U.S. Temporarily Pauses All Visa Services in South Sudan, the DRC and Uganda

Key Point 

• The U.S. Department of State has paused visa services at U.S. Embassies located in South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda as of May 18, 2026.  

Visa Services in South Sudan, the DRC and Uganda  

Effective May 18, 2026, the U.S. Embassies in Juba, South Sudan, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Kampala, Uganda, have temporarily paused all visa services. The suspension applies to all immigrant and nonimmigrant visa categories, including visitor, business, student and exchange visitor visas.

According to the U.S. Department of State, the pause is a public‑health precaution in response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the region. The Department stated that visa operations will resume once conditions allow.

Visa Services Suspended 

• No visa appointments can be scheduled at:
• U.S. Embassy Juba
• U.S. Embassy Kinshasa
• U.S. Embassy Kampala
• The pause applies to all visa categories, including:
  • Immigrant visas
  • Nonimmigrant visas (tourist, business, student, exchange visitor and others)

Valid Visas Remain Unaffected 

• Individuals who already hold a valid U.S. visa may continue to use it for travel. 

Rescheduling and Notifications 

• Applicants whose appointments were canceled will be notified when they may reschedule. 
• The embassies will update their websites once visa operations resume. 

Visa Fees 

• Nonimmigrant visa application fees remain valid for 365 days from the date of payment for scheduling an interview. 
• Interviews may occur after the 365‑day period as long as the appointment is scheduled within that timeframe. 

What Employers and Foreign Nationals Should Know 

• Individuals in South Sudan, the DRC or Uganda who need a new U.S. visa will experience processing delays. 
• No alternative processing locations have been announced. 
• Employees with valid visas may continue to travel. 
• Those requiring visa stamping should adjust travel plans accordingly. 

Envoy Global will continue to monitor updates from the U.S. Department of State and will provide additional information as it becomes available. 

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