Navigating Visa Hurdles: An African Perspective

By Darius Spearman (africanelements)

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The Visa Maze: A Journey of Stress and Uncertainty

For many people from the African continent, obtaining visas for travel to Western countries is not a simple task. It is often a process that is lengthy, expensive, and filled with uncertainty. This can lead to significant stress, which some have even described as a “low-level trauma.” Imagine preparing for a trip, only to face a bureaucratic wall that feels like a violation of your personal space. The feeling of being subjected to a “bureaucratic cavity search” highlights the intrusive nature of these processes (The Guardian).

The amount of paperwork required can be overwhelming. For instance, one visa application for a family member involved submitting 32 documents. These documents often include bank statements, employment letters, academic records, certified proof of asset ownership, and even birth and marriage certificates. The purpose of these extensive requirements is typically to verify an applicant’s identity, financial stability, and intent to return to their home country. However, the sheer volume can be daunting. Furthermore, the fees associated with these applications can be substantial. A tourist visa to the United Kingdom, for example, can cost up to £1,000, in addition to fees charged by private processing centers. It is important to note that all these fees are non-refundable, regardless of whether the visa is granted or denied (The Guardian).

Unpredictable Processing Times and Their Consequences

The unpredictability of processing times adds another layer of difficulty. Some United States visa applications have been known to take over six months to process. By the time the visa arrives, the original purpose for the travel, such as attending a specific meeting, may have long passed, rendering the visa useless (The Guardian). This lack of timely processing can disrupt personal and professional plans, leading to missed opportunities and significant frustration.

The impact of these stringent visa policies extends beyond mere inconvenience; they can sever crucial connections. Many families in the Black diaspora are spread across different continents. When travel is restricted, these policies become deeply personal, separating family members, friends, and partners. For example, recent policies implemented by Donald Trump have restricted entry to the United States for nationals from 20 countries, half of which are in Africa. This includes countries like Sudan, which is experiencing a civil war, making it incredibly difficult for refugees to reunite with their families abroad (The Guardian). These restrictions impact students who cannot graduate, spouses who cannot join their partners, and children who are separated from their parents (The Guardian).

The EU’s Visa Regime: A Damaged Reputation

The European Union’s increasingly stringent approach to migration has become a major source of friction with African governments. This strict visa regime is not only causing diplomatic tension but is also doing considerable damage to the EU’s image among Africa’s intellectual, cultural, and business elites (cer.eu). There is no evidence that the EU’s attempts to reduce irregular migration by making it harder for travelers to get Schengen visas are actually working (cer.eu).

The EU should reconsider its approach to visas. The fact that African citizens want to visit, study, and do business in Europe is an element of soft power. Soft power refers to a country’s ability to influence others through attraction and persuasion rather than coercion. The EU could capitalize on this desire to gain influence on the continent (cer.eu). Instead, the current policy is alienating potential allies and undermining its own strategic interests.

Schengen Visa Rejection Rates for African Applicants

In 2022, 30 percent of African Schengen visa applications were rejected by the EU. This is a significant increase from 18 percent in 2014 (cer.eu). This rising rejection rate contributes to the perception that the EU’s visa policy is discriminatory. The high rejection rates are often attributed to doubts about applicants’ intention to leave the destination country before their visa expires (henleyglobal.com). This approach, however, overlooks the potential for positive engagement and collaboration.

The top 10 African countries, while submitting only 2.8 percent of global Schengen visa applications, faced a rejection rate of 44.8 percent in 2023 (henleyglobal.com). This disproportionately high rejection rate suggests a systemic bias. The lower passport strength of many African nations, stemming from limited global visa access and restricted mobility opportunities within Africa, further compounds the challenges faced by African applicants (henleyglobal.com). Consequently, passports often hinder rather than facilitate mobility for Africans.

Disparities in Visa Access and Costs

It is significantly easier for Western visitors to obtain visas for African countries than it is for African travelers to visit Western countries (kolaking.substack.com). This imbalance highlights a global disparity in travel freedom. African travelers may need to travel long distances to apply for a visa, or there might be no representation of the destination country in their home country, making visa acquisition incredibly difficult (kolaking.substack.com).

The cost for Western countries to obtain a visa to Africa is often much cheaper than what it is for Africans, especially when considering the value of local currencies (kolaking.substack.com). This financial burden is compounded by the fact that Nigerian visitors have a high percentage of visa overstays, which can make it more difficult for other Nigerian citizens to obtain visas (quora.com). This creates a cycle of suspicion and difficulty for future applicants from the same country.

