Zambia at a glance
| Visit with an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) | No: a visitor visa is needed |
| E-1 treaty trader visa | Not available |
| E-2 treaty investor visa | Not available |
| Own line in the Visa Bulletin | No: worldwide line |
| Green card lottery (last published list, DV-2026) | Eligible |
| Entry restrictions | Partial: some visas suspended |
| Temporary Protected Status (TPS) | Not designated |
| Where visas are processed | The U.S. Embassy in Lusaka stopped routine visa services on August 1, 2026, and Zambians now apply for both nonimmigrant and immigrant visas at the U.S. Consulate General in Johannesburg, South Africa. |
Green card lottery: registration for DV-2027 had not opened as of mid-October 2026. A federal court ordered the State Department to open it, and that order may be appealed.
What is specific to Zambia right now
- Under Proclamation 10998 (in effect as of October 2026), U.S. visa issuance to Zambian nationals is partially suspended: B-1/B-2 visitor, F, M and J student/exchange visas and all immigrant visas, including spouse, child and parent visas, with only narrow exceptions.
- Zambia has been on the B-1/B-2 visa bond list since August 20, 2025, and its U.S. embassy stopped routine visa services on August 1, 2026.
Common U.S. immigration paths for people from Zambia
Marriage green cardGreen card through your U.S. citizen or resident spouseFamily petitionSponsor children, adult sons and daughters, or siblingsF-1 student visaStudy at a U.S. college, university or language schoolGreen card lottery (DV)Yearly random drawing for green cards from lower-immigration countriesH-1B visaWork visa for specialty jobs, sponsored by a U.S. employerEB-2 NIWSelf-petition green card if your work benefits the U.S.
How MyUSVisa helps
- Answer a guided questionnaire in your language and upload your documents once — we read, sort and assemble them into a clear case file and timeline.
- Your organized case is offered to licensed U.S. immigration attorneys who handle this type of case. Interested attorneys send you offers, and you compare and choose — or don't.
- Once you choose, you and your attorney work in one place: messages, documents, deadlines and automatic USCIS status updates, on the web and in the mobile app.
Frequently asked questions
Can people from Zambia visit the U.S. with an ESTA?
No. Zambia is not in the Visa Waiver Program, so a visitor visa (B-1/B-2) from a U.S. embassy or consulate is usually needed.
Can people from Zambia get an E-2 investor visa?
Not on Zambia nationality alone: there is no E-2 treaty between Zambia and the United States. Some people qualify through a second nationality from a treaty country, or use other paths such as EB-5.
Can people from Zambia enter the green card lottery?
Zambia was eligible in the last published program (DV-2026). Eligibility is set again every year, so check the official instructions when registration opens.
Where do people from Zambia have their visa interview?
The U.S. Embassy in Lusaka stopped routine visa services on August 1, 2026, and Zambians now apply for both nonimmigrant and immigrant visas at the U.S. Consulate General in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Can I work with a U.S. attorney while I am still in Zambia?
Yes. MyUSVisa works online: you tell your story from anywhere, licensed U.S. immigration attorneys review it and send proposals, and you choose. This works before you travel or once you are already in the United States.
More countries in Africa
Last checked by the MyUSVisa team and counsel in October 2026. Country rules change often, especially entry restrictions, TPS and parole programs. Always verify on travel.state.gov and uscis.gov, or ask your attorney.
MyUSVisa is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Not affiliated with USCIS or any government agency.