FACT CHECK: Has The U.S. Stopped Taking Visa Applications From Zimbabweans?
On August 7, 2025, a verified page on the microblogging platform, X, alleged that the United States had stopped taking visa applications from Zimbabwe citizens. The posted had an image of the US embassy alongside the Zimbabwean flag with a writ-up: “ZINBABWE CITIZENS BARRED FROM APPLYING FOR U.S. VISA AS OVERSTAY RATE EXCEEDS 10 PERCENT”,
The claim was captioned, “The U.S. has stopped taking visa applications from Zimbabwe 🇿🇼 starting today. Only government and diplomatic travelers are allowed. This move affects regular Zimbabwean citizens. Reports say the main reason is high overstay rates, over 10.5% of Zimbabweans with tourist or business visas stayed longer than allowed in 2023.”
Over 37,500 people viewed this post with about 85 replies, reposts, quotes, likes and bookmarks, as of when this report was published. In the comment section, @Immydee123 said “Yesterday was about Zambia and Malawi. Todays its about Zimbabwe. We should retaliate” while @MardukMoon wrote, “Only White people should be able to come to the US. The rest of you stay in Africa.”
VERIFICATION
The U.S. Embassy in Harare temporarily paused all routine immigrant and non-immigrant visa services, effective from August 8, 2025. This suspension is due to unresolved concerns with the Government of Zimbabwe regarding visa overstay rates and other compliance issues. The U.S. State Department has stated that this measure is temporary and aims to address these concerns.
The suspension does not apply to all visa categories. Most diplomatic and official visas are exempt from this pause. Additionally, certain visa categories, such as those for students, tourists, and business travelers, are affected, potentially disrupting plans for thousands of Zimbabwean nationals.
This action aligns with broader U.S. immigration enforcement policies under the Trump’s administration, which have targeted several African nations over issues like visa overstays and traveller vetting. Zimbabwe, along with Malawi and Zambia, is among 36 countries urged by the U.S. to improve their traveller documentation and cooperation on repatriating undocumented nationals in the U.S. and there is a caveat that failure to comply could result in stricter travel restrictions.
While the U.S. has paused most visa applications from Zimbabwe, it is not a complete cessation. The suspension is temporary and primarily affects routine visa services, with exemptions for most diplomatic and official visas. This measure is part of ongoing efforts to address concerns related to visa overstays and compliance with U.S. immigration policies.
CONCLUSION
The claim that the United States had stopped taking visa applications from Zimbabwe citizens is PARTLY TRUE. While the U.S. has paused most visa applications from Zimbabwe, This is not a complete cessation but is part of an ongoing efforts to address concerns related to visa overstays and compliance with U.S. immigration policies.
