The United States embassy in Zimbabwe has suspended all routine visa services with immediate effect, citing unresolved concerns with the government of Zimbabwe.
The announcement, made on Wednesday via the embassy’s official X account, halts the processing of both immigrant and non-immigrant visas until further notice.
“This is not a travel ban. Current valid visas are not affected,” the embassy clarified, adding that it will provide updates on resumption of visa services as soon as there is a change.
While diplomatic and official visa categories remain available, the suspension effectively blocks most Zimbabwean nationals from initiating new travel applications to the US.
The embassy did not specify the nature of its concerns with Zimbabwean authorities.
The move comes amid a broader tightening of US immigration policy under the Trump administration, which has introduced sweeping visa restrictions targeting several African nations.
In recent months, citizens from countries including Somalia, Sudan and Libya have faced full visa bans, while others such as Eritrea, South Sudan and Sierra Leone have been subjected to partial suspensions affecting student, tourist, and work visas.
Earlier this month, Washington imposed new visa bond requirements for travellers from Malawi and Zambia, citing high overstay rates by nationals of the two southern African countries.
Zimbabwe itself was listed among countries urged to address deficiencies in travel documentation and security protocols, with warnings that failure to comply could result in further visa limitations.
JN/APA