The United States on Tuesday, 9 September, reaffirmed its tough stance on non-immigrant visa processing, saying that Zimbabwean residents must lodge their applications at the US Consulate in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The US also said applicants with social media accounts set to private would not be considered for visas, insisting that such measures are necessary to safeguard the security of American citizens.
At the same time, Washington confirmed that the suspension of immigrant and non-immigrant visa services at the US Embassy in Harare remains in place. A notice from the US said in part:
“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.
Daily Harare-Mutare flights
“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.”
The US announced that the validity of C1/D transit and crew member visas for Zimbabwean applicants has been extended to 24 months, with multiple entries permitted. Reads the notice:
“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.”
The U.S. advised that individuals seeking visas or undergoing background checks should review and adjust their social media privacy settings to ensure that relevant information is accessible to consular officers and vetting authorities.
This recommendation is intended to streamline the verification process and reduce delays, as restricted profiles may hinder officials from assessing an applicant’s online presence, affiliations, or potential security concerns. It said:
“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.”
The U.S. also warned that applicants applying outside their country of nationality or residence should expect longer waiting times for appointments and may face greater difficulty qualifying for a visa.
