Kenyans visiting US to attend till June 2024 for visa interviews
Financial system
Kenyans visiting US to attend till June 2024 for visa interviews
Tuesday July 26 2022
Entrance to US embassy in Gigiri, Nairobi. FILE PHOTO | NMG
The US Embassy in Nairobi has suspended appointments for visa interviews till June 2024 owing to excessive demand and Covid-linked backlogs.
In an announcement launched on Monday, the embassy acknowledged the frustrations that Kenyans travelling to the US are going by way of.
“Presently, the primary obtainable dates for a customer visa appointment in Nairobi are in June 2024. U.S. Embassy Nairobi acknowledges the numerous challenges and frustrations this poses for Kenyans planning to go to america for enterprise and tourism,” learn the assertion seen by Enterprise Day by day.
Kenyans on social media have expressed their frustrations in latest days over what they’ve termed as unfair visa guidelines. Others have been compelled to cancel journey plans over delays in processing the crucial doc.
The embassy stated that non-immigrant visa interviews on the Nairobi workplace ceased for over a 12 months resulting from Covid-19 security measures.
“As we work by way of the backlog of functions and handle the excessive demand for providers, we acknowledge that some candidates could face prolonged visa interview wait instances. This can be a worldwide downside that US embassies are diligently striving to handle,” the embassy stated.
Nonetheless, the embassy has dedicated to expediting appointments for emergencies such because the demise of a direct member of the family and other people travelling for pressing medical care.
College students whose programmes begin in lower than 30 days and are more likely to lose their scholarships will even be given precedence.
Additional, the embassy has dedicated to doubling the variety of interviews to clear the present backlog.
“We instituted a visa renewal course of that doesn’t require an in-person interview for sure candidates. Kenyans renewing customer (B1/B2 class) or scholar visas (F class) whose visas expired lower than one 12 months in the past could also be eligible to resume with out an interview,” stated the embassy.