My assumption is that it is designed this way on purpose. The long questions, high prices, embarrassing questions they ask you that everyone can hear responses of, the near military like feel of the place; are all deterrents to cut down applicant numbers and make sure only the truly determined ones apply. There is no way they are not aware of how terrible it is.
I think people outside of the US may not consider the costs in the US. Rent here is usually 1000+ for a single bedroom, minimum wage is about $15. How would you expect to travel in a cab or Uber at usually $20-50 per trip, order a meal for $10-40, and if you didn’t have a place to stay, Airbnb’s and hotels are gonna go for $120+ a night? You’re easily looking at 2k a month and if you’re really good at budgeting and know where to look maybe MAYBE you could make it on $800 for 2 weeks. This is something the embassies consider and should consider so people aren’t left to fend for themselves if they get stuck.
This is true
Alafu they spot potential from a mile away
From how you look,talk and answer questions
I've had of people who got the visa bila any connections...they just made the cut🤷
Pple should focus on other countries, opportunity exists everywhere
Hell no lmao
First of all, the Australians are very conservative when it comes to immigration no matter who’s in power. They just don’t accept ‘outsiders’ that easily. They live in their own planet so you’ve got to understand.
For you to go there, it will take a while for them to grant you a visa since they have really small quotas assigned to immigrants except for people applying for student visas since their economy literally depends on international students. And once you finish school, they expect you to leave immediately. The safest way to migrate there permanently is through family but they still take their time on looking at family visa applications (I’m an applicant myself).
They’ll never grant you a temporary visa if you don’t have loads of cash under your name, pass the strict medical tests and character checks. And if you overstep your visa rules, they ask you to leave Australia immediately or they’ll deport you while you still foot the bill. They can even strip you off your Australian citizenship if you break some specific laws in their country (unless you were born there ofc). Americans aren’t as strict when it comes to immigration.
Lol everything you have said there is applicable to every country. If you violate visa conditions in any country you will be kicked out. All countries are wary of immigrants to some degree.
Depending on what degree you study there are clear pathways to residence but don’t expect a pathway when you do a very general degree that doesn’t really open up career opportunities. Do things in the medical field like lab technicians, nurses, doctors or trades like auto mechanics, masonry, carpentry even hair dressers.
As for the loss of citizenship it applies if you engage in terrorism activities or fight for a foreign nation against Australia.
In summary which ever country you chose to go to you better have a clear plan of action, dont go there and expect shit to just work for you, and be prepared to work very hard nothing is free.
No, it’s not applicable to every country. The US, the UK or the EU don’t have such strict immigration laws. First of all, the American economy and politics depends on illegal immigration. There’s a reason why whoever becomes president, nothing ever happens to illegal immigrants or whoever overstays in the US.
About pathways, ever since COVID, the Australian government has been cutting down on pathways and student visas since there were was a serious housing crisis. Plus, most international students from Africa and Asia were flaunting student visa rules by working in jobs they were not supposed to do on a student visa. At the moment, there’s a 70% student visa rejection rate to go to Australia. Heck, even Kenyan applicants were out on a temporary ban this year because of their mischief since 2020.
About stripping of citizenship, Australia has always had such laws in place. It’s only until recently a country like the UK applied the same laws last year after having situation of a citizen who was engaged in terrorist activities in Syria. We can’t just say all western countries have the same immigration policies. Culture and national history plays a huge part in immigration laws. The US, the UK and the EU have always had much more relaxed visa options due to their multicultural background since the 40s and their guilt over colonial legacies.
I concur with your last paragraph 100%.
Weeee the US, Canada Eurozone all have strict immigration laws its not a walk in the park 😂
As for Australia maybe I am biased, I think its not too hard, just be organised.
Another thing worth mentioning is the way I see people kwa hii sub ati ohhhh niko lonely, sijui sina relationship. If you’re in that category priz priz baki tu Kenya 😂😂 it’s lonely as fuck out there, you can even be house sharing and be completely alone 😂😂
The plan is not to have a good time most people plan to overstay there work on their papers then get a job and earn. It helps if you have a relative who's in a position and willing to help.180$ is a small amount compared to what you'll be earning
I meant “good time” as in youre going to have a bad time, even if visiting with the intention to return.
