US Embassy Announces Modifications To Visa Applications
Following uproar from Kenyans concerning acquiring a USA Visa, the US Embassy in Nairobi has announced that it has modified its visa application procedure.
Lydia Kadima 
The uproar came from people across the world after Ferdinand Omanyala nearly missed the World Championships in Oregon, USA, due to a visa issue.
The Embassy described new features to encourage easier travel to the US while keeping Kenyans informed in a statement released on Monday.
The redesigned website will highlight non-refundable fees and show current wait times for visa interviews so that Kenyans may make an informed decision before submitting their application.
Additionally, the US Embassy has implemented a visa renewal procedure that exempts some applicants from having to appear in person for an interview.
Kenyans renewing visiting (B1/B2 category) or student (F category) visas with less than a year left on their current visas may be allowed to do so without having to go through an interview.
The Embassy will also provide urgent appointments for those who need them, such as those whose programs begin in less than 30 days and who would suffer irreparable harm if they were unable to travel, such as losing a scholarship, the death of an immediate family member, or who must travel for urgent medical care.
The initially available dates for a tourist visa appointment in Nairobi were set for June 2024, posing a huge difficulty to those who had to wait till then to get a Visa. To solve this, the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi has reportedly doubled the number of daily interviews and expects to gradually hire more people and expand capacity to ensure smoother operations.
