NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept, 16 – The US Embassy In Nairobi has reviewed its Visa application process months after Kenyans expressed their dissatisfaction and frustration at the Visa application process,
US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman in a communique said that they have expanded the Interview Waiver Program for nonimmigrant visas.
This was part of the Embassy’s pledge to reduce the nonimmigrant visa interview appointment backlog.
“Effective immediately, those applying for tourist/business (B1/B2), student (F, J, M), or crew visas (C1/D) categories may be eligible for a visa renewal without an interview. To qualify for this program, you must be applying for the same visa category, and your visa cannot have expired more than four years ago. Formerly, the limit was one year,”
Kenyans had initially protested the sluggish manner in which the issuance of Visa to travel to the United States of America (USA) was conducted with the Embassy at the time saying it was ‘a worldwide’ problem.
Sadly, Kenyans seeking to travel to the US were informed that they would 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 last month.
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,”
The embassy had offered to expedite 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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