US Govt Changes Visa Rules for Kenyans

A file image of someone holding a Kenyan passport
A file image of someone holding a Kenyan passport.
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The United States (US) Embassy in Kenya on Wednesday, September 23, announced that they had waived interviews for Kenyans whose visas have expired within one year.

While appearing on the Drive-in morning show on Capital FM, the US Embassy Deputy Consul Elliot Fertik, stated that the move was part of the reforms the embassy was conducting to improve their service delivery.

“This new program will allow us to not only to process more visa applications but it also means that you don’t have to come in for an interview and it is safer,” Fertik stated.

People queue for passports outside the Nyayo House headquarters in Nairobi.
People queue for passports outside the Nyayo House headquarters in Nairobi.
Daily Nation

In the interview, Fertik also revealed that the embassy would increase the number of interview appointments to ensure that many applicants receive their visas on time.

He further urged Kenyans wishing to travel to the US in the near future to ensure that they receive a Covid-19 jab by November this year.

“If you plan to enter the United States you will need to be vaccinated by November,” the diplomat stated.

He further added the embassy would provide more information over the same in due course.

“Some of the details of these are still being worked out. For example, which exact vaccination will qualify will be determined by the Center for Disease Control,” he stated.

This comes after many Kenyans complained of the tedious process they experience when making their application. This was after the embassy scaled down its processes due to the global pandemic.

Previously, in a statement on the status of visa applications on their website, the embassy urged Kenyans to be patient as they worked to resume their full operations.

“The US Embassy has resumed limited processing of immigrant visas, in accordance with the priorities set out by the Department of State. We ask for your patience as our current capacity for visa processing is severely reduced due to pandemic,” the embassy stated.

They further stated that they were facing challenges of backlog, noting that there would be delays.

“We are faced with a significant backlog in most visa categories and all applicants should expect significant delays,” read the statement.

The first shots of the Covid-19 vaccines being administered in Kenya on March 5, 2021.
The first shots of the Covid-19 vaccines being administered in Kenya on March 5, 2021.
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