This article provides detailed information on the appointment system for American Citizen Services (ACS) in Kenya, focusing on requirements for passport applications, visa interviews, and other related services.
Passport Services
You can apply for a new passport or replace your current passport through the ecitizen portal www.ecitizen.go.ke. You’ll have to download and print out a form at the end. You must sign and date the form, add the documents and photographs that are required and submit them in person at the Embassy.
Part of the application process involves scanning your documents. Clear pictures are essential for this step.
Submitting the Application: Submit the application form in person at the Kenya Embassy - Washington D.C.
Image Resizing for Online Submission
Sometimes, you may need to resize images for online submission. Here’s how to do it:
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- For computers: On the left-hand side under export settings, type in 150 (make sure ‘KB’ is selected next to it).
- For phones: At the bottom, click on resize, then under export settings, type in 150 (make sure ‘KB’ is selected next to it).
General Information on ACS Appointments
The U.S. Embassy in Nairobi provides services related to passports, citizenship, or reports of birth abroad. These services are by appointment only.
Embassies and consulates are required by law to allow third parties to attend passport, Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA), and other American Citizen Services appointments that take place on-site.
Third-Party Attendance: Applicants may be physically accompanied by a third-party of their own choice at their own expense; this may include attorneys, interpreters/translators, family members, and/or caregivers. There are no restrictions on who may accompany an applicant to an appointment.
However, applicants and third parties remain subject to all policies, security directives, and guidelines regarding admission to or conduct in an embassy or consulate, including but not limited to those regarding security, identification, screening, electronic devices, recording, and health.
How to Apply for US Visa in Kenya (Step-by-Step)
Visa Interview Requirements
Scheduling and Registration
You need to register your appointment online. Registering your appointment provides the information needed to return your passport after your interview. Registration is free.
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Applicants with appointments currently scheduled should reach out to the National Visa Center using the Public Inquiry Form to request or confirm an appointment.
If you are unable to attend your appointment, please go to ais.usvisa-info.com to select a new appointment date. There may be a significant wait before the next available appointment, so please attempt to attend the date already assigned.
Please note: You need to register your original NVC/KCC appointment online before you can reschedule it.
Required Documents for the Interview
It is important to bring all required original documents to your interview. Here is a checklist of items the applicant must bring to the immigrant visa interview:
- Your original birth certificate, English translation, and a photocopy.
IMPORTANT: If you were born in Somalia, you must present an affidavit of birth sworn by two people and notarized.
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- If you are married: Your original marriage certificate, and a photocopy.
IMPORTANT: If you were married in Somalia, you must present an affidavit of marriage sworn by two people and notarized.
- If you were previously married: Your original divorce or spouse’s death certificate, and a photocopy.
IMPORTANT: If you were divorced in Somalia, you must present an affidavit of divorce sworn by two people and notarized.
- If you are older than 18 years of age: The original police certificate from your country of current residence and countries of previous residence.
- If the petitioner is your child: You are not required to bring your marriage certificate or evidence of marriage termination UNLESS the petitioner is your stepchild.
Medical Examination
All immigrant visa applicants, regardless of age, require a medical examination prior to the issuance of a visa.
As soon as you receive your appointment date, you must schedule a medical exam in Kenya. Click the “Medical Exam Instructions” button below for a list of designated doctors’ offices in Kenya.
The medical examination will include a medical history review, physical examination, chest X-ray, gonorrhea test, and blood tests (for applicants 15 years of age or older). The United States also requires tuberculosis (TB) testing for all applicants two years of age and older.
Please be prepared to discuss your medical history, medications you are taking, and current treatments you are undergoing.
U.S. immigration law requires immigrant visa applicants to obtain certain vaccinations prior to the issuance of a visa.
Any x-rays taken will be given to you. You DO NOT need to bring the x-rays to your visa interview unless you suffer from tuberculosis. However, you must carry the x-rays with you when you travel to the United States for the first time.
Post-Interview Information
If your visa is approved, your passport will be kept at the embassy while the immigration packet is prepared and a visa is printed for your passport. It will be returned to you later via courier services only.