Visa Overstay Policies in Nigeria and the US

Nigeria has recently implemented new policies to address visa overstays. These include daily fines and re-entry bans for individuals who overstay their visas (knowledge.dlapiper.com). These reforms are part of a broader effort to strengthen compliance and enhance national security, including updates to the Expatriate Quota System and the forthcoming ‘Nigeria Visa Policy 2025’ (knowledge.dlapiper.com).

The United States has also seen a significant number of student visa overstays from Nigeria. While India and China have the highest number of student overstays in the US, African countries, including Nigeria, have recorded the highest percentage of student overstay rates, with some reaching as high as 70 percent (thepienews.com). Despite these concerns, the U.S. and Nigeria reciprocally increased tourist visa validity to five years in 2023, aiming to support a closer and deeper relationship (ng.usembassy.gov). This suggests a complex interplay between security concerns and diplomatic goals.

The Impact on Students and Families

The personal consequences of these visa policies are profound. Abrupt policy changes have created uncertainty for international students, with some having their visas revoked and facing administrative burdens, long wait times, and no guarantee of regaining their status (brookings.edu). Some students, fearing detention after their legal status was terminated, left the U.S. and are now “stranded” in their home countries (brookings.edu).

A recent policy requires all student visa applicants to disclose their social media accounts and set them to “public,” allowing government monitoring of their digital activity (brookings.edu). This raises significant privacy concerns and adds another layer of scrutiny to an already difficult process. These policies not only hinder individual aspirations but also impact the broader academic and professional landscape, potentially limiting the diversity of talent and perspectives in Western institutions.

African Nations Paving a Smoother Path

While some countries are tightening their borders, others are moving towards greater openness. Kenya, for example, has removed visa requirements for almost all African citizens, promoting regional solidarity and boosting tourism (The Guardian). This is a smart move that makes Kenya an inviting destination for people to gather at short notice for professional or festive reasons (The Guardian).

This initiative sends an important signal to a continent embattled by visa restrictions and divided across borders set by colonial rule (The Guardian). It emphasizes that Africans are not just liabilities to be judged on how many resources they might take from a country once allowed in. They are also tourists, friends, relatives, entrepreneurs, and, above all, Africans who have the right to meet and mingle without the terror and contempt of a suspicious visa process (The Guardian).

The African Union Passport and Regional Solidarity

In 2016, the African Union launched an “AU passport” with the goal of allowing unrestricted travel for Africans within the continent (amp.theguardian.com). However, its rollout has been limited, primarily used by diplomats. The reasons for this limited adoption are complex, often involving issues of national sovereignty, security concerns, and the logistical challenges of implementing a continent-wide system. Despite these hurdles, the vision of seamless intra-African travel remains a powerful one.

African countries have been simplifying entry procedures, as indicated by the 2022 Africa Visa Openness Report (amp.theguardian.com). The majority of African countries offer visa-free travel to at least five other countries, with greater freedom of travel within regional blocs (amp.theguardian.com). For example, the East African Community (EAC) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have made significant strides in facilitating easier movement for their citizens. These regional efforts demonstrate a growing commitment to fostering greater connectivity and economic integration within Africa.

African Countries Offering Visa-Free Travel to Other African Nations

The movement towards greater visa openness within Africa is a testament to the continent’s growing self-reliance and desire for internal connectivity. This contrasts sharply with the difficulties faced when seeking entry to Western nations. The economic and social impact of these visa difficulties on African communities and countries is substantial, hindering educational exchanges, business opportunities, and the reunification of families. While African nations are proactively addressing these challenges within their own borders, there is also a need for diplomatic engagement with Western countries to improve visa access and foster more equitable global mobility.

The ongoing dialogue about visa policies must consider the human element and the broader implications for international relations. As African nations continue to simplify their entry procedures, they set an example for global cooperation and mutual respect. The hope is that this trend will encourage other regions to re-evaluate their own visa policies, moving towards a more inclusive and accessible world for all travelers.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darius Spearman has been a professor of Black Studies at San Diego City College since 2007. He is the author of several books, including Between The Color Lines: A History of African Americans on the California Frontier Through 1890. You can visit Darius online at africanelements.org.