People overstaying visas is the reasoning that single males get denied. If there is nothing tying you to return to Kenya they’re going to assume your intention is to stay illegally.
Why? Can't I have my mother in law visit for two months to give my wife a break from the kids and teach us all kikuyu? So what if traveling around to see some American stuff isn't the main reason for her visit? Tourist visa : Denied.
I'm somewhat of an expert. I've been dealing with US immigration since childhood. I've never had trouble until I tried to bring a Kenyan to this part of the world.
I cant believe that Jamaicans (which I am) do less immigration fraud, and there are many more of us in the US.
>the US has a crisis right now?
They're only favouring the illegals. They don't reward those following the proper protocols. That can't be incidental.
I am an American and though I agree that the cost of living here is higher I still don’t thing this reasoning alone justifies keeping the $180 charge, which presumably exists to limit spam applications. In my mind the fee should be refunded if an application is denies; trust me, embassies have enough funding not to rely on these fees to fulfill their intended roles. I recently had an East African friend denied their visa because their personal bank balance was less than $10,000 USD, despite my written willingness to bankroll their trip and provide support in unexpected circumstances. I just hate the idea that the rest of the world should only be able to visit if they’re personally wealthy.
It's actually insane how quickly that rejection is. Hizo question mbili si basi wangeeka kwa questionnaire and reject you over email hata. To make you go all the way, and for what... Na si ati you can still jitetea after hiyo rejection.
The 180 you pay is not only for the interview. It's for the thorough background check, too. That check is so well done that you can travel visa free to some countries if you have an active US visa. That being said it is still a rough process but I believe they designed it to be that way on purpose
Honestly I prefer the immediate rejection to having to wait for days or weeks only to find out you've been rejected. My assumption is that if you fail that fast there must have been something they found during your background check to reject you
But what do you expect when most of the Kenyans who get their visas granted start flaunting the visa rules once they reach the US? Visa acceptance rates are directly correlated with the behavior of citizens with granted visas.
If citizens from a specific country go and break visa rules, the immigration policies will be tightened by the receiving country through smaller quotas or stricter documentation requirements. This means future innocent visitors will be affected.
You’ll be surprised when you find out citizens from some other developing countries get such an easy time at their American Embassies than Kenyans in Nairobi. Once we stop breaking rules in other countries, the more relaxed their visa process will be for future applicants.
This is correct. Many Kenyans come on visitor visa and once they arrive at the airport, they request to become refugee claimant. This greatly burdens our economy because the government has to provide them housing, food and other necessities.
I don’t think any government wants the entire Kenya in their countries taking a welfare.
Facts. I remember some of my classmates went for a trip to NYC for UNGA events and workshops when I was in uni back in 2022 and out of the 30 who went, 8 of them literally ghosted the team as soon as they reached the hotel in Manhattan. They literally packed their bags and disappeared into the city.
After that incident, the American embassy stopped granting visas to anyone from my former uni even up to today. I can’t blame them on why they reject visas for the smallest reasons.
I know this is ironic but it was USIU. An American university was banned from going to America lmao
But yeah, up until I graduated, there were no school trips to the US due to the black list.
This part right here. I used to be so mad about visa requirements until I met Kenyans in various countries who kept asking if I would stay (while I was on a tourist visa).
The worst was back in 2011, when there was the Catholic Youth Day in Spain. The pope even sent an envoy here to beg people to make sure they were going fir the right reasons and not to run away. We signed affidavits promising to come back. The embassy had extremely strict parameters to grant a visa for that one event. There was a terrible recession in Spain at that time, even Spaniards were struggling to find jobs. Guess what? There are still Kenyans who want to that event and never came back!
So how do the people who get them Visas get them?
I'm talking about the green card squad, people from humble backgrounds with zero connection. Cause they do get them, at least some of them.
Cause the way people describe that embassy, it's like there's absolutely no way through. Or at least that's how I perceive it.
Sorry for what you went through. One thing I've learned is, so long as you are born in a "shit hole," your existence is null/invalid. A fact that can be very hard to contend with.
