The US Embassy in the Zimbabwean capital of Harare announced on Wednesday (August 20) that it has suspended most visa processing locally until further notice, citing “handling matters between the Zimbabwean government,” without further elaborating on the specifics.
The embassy posted on the social media platform X stating: “We have suspended routine visa services in Harare to handle matters with the Zimbabwean government.” It emphasized that this measure is not a travel ban and that existing valid visas can still be used as usual.
According to an announcement on the US Department of State website, the visa suspension took effect on August 7, covering all routine immigrant and non-immigrant visa services, while most diplomatic and official visas remain unaffected.
The State Department stated that the Trump administration is committed to using the visa system to “maintain the highest standards of national security and public safety” and highlighted that the US is “dedicated to preventing visa overstays and abuse.”
“We are protecting our country and our people,” the State Department indicated, adding that “applicants with scheduled visa interviews will be notified when they can reschedule.”
Although visa services are suspended, routine and emergency consular services for US citizens are still operating normally.
The US did not specify the aspects involved in the “matters with the Zimbabwean government” nor provide further details publicly. However, the Trump administration has implemented a range of more extensive restriction measures against several African countries to curb visa overstays and abuse.
According to data from the US Department of Homeland Security, Zimbabwe had an overstay rate of 10.57% in 2023, which is relatively high within the African region.
Apart from Zimbabwe, the US has also recently suspended visa processing for Niger, and starting this week, some applicants from Zambia and Malawi are required to pay deposits of up to $15,000.
According to Reuters, the halt in visa processing has left many students facing long waits for interviews, with appointments potentially delayed by several weeks or even months. Some Zimbabwean families are considering applying at neighbouring US embassies in Zambia or Namibia, but for many, the additional travel expenses have become a heavy burden.
As of now, the Zimbabwean government has not responded to the actions taken by the US.