Starting November 1, Zimbabwean citizens applying for U.S. immigrant visas will have their interviews conducted at the U.S. Consulate located in Johannesburg, South Africa, following updated guidelines from the U.S. Department of State. According to the new policy, visa interviews must be held within the consular district corresponding to the applicant’s country of residence or, if requested, their country of nationality.

The National Visa Center (NVC) will automatically assign Zimbabwean applicants to the Johannesburg consulate for their interviews. Current appointment schedules will mostly stay the same; however, anyone wanting to change their interview location must submit a formal request through the NVC instead of reaching out directly to consulates.

Certain exceptions to this rule may be made on humanitarian, medical, or diplomatic grounds. These changes also affect Diversity Visa applicants participating in the DV-2026 lottery program. Applicants are encouraged to regularly visit the websites of U.S. embassies and consulates to stay informed about service updates, operating hours, and application requirements.

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