NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul, 26 – Following days of public backlash over the sluggish manner in which the issuance of Visa to travel to the United States of America (USA) have been conducted by a section of Kenyans, the Embassy has now come out to address the reasons for the delay which it termed as ‘a worldwide’ problem.
Kenyans seeking to travel to the US will now have to wait until June 2024 for the next visitor visa appointment.
“Currently, the first available dates for a visitor visa appointment in Nairobi are in June 2024. U.S. Embassy Nairobi recognizes the significant challenges and frustrations this poses for Kenyans planning to visit the United States for business and tourism,” read a statement from the embassy in part.
The Nairobi based embassy cited COVID-19 health and safety measures as the main reason nonimmigrant visa interviews have been delayed.
The services ceased for over a year.
“The Embassy restarted interviews at full capacity in February 2022. As we work through the backlog of applications and address the high demand for services, we recognize that some applicants may face extended visa interview wait times. This is a worldwide problem that U.S. embassies are diligently striving to address,”
It a reprieve however for a section of Kenyans such as students who will not be required to go for an interview in order to renew their visa.
“We instituted a visa renewal process that does not require an in-person interview for certain applicants. Kenyans renewing visitor (B1/B2 category) or student visas (F category) whose visas expired less than one year ago may be eligible to renew without an interview,”
The embassy will also offer expedited appointments for emergency situations, including the death of an immediate family member, the need to travel for urgent medical care, and for students whose program starts in less than 30 days and who will suffer irreparable harm, such as the loss of a scholarship, if they cannot travel.
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