US halts routine Visa processing for Zimbabweans

Philemon Jambaya

Zim Now Editor

The United States has temporarily suspended routine visa processing services at its embassy in Zimbabwe, effective Thursday, due to concerns over visa overstays and non-cooperation on immigration matters. The decision affects various visa categories, including immigrant, tourist, student, and business visas.

According to the US government, Zimbabwe has a visa overstay rate of 10.57% for B1 and B2 visa holders, equivalent to 709 individuals. The overstay rate among Zimbabwean students is also under scrutiny. The US has been pressuring Zimbabwe to sign a "safe third country" agreement, which would allow asylum seekers to be transferred to a country they passed through before arriving in the US. However, Zimbabwe has refused to sign such an agreement.

The suspension does not affect Zimbabweans holding currently valid US visas. The US embassy will continue to process limited applications, including diplomatic and official visas. This move is part of the US government's efforts to curb visa overstays and misuse.

The visa freeze follows a similar move by the US government, which reinstated a travel ban targeting 19 countries in June, citing weak passport controls and high visa overstay rates. Additionally, the US has launched a pilot program requiring visa applicants from Malawi and Zambia to post bonds of up to $15,000 to deter visitors from overstaying their visas.