Zimbabwe Visa Operations Halted Amid Overstay Concerns

US Embassy Pauses Routine Services

Routine visa processing at the U.S. Embassy in Zimbabwe is suspended starting Thursday. The State Department has initiated a temporary halt impacting a broad spectrum of visa applications.

Overstay Rates Trigger Suspension

A senior State Department official cited high visa overstay rates as a primary reason for the pause. Specifically, Zimbabwe’s B1 and B2 visa overstay rate stands at 10.57%, affecting 709 individuals. Concerns also extend to student visa overstays.

Additionally, the official highlighted Zimbabwe’s refusal to enter a “safe third country” agreement. This type of pact would enable asylum seekers to pursue claims from previously visited nations, a measure the U.S. administration seeks to implement.

Administration’s Broader Policy

The move aligns with a wider effort by the administration to curb visa overstays and misuse. The Trump administration had previously pursued similar agreements with African nations to facilitate the acceptance of deported non-nationals.

To date, Eswatini, Rwanda, and South Sudan are the only publicly confirmed African countries to have agreed to such arrangements.

Exemptions Remain in Place

Existing valid visas will not be affected by this temporary suspension. Certain critical visa categories, including official and C-3 diplomatic visas, will continue to be processed without interruption.

Overstaying visas can strain resources and impact immigration systems. In 2023, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security reported that over 1.1 million individuals overstayed their visas, with many extending their stay beyond their authorized period (DHS Immigration Statistics).