The United States Embassy in Burundi has announced a temporary suspension of U.S. visa issuance for Burundian citizens, citing “repeated violations” and high overstay rates.
The decision, which took effect on Monday, is a blow to many Burundians who view opportunities abroad as a path out of extreme poverty.
In a statement, the Embassy emphasized that non-compliance with visa regulations affects the image of the entire country.
The move follows a general tightening of U.S. visa policy in Africa, which saw Washington suspend visas for Ugandan women travelling to give birth in the U.S. last month.
The suspension is a direct result of a presidential proclamation issued on June 9, 2025, which had already established partial restrictions targeting several nations, including the small East African country. New visas banned include:
- Immigrant visas
- Visitor visas (B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2)
- Student visas (F, M)
- Scholarly exchange visas (J)
Visas issued before June 9, 2025, remain valid. The measure does not affect Burundians who already hold valid visas, Green Card holders, or certain diplomatic visa holders. It specifically targets new applications for business, study, exchange, or family visits.
U.S. authorities justified the suspension by citing a report from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which revealed concerning overstay rates among Burundians: 15.35% for B-1/B-2 visas and 17.52% for F/M/J visas.
There has been no immediate public reaction from Burundian authorities. However, Foreign Minister Albert Shingiro had previously assured in June that the government was working with U.S. officials to improve consular data sharing and strengthen identity verification mechanisms in a bid to restore access to visas.
According to the World Bank, Burundi remains the poorest country in the world in terms of GDP per capita, with three out of four of its nearly 14 million inhabitants living below the poverty line.
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