Zambians applying for a United States visa now face a more demanding process following a series of policy changes introduced by the US Government since August 2025, including a visa bond requirement, new travel restrictions and the relocation of routine visa processing to South Africa.
The changes affect most tourist, student, business and immigrant visa applicants and are expected to increase both the cost and processing time for obtaining a US visa.
Three Major Changes
The first change is the introduction of a refundable visa bond for eligible B1/B2 visitor visa applicants.
The bond programme, introduced on August 20, 2025, requires certain applicants to pay a refundable bond before a visa is issued. The US State Department has since made the programme permanent and increased the maximum bond amount from US$15,000 to US$20,000.
The amount is determined by the consular officer during the visa interview. The bond is refunded if the visa application is denied or if the traveller complies with all visa conditions after travelling to the United States.
The second change is a partial travel restriction introduced under Presidential Proclamation 10998, which took effect on January 1, 2026.
Under the proclamation, Zambia is among 20 countries subject to restrictions affecting immigrant visas and several non-immigrant visa categories, including B1/B2, F (student), M (vocational) and J (exchange visitor) visas.
The US Government cited Zambia's 10.73 percent B1/B2 visa overstay rate as one of the reasons for the restrictions.
Visa Processing Moved to South Africa
The latest change took effect on August 1, 2026, when the US Embassy in Lusaka stopped processing routine immigrant and non-immigrant visa applications.
Routine visa applications for Zambian nationals and residents are now being handled by the United States Consulate General in Johannesburg, South Africa, following a restructuring of US visa operations across Africa.
The US Embassy in Lusaka remains operational and continues to provide services to US citizens, diplomatic and official visa applicants, as well as limited non-immigrant visa services considered to be in the US national interest.
Who Is Exempt?
The new restrictions do not apply retroactively.
Zambians who already held valid US visas before January 1, 2026 can continue using them, while lawful permanent residents (green card holders) remain eligible to enter the United States, although they may face additional screening.
Individuals who were already in the United States when the proclamation came into effect are also exempt.
What Applicants Should Do
Applicants seeking routine US visas should now:
Complete the DS-160 online visa application form accurately.
Print the DS-160 confirmation page with the correct barcode.
Pay the visa application fee.
Schedule an interview through the official US visa appointment system.
Travel to Johannesburg for the visa interview.
Prepare for possible additional costs, including travel expenses and a visa bond where applicable.
Applicants are also advised to follow official US Government guidance regarding appointment scheduling, documentation and payment procedures.
Longer Waits Expected
The relocation of visa interviews to South Africa is expected to increase both processing times and travel costs for Zambian applicants.
Officials recommend beginning the application process several months before any planned travel to allow sufficient time for appointments, document preparation and possible delays.