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The United States has suspended routine visa processing at its embassy in Harare, citing concerns over Zimbabweans overstaying visas and disagreements on immigration cooperation.
The freeze, effective Thursday, affects most visa categories — including tourist, student, immigrant, and business visas. Only diplomatic and official applications will continue to be processed.
Washington says Zimbabwe’s refusal to sign a “safe third country” agreement, which would see asylum seekers sent back to the first country they passed through before reaching the US, is a sticking point. The US has been pushing African states to either accept deported non-nationals or agree to similar asylum protocols — with Eswatini, Rwanda, and South Sudan already on board.
According to US data, 10.57% of Zimbabwean holders of short-term B1 and B2 visas — roughly 709 people — overstayed in recent years. Student visa holders are also reportedly under review.
Officials stressed that the suspension does not affect Zimbabweans with valid US visas.
The development comes amid a broader crackdown on visa overstays by Washington. In June, the US reinstated a travel ban on 19 countries for weak passport controls and high overstay rates, and gave Zimbabwe and other nations 60 days to meet new immigration security standards or face penalties.
It also follows the launch of a controversial pilot scheme in Malawi and Zambia requiring certain visa applicants to pay bonds of up to US$15,000, aimed at deterring overstays.