A Consular officer can make a decision on a visa application only after reviewing the formal application and interviewing the applicant. There is no guarantee that you will receive a visa.
Sometimes a Consular officer is unable to make a decision on a visa application because he/she needs to review additional documents, or the case requires further administrative processing.
When additional documents are requested, the Consular officer will give you a refusal letter that asks you to submit additional documents. Administrative processing takes additional time after the interview. Most administrative processing is resolved within 60 days. However, the timing varies based on the circumstances of each case.
Passport, Visa, and Sealed Immigrant Packet
Your immigrant visa will be placed on a page in your passport. Please review your visa to make sure there are no spelling errors.
You will also receive a sealed immigrant packet. Do not open this envelope. You must carry it with you; do not put it in your checked luggage. This is a very important document that proves you have permission to reside in the United States. You must give it to U.S. immigration authorities when you arrive in the United States for the first time.
USCIS Immigrant Fee
You are required to pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) prior to traveling to the United States. This fee is for processing your residency status and printing your Permanent Resident Card.
When to Travel
You must enter the United States before the expiration date on your visa, which is usually six (6) months from the date of printing. Your visa cannot be extended and all fees are nonrefundable. The principal applicant must enter before or at the same time as other family members with visas.
Once your card is issued, you should not stay outside of the United States for more than one year.
Additional Information
Children’s Issues
In the United States, children are required to have certain vaccinations before they can enroll in school. It is recommended that you bring your child’s complete vaccination records with you to the United States.
If your child is adopted, you have full custody as a result of a divorce, or you share custody with another parent, you should bring a copy of all applicable adoption or custodial papers from the authoritative court in your home country.
Information for New Immigrants
Please visit the USCIS web page for helpful information on moving to the United States.
Diversity Visa (DV) Applicants
If you are interviewing for a Diversity Visa (DV), all of the above instructions apply to you. Prior to your visa interview, we recommend that you review the data on your initial E-DV entry. On your initial E-DV application, you must have correctly entered your marital status. Additionally, you must have listed ALL of your living children who are unmarried and under 21 years old.
Failure to have listed an existing spouse or children at the time of your entry in the Diversity Visa lottery will result in the denial of your visa and visas for your family.
Fees paid to the U.S. government in support of your visa application(s) are nonrefundable. If you failed to include a child who had already been born, or a spouse to whom you were married when you entered the lottery, you should not proceed with the visa application.
Left Hand Drive (LHD) Vehicle Import Regulations
A Kenyan Resident returning from a country that operates Left Hand Drive (LHD) motor vehicles shall be allowed to import a replacement Right Hand Drive (RHD) vehicle from any other source subject to the following conditions:
- The person must be bona fide changing residence (Permanently) from a place outside Kenya and not merely making temporary visits back home.
- The person must fulfill all the requirements for importation of personal and household effects by a returning resident as outlined under paragraph 5 of part B of the 5th schedule to the east African Community Customs Management Act, 2004.
- The returning resident must proof that he/she owned and personally used a LHD vehicle in the country of former residence for a period of at least one year, prior to his/her return.
- The returning resident must provide proof of disposal (Transfer of ownership) of the previous owned LHD vehicle before changing residence from the former country of residence.
- The current retail selling price (CRSP) of the RHD replacement vehicle shall not exceed that of previously owned LHD vehicle.
- Both the previously owned LHD vehicle and the RHD replacement vehicle shall not be of any of the following categories:
- Bus or Minibuses of a seating capacity of more than 13 passengers
- Load carrying vehicles of load carrying capacity exceeding two tones
The replacement vehicle must comply with the Kenya Bureau of Standards requirements of Legal Notice No. 78 of 15th July 2005 (Verification of Conformity to Kenya Standards Imports Order, 2005) and KS1515:2000 Kenya Standard Code of Practice for Inspection of Road Vehicles.
These guidelines shall only apply to residents returning from countries that operate LHD motor vehicles who had previously owned and used a LHD vehicle in the country of former residence.
Payment Information
We accept cash and credit cards only. Please note that if you are found ineligible to receive a visa, the application fee cannot be refunded.
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