United States Closes Visa Processing Operations in Botswana
16 Jul 2026
The government of the United States of America will close its Visa processing operations in Botswana, effective August 1.
From this date, routine non-immigrant and all immigrant visa services for Botswana nationals and residents will be processed by the U.S Consulate General in Johannesburg, South Africa.
According to a press release issued by the Ministry of International Relations, visa applications will continue to be submitted online, with subsequent processing taking place at the regional centre in Johannesburg and information on appointment scheduling and visa fee payments is available on the official U.S. Department of State website.
It also says the government is concerned about the increasingly stringent U.S. visa regime, which has made travel to the United States more difficult for Batswana than in previous years.
The release says Botswana will continue engaging the U.S. Government on visa-related matters, including the visa bond programme introduced in August 2025.
The press release further says breaches of visa conditions and increasing asylum claims by Batswana in the United States have contributed to the stricter visa measures, affecting the ease of travel.
"Government urges all citizens to respect the laws of host countries and uphold the values of integrity and responsibility to help preserve Botswana's reputation and maintain smooth international travel," it says. ENDS
Source : BOPA
Author : BOPA
Location : Gaborone
Event : Press release
Date : 16 Jul 2026
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