The US embassy in Zimbabwe is pausing all routine visa operations beginning Thursday, according to a memo sent by the State Department and viewed by Semafor.
The pause, described as “temporary,” will affect applications for a host of visas, including immigrant visas as well as nonimmigrant tourist, business traveler, student, and exchange visitor visas.
“The Administration is always working to prevent visa overstay and misuse,” a senior State Department official said.
The official pointed to Zimbabwe’s B1 and B2 visa overstay rate of 10.57%, which is equivalent to 709 Zimbabweans.
Overstay rates for those on student visas is also a concern — as is Zimbabwe not agreeing to a so-called safe third country or third country national agreement that would permit asylum seekers to pursue their claim from a nation they previously traveled to, according to the official.
The Trump administration has reportedly pressured African countries to accept deported non-national migrants. So far only Eswatini, Rwanda, and South Sudan have publicly agreed to such an arrangement.
Source: Semafor