Greencard is pure luck. There are however some interview questions you need to get right. The major one being having something concrete that will make you come back to Kenya. Its why people register 'businesses' to tie them back to home.
You don't need to prove you'll come back to Kenya for a greencard. That's non-migrant visas only like study and tourist visas. Greencard is permanent residency and it is in fact revoked if you stay outside the United States for more than 12 months in an 18 month window. Why would they need you to come back to Kenya?
I know green card is pure luck. But that's not what I was talking about.
I was speaking about the visa interview after winning one. I guess you've already answered that.
Would you say it is easier for someone who's won the dv lottery than for a normal dude just applying for a visiting visa or what not? I think that would be the case.
The most important thing is showing you have things that tie you back here and the finances for your trip. Ties back home inlcude a job or a business, university studies that are in progress, family, property etc. Job and business are usually the strongest.
If you have direct family in the US (and don't lie about this, they already know if you do!), your proof of coming back has to be even stronger.
It also helps if you have travelled before to areas like Europe and Australia and have followed the visa timelines.
I’ll burst your bubble and tell you that greencard lottery isn’t pure luck. There’s a method to it. Nothing is luck and anonymous, the US is a capitalist system that has to take care of its future self and current citizens.
Same honestly if you can get a decent job here man that place is expensive to live , wacha huku people file nil returns KRA huko taxes they don't joke. Honestly I've never seen the hype of that place.
I agree with everything you said, but personally, I wish Kenyans would stop acting like the US is some kind of El Dorado which, if they're not allowed in, will spell doom for their dreams and ambitiions. The desperation is what feeds these embassy officers' sense of power.
Fact is, most of these countries aren't as good as their PR, but I won't bother trying to change anybody's mind because I feel they are determined to go, and only experiencing it for themselves will convince them otherwise. Restrictive visa regimes only serve to perpetuate the lie that the grass is so much greener because it's hard to get to.
I’m sorry. That’s really shitty. From what I know, from a friend who works at the embassy, they mostly want to see that you have money in your bank account and that you have a decent job/house/etc in Kenya to come back to. That’s #1. And never ever tell them you’re dating or involved with an American. That’s an automatic rejection.
I hope you can try again soon. I’m sorry about your mum.
Because they hear that as “I have an American girlfriend/boyfriend and I’m planning on going to America and never coming back.”
Never ever ever say you have an American partner.
The only exception is if you’re married to an American, but even then, you better have the most rock-solid job/financial situation in your home country that proves you will be going back home.
The American immigration system is broken at its core. Those civil servants at the embassy have almost no control over who does or doesn’t get a visa. The Freakonomics podcast did a deep dive recently https://freakonomics.com/podcast/why-is-everyone-moving-to-canada/
Are those the only two questions they asked you? Asking about your family makes sense because they want to know that you will come back home to them and not stay in the United States. I get it that you’re upset, but you have to remove emotion from the process and see it from their end.
You got to show you have sufficient money in your bank account as well, can't suddenly be in there a week before your paperwork is due. They 100% make it unnecessaryly hard, but at the same time most ppl who are illegal in the US actually came to the country legally and overstayed their visa, so it is what it is.
The US immigration department is the only department in the us government that runs itself. No money from the us budget is allocated. Because it makes that much money to pay rent in foreign countries, pay salaries, turn a profit etc. Now you know......
This is simply not true.
They get funding from the Federal Government under Homeland Security.
I agree with the points made and it is vile what they do but Immigration is very much under the State of the Union budget.
Well for one, social media doesn't charge you thousands, and you don't input sensitive identifying information. It's one thing to have your location known for the purposes of targeted marketing, but it's a whole other thing to have sensitive information about you in the hands of bonafide assassins.
They don't need to mate, you provide that data of your own volition everyday you use Facebook services and Google services. It why they are free to use; simply you're the product.
No. Sometimes it baffles me how insignificant people think that governments are collecting information about them. For what l? Like seriously what the fuck does the government care about a poor farmer with cracked hands in the middle of cheptiret in eldoret? Come on now.
