The U.S State Department has paused all immigrant visa interviews worldwide, affecting applicants from all countries, including Kenya. This pause is due to consular officers undergoing training, aimed at stricter screening to keep out applicants deemed likely to depend on US public benefits.
Kenya was previously exempt from the 75-country freeze in January 2026, but this new pause is universal, affecting Kenyan applicants for family-based, employment-based, diversity-visa, and adoption-category immigrant visas.
The pause may have significant impacts on Kenya, particularly for Diversity Visa applicants, as Kenya is one of the top source countries in Africa. Winners of the lottery face fixed program deadlines, and a prolonged pause risks them losing eligibility if visas aren’t issued within the fiscal year.
Family reunification may also be affected, as Kenyans with approved petitions, such as spouses, parents, and siblings of US citizens or green card holders, face indefinite delays. Remittances from the Kenyan diaspora in the US may also be impacted, as fewer new immigrants settle and work in the US, potentially compounding the already fragile period of double-digit monthly drops in diaspora inflows from North America.
This development is part of a wider tightening of immigration policies, including the proposed $103,265 H-1B application fee, social media vetting, and asylum-visa revocations. The doctrine has become a primary lever for restricting legal immigration, affecting not just “high-risk” countries but all applicants, including those from Kenya.
The U.S State Department’s decision to pause immigrant visa interviews is a result of their efforts to implement stricter screening processes. They are doing this to ensure that applicants who are likely to depend on US public benefits are identified and excluded. This pause affects all countries, including Kenya, and may have far-reaching consequences for Kenyan applicants.
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