Notice
UPDATE NOTICE: JULY 31
Effective August 1, 2026, the Department of State will realign and consolidate visa services in Sub-Saharan Africa. Routine visa services will cease to be offered at the following U.S. diplomatic posts: Abuja, Antananarivo, Asmara, Bamako, Banjul, Brazzaville, Bujumbura, Conakry, Cotonou, Durban, Freetown, Gaborone, Harare, Juba, Libreville, Lilongwe, Lusaka, Maputo, Maseru, Mbabane, N’Djamena, Niamey, Nouakchott, Ouagadougou, and Windhoek. Visa services previously offered at these posts will be consolidated within a smaller number of select regional visa hubs. From August 1, 2026 onwards, nationals and residents of countries where the aforementioned posts are located who wish to apply for a visa must schedule an appointment and pay the required visa fee at the appropriate designated regional hub.If you have a scheduled interview at one of these locations, please monitor your email for specific guidance about your application. For more information, go to Realignment of U.S. Visa Services in Africa to Regional Hubs.
Citizens and residents of Zimbabwe who wish to apply for a U.S. visa must schedule an appointment and pay the required visa fee at U.S. Consulates Johannesburg or Cape Town, the designated locations.
Important Notice on Visa Issuance for Nationals of Zimbabwe
Effective January 1, 2026, and pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 10998 on Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States, the United States has suspended the issuance of B (business/tourist), F (student), M (trainee), J (exchange visitor), K (fiancé), and all Immigrant visas to nationals of Zimbabwe.
- Applicants subject to Presidential Proclamation 10998 may still submit visa applications and attend scheduled interviews; however, they may be ineligible for visa issuance or admission to the United States.
- Holders of currently valid visas are not affected and may continue to travel.
- For full details, visit travel.state.gov.
Visa Interview Appointments
- Applicants for U.S. nonimmigrant visas should schedule interviews at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in their country of residence or nationality.
- Visa issuance at the U.S. Embassy in Harare is currently paused. Citizens or residents of Zimbabwe must apply at the U.S. Consulate General in Johannesburg.
- Visa application fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. For more information, visit travel.state.gov.
Bond Requirement for B1/B2 Visas
Starting January 21, 2026, nationals of Zimbabwe who are otherwise eligible for a B1/B2 (business/tourist) visa must post a bond of up to $15,000.
- At the interview, the consular officer will inform applicants if they qualify and provide instructions for bond payment.
- Do not use third-party websites or pay a bond before receiving official instructions from a consular officer.
- B1/B2 visas cannot be issued until the bond is paid. This requirement applies regardless of the place of application.
Social Media Vetting for Certain Visa Categories
All individuals applying for an A-3, C-3 (if a domestic worker), G-5, H1-B, H-3, H-4 dependent of H-1B and H-3, F, M, J, K-1, K-2, K-3, Q, R-1, R-2, S, T, or U nonimmigrant visa are instructed to adjust the privacy setting on all social media accounts to “public” or “open” to facilitate vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States under U.S. law. More information is available at travel.state.gov.
Diversity Visa Program
Effective immediately, the Department of State has paused all visa issuances to diversity immigrant visa applicants. For additional details, visit travel.state.gov.
The validity of C1/D (transit/crew member) visas for Zimbabwean applicants has been extended to 24 months with multiple entry. Applications for C1/D visas may be submitted at the U.S. Embassy in Johannesburg at this time. The U.S. Embassy in Harare continues the pause on routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa services.
Pause on Immigrant and Non-Immigrant Visa Services at U.S. Embassy Harare Continues
The U.S. Embassy in Harare, Zimbabwe, continues its pause on all routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa services except for most diplomatic and official visas. Zimbabwean applicants for U.S. nonimmigrant visas currently resident in Zimbabwe should schedule their visa interview appointments at the U.S Embassy in Johannesburg unless their residence is elsewhere.
Effective immediately, all individuals applying for an F, M, or J nonimmigrant visa are requested to adjust the privacy settings on all their social media accounts to ‘public’ to facilitate vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States under U.S. law.
Applicants with scheduled visa interviews will receive information once appointments can be rescheduled. Wait times for nonimmigrant interview appointments vary by location. Applicants applying outside their country of nationality or residence should expect to wait significantly longer for an appointment and might find that it will be more difficult to qualify for the visa. Fees paid for such applications will not be refunded.
Routine and emergency American Citizens Services will continue as normal.
The Department of State is committed to protecting our nation and our citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety through our visa processes, preventing overstay and visa misuse.
