America cuts waiting period for visa applicants

The waiting period for visa interviews for Kenyans wishing to visit America has been cut by five months after the US embassy allowed some categories to be renewed without going to actual appointments.

Kenyans applying for US visas can now secure an interview appointment as early as January next year, compared to the previous June 2024 date before the review.

The Embassy is grappling with a backlog of non-immigrant visa interviews at its Nairobi office after the process was halted in 2020 as part of safety measures in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak.

Last year, the US Embassy in Nairobi retooled interview requirements for a number of visa categories as a measure to address the Covid-related backlog for non-immigrant applicants.

The Embassy has expanded the Nonimmigrant Visa Interview Waiver Program for those who apply for tourist/business (B1/B2), student (F, J, M), or crew (C1/D) visas eligible for visa-free renewal. Personal appointment.

To qualify for this program, one must apply for the same category of visa, and the current permit must not have expired more than a year ago.

Ideally, one is required to choose the next available date on the Embassy website to enable them to attend a physical interview to see if their application will be approved or denied.

However, the waiting time is considered to be long since before Covid, one would get an interview appointment within two weeks of applying for the visa.

Longer waiting times have negatively affected Kenyans who wish to visit the US for business or leisure under a category B1/B2 visa, especially those who do not have a previous permit that they can renew.

The Embassy makes exceptions for applicants who request travel to the United States on an emergency basis, for example due to the loss of an immediate relative or for urgent medical attention.

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