US Shuts Down Visa Processing in Botswana, Forcing Applicants to Travel to South Africa

GABORONE — The United States will stop processing visas in Botswana from 1 August 2026, with all immigrant and routine non-immigrant visa services for Botswana nationals and residents shifting to the U.S. Consulate General in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The Government of Botswana confirmed the move in a statement issued by the Ministry of International Relations on Thursday, saying visa applications would continue to begin online, but all interviews and processing would thereafter be handled in Johannesburg.

The ministry said the change would affect “routine non-immigrant and all immigrant visa services for Botswana nationals and residents.”

“Visa applications will continue to commence online, with subsequent processing undertaken at the regional centre in Johannesburg,” it said, advising applicants to consult the U.S. Department of State’s official travel website for updated information on appointment scheduling and visa fee payments.

Botswana raises concerns over tougher U.S. visa rules

Botswana also expressed concern over what it described as Washington’s increasingly restrictive approach to visa issuance, saying the tougher measures have made travel to the United States more difficult for its citizens than in previous years.

“The Government of Botswana notes with concern the increasingly stringent visa regime of the United States of America, which has made travel more difficult for Batswana compared to previous years,” the ministry said.

It specifically highlighted the U.S. visa bond programme, introduced in August 2025, as one of the measures that has tightened travel requirements.

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At the same time, Botswana acknowledged that some of the changes were linked to the conduct of its own citizens.

“It is important to acknowledge that defaults on visa conditions and rising numbers of asylum claims by Batswana in the United States of America have contributed to these developments,” the ministry said, warning that such trends undermine efforts to maintain easier travel arrangements.

The government urged citizens travelling abroad to comply with immigration rules and respect the laws of their host countries.

“The Government of Botswana, therefore, urges all citizens to exercise caution, to respect the laws of host countries, and to uphold the values of integrity and responsibility. By doing so, Batswana will strengthen trust abroad and preserve the privilege of travelling and visiting the United States of America and other nations without undue scrutiny or difficulty.”

Part of broader U.S. restrictions on African travellers

The suspension of visa processing in Gaborone comes amid a wider tightening of U.S. immigration policies affecting several African countries under President Donald Trump’s second administration.

One of the most significant measures has been the expansion of the State Department’s visa bond pilot programme, which requires certain applicants for B-1/B-2 business and tourist visas to pay a refundable bond of between US$5,000 and US$15,000 before a visa is issued. The bond is forfeited if the traveller overstays their authorised period in the United States.

Botswana joined the programme at the start of 2026 alongside Bhutan, the Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia and Turkmenistan. Earlier participants included Malawi, Zambia, Tanzania, The Gambia, Mauritania and São Tomé and Príncipe.

By March 2026, Washington had expanded the programme to 50 countries, adding Ethiopia, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles and Tunisia. Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Senegal, Uganda, Côte d’Ivoire and Algeria had already been included during an earlier expansion in January.

The U.S. State Department says the programme is designed to reduce immigration enforcement costs, estimating it saves American taxpayers up to US$800 million annually, while reporting that 97% of travellers required to pay the bond have returned home within their authorised stay.

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Critics, however, argue the policy disproportionately targets lower-income countries regardless of actual overstay rates. They point to countries such as Mauritius, Seychelles and Lesotho, which have relatively low overstay rates, yet remain subject to the programme, while questioning the consistency of the criteria used to determine which countries are included.

Botswana is also among several countries now facing multiple restrictions, with the visa bond requirement adding to other visa measures introduced by Washington earlier this year.

Johannesburg becomes regional processing hub

The move also reflects a broader consolidation of U.S. consular services across Southern Africa.

Immigrant visa applications from Botswana have already been processed through Johannesburg for several years. From 1 August, routine non-immigrant visas will also be handled there, effectively ending general visa processing at the U.S. Embassy in Gaborone.

The change further reinforces Johannesburg’s role as the regional hub for U.S. consular services in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), as Washington continues to centralise operations across the region.

From August, Botswana applicants will still begin the visa process online by completing the standard DS-160 application form. However, all interviews and final processing will take place in Johannesburg.

The shift means applicants will need to budget not only for travel to South Africa but also, where applicable, for the possibility of paying a visa bond of up to US$15,000 if required by a U.S. consular officer.

For many ordinary travellers, the additional travel costs and the prospect of a substantial refundable bond are expected to make obtaining a U.S. visa significantly more expensive and less accessible than before.