Non-Immigrant Visas

Tourist and Business Visas

B-1 Visa - Business

The definition of "business" in this instance is limited, and does not generally allow for gainful employment or productive activity such as operating a business or consultancy work. Specifically, in the applicable U.S. law the term "business" is limited to the negotiation of contracts, consultation with business associates, litigation, and participation in scientific, educational, professional or business conventions, conferences or seminars and other legitimate activities of a commercial or professional nature. It does not include local employment or labor for hire.

B-2 Tourism/Pleasure

In general, holidaymakers traveling to the United States require valid B-2 visas. That is unless they are eligible to travel visa free travel under the Visa Waiver Program or they are a national of a country, which has an agreement with the United States allowing their citizens to travel to the United States without B-2 visas.

If you are not eligible to travel visa free travel, or are not a national of a country where B-2 visa requirements are waived, you will be required to apply for a visa before traveling.

Note: It is the responsibility of the traveler to ensure that he or she is correctly documented for travel. If are not eligible to travel visa free under the Visa Waiver Program, or are not a national of a country where B-2 visa requirements are waived, you will require a visa. Failure to obtain a visa before traveling may result in you being denied boarding by the airline.

Note: In order to qualify for a visa at this Embassy, applicants must show that they have sufficiently strong and long-term family, social, and economic ties to Zimbabwe to compel them to return after a temporary stay in the United States. Although we accept applications from anyone physically present in Zimbabwe, if you are only temporarily resident in Zimbabwe, it is difficult for consular officers in Harare to assess your compelling and permanent ties to either your home country or Zimbabwe. Consular officers in Harare are unable to evaluate documents from outside Zimbabwe. In future, you may wish to apply for a visa in your home country, as consular officers there are better able to evaluate your situation.

Persons Holding Valid B1/B2

If you already have a multiple entry unexpired B1/B2 visa in your expired passport, that visa is still valid for travel to the U.S. You must carry both the old passport with the visa and an unexpired passport of the same nationality as the expired one. The maximum validity of a new visa is now 10 years. If you have an indefinite visa that is more than ten years old, do not use it, you must get a new visa.