towards a more efficient system, South African travel experts say the success of the new model will depend heavily on whether the remaining visa centres can handle the additional workload without creating longer queues and appointment delays.
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