US Embassy In Kenya Addresses Delay Of Visas After Many Complaints From Applicants

The issue with regard to visa delays, which have been worse in recent months, has been explained by the US Embassy in Kenya.

After Kenyans expressed their discontent with the difficult process of obtaining a visa to visit the US, the Embassy came under fire.

In a statement released on Monday, the Embassy said that while the COVID-19 outbreak contributed to the delays by creating a backlog, attempts to get things back to normal were ongoing.

“Due to COVID-19 health and safety measures, nonimmigrant Visa interviews at U.S. Embassy Nairobi ceased for over a year. The Embassy restarted interviews at full capacity in February 2022,” read the statement.

“This is a worldwide problem that U.S. embassies are diligently striving to address.”

Due to the backlog, some applicants may face extended Visa interview wait times, as “the first available dates for a visitor visa appointment in Nairobi are in June 2024,” according to the statement.
The embassy highlighted that money would not be repaid and that Kenyans should make educated decisions before making payments upon submitting applications in response to the hotly contested subject of whether individuals who fail to obtain the illusive visa would receive reimbursement.

The Embassy also outlined the steps they took to overcome the current barriers, including implementing a visa renewal procedure that exempts some applicants from having to appear in person for an interview.

“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,” read the statement.
Emergency cases, such as “the loss of an immediate family member, the need to travel for urgent medical care, and students whose program begins in less than 30 days and who may suffer irreparable injury,” will be given priority for accelerated appointments.

The US embassy has committed to doing all within its power to speed up the procedure by holding daily interviews and lowering wait periods for visa interviews.

This, however, takes place in the wake of publicly reported instances in which Kenyans had their visa requests turned down by the embassy despite their urgent need.