Kenyan visa applicants have been put on alert after the United States government announced updated procedures for non-immigrant applications, effective September 2, 2025.
Under the new guidelines, most non-immigrant visa applicants will still need to attend an in-person interview, including those aged under 14 or over 79.
However, there are specific exemptions to this rule, which apply to certain visa categories.
One of the key exceptions is applicants classified under visa types such as A-1, A-2, C-3, G-1 through G-4, NATO-1 through NATO-6 and TECRO E-1. These categories mostly involve government officials, diplomats, and employees of international organisations.
Applicants under these categories will not need to go for an interview because the assumption is that they are travelling abroad for official duty and their roles are critical for diplomatic relations.
Applicants renewing their full-validity B-1, B-2, or B1/B2 visas within 12 months of the prior visa's expiration will also not need to attend an in-person interview provided they meet specific conditions set by the U.S. Department of State.
To qualify for renewal exemption, the applicant must have been at least 18 years when their previous visa was issued. The renewal application must also be made within 12 months of the prior visa’s expiration.
Applicants wishing to renew their visa under the exemption must apply in their country of nationality. For Kenyans, this means their applications should be submitted to the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi.
Despite the exemptions, consular officers in the U.S. retain the requirement for an in-person interview for any applicant.
This means that even if one meets the criteria for the interview waiver, they may still be called for an interview depending on the consular officer’s evaluation.
The new guidelines are set to replace the previous Interview Waiver Update which was issued from February 18 2025.
Visa applicants have been encouraged to consistently check the U.S. embassy website consistently to stay up to date with the embassy’s operating status and updated information on the visa application process.
This was yet another move by the US government to tighten its visa policies, as part of a concerted effort to control the number and quality of immigrants entering the country. Earlier in July, the United States Embassy in Nairobi warned Kenyans against trying to bypass visa regulations, reiterating that doing so could result in a lifetime ban.
In a statement released on Wednesday, 23 July, the embassy cautioned that individuals engaging in fraudulent activities to obtain U.S. visas would effectively forfeit any chance of travelling to the U.S.