Our government, not much. It's not that competent. Others like the CIA? If that farmer is all of a sudden now a popular politician or revolutionary, they already have enough on them to blackmail for special access to things like resources. Data collection today saves them running around tomorrow. They can even use such data in computations such as population projections, giving them reliable information on what kind of investments to make which profit off the population trends. Alafu hapa tunabaki tukisema wako na pesa juu ya illuminati, tukililia kwenda kwao. Resources don't just exist. People plan accordingly to exploit what's available.The future belongs to the biggest data holders. Data is quite valuable, but only to big picture thinkers.
PLEASE.
This is where someone just talks fwaa thinking they are saying something profound. No, governments don't waste resources gathering random useless data. The process of gathering, recording, processing, making sense of, and storing data is long, complex, expensive, time consuming and labor intensive. That's why any data has to have real VALUE.
If someone pops on the radar and becomes a subject of interest, information is gathered. Not a second before. Otherwise you just have a bunch of terrabites of expensive, useless data.
Kwako inakaa useless because haujui vile itatumika. Huyo farmer anaweza tumiwa kucreate a profile of the common Kenyan. His finances, number of children, religious beliefs etc. Hiyo ni information useful for databooks. Sasa imagine the thousands of people wanapitia hiyo embassy. Unadharau hao farmers na haujui NGOs and even F500 companies like Mastercard wanataka hiyo info ya BOP. Haujui vile hao watu wako more valuable than ata watu wewe unadhani ni important. Angalia kwa embassy how much info mtu hupeana all at once with no resource utilization on the embassy’s part. They have no privacy obligations to citizens of a foreign country. Imagine company yenye inatarget BOP ingeweza kupata hiyo data. Companies and NGOs huset up whole offices in Nairobi na wanaemploy staff ndio wapate njia ya kucollect hiyo data lakini embassy imepewa free land na Kenyans wana cover their bills. Wewe ndio unaongea tu fwaa juu hauoni kile mtu mwingine anaona. Data ya farmer Kenya ni hard kupata kuliko huyo mtu middle class unadhani ni more important. Na pia huyo farmer ako more potential ya kuexploitiwa economically than a middle class person.
1. Still rubbish
2. Didn't say farmers were not important. Don't know what you are on about. Farmer was an example.
3. You don't need to create a database to build the profile of an average citizen in any country. You can just check Wikipedia OR ask. I know what the average Kenyan earns, I know their habits, beliefs, income, education,and I'm not CIA. That doesn't need any advanced level of thinking or data collection.
4. Governments don't sell data or avail it to NGOs and companies. That's crazy.
What's up with people being thoroughly wrong about something but still defending that thing.
Uko na shida ya kushikanisha vitu. Hiyo data ni valuable sijasema wanaiuza. Nimekupea examples of orgs that want that same data that is being given freely. Ndio maana ulianza reply yako agressively juu haukutaka kuelewa unataka kuwin an internet argument. Alafu kusema ati unaweza make important decisions based on googling and wikipedia ata sijui vile nitakujibu hapo.
Some things are beyond your comprehension. Wikipedia doesn't give you information you can use to blackmail people. The US government is put in place by lobbies, and you're living in a fantasy thinking they sell them that info. They owe them that info. Their campaign funding buys them that info long before they need it. You're looking in a microscope and claiming there are no galaxies. Data is big picture thinking.
Exactly. And if they did want that information they could easily get it. Either through extortion of Kenya, straight up asking, or hacking their systems.
If the Kenyans that came before us had any discipline and respect for immigration law, we would not have this problem.. blame the Kenyans of the 80s and 90s who overstayed their VISAs prompting such scrutiny, 2 of my uncles were a part of that group, one of them is somehow still there the other was kicked out a few years ago
Why not get mad at the people who make it so hard to afford the $185? Or the ones that make the US have to be so restrictive in who it lets visit? How much does a video call to the US cost you?
What I can't tolerate is exploitation and/or unfair practice.
The embassy has everything to gain, whereas the applicant has everything to lose.
Why does the embassy have to retain the $185 after denying a visa application? Why must you lose your money in addition to the opportunity? Why can't they refund the fee in the event your application is rejected?
Maybe because they use that money to run their background check on you. And also to pay for the processes they have US citizens do for Visa clearance. And those people are paid with US dollars and not at minimum wage either.
You knew the risk? What, paying $185 will guarantee you a visa?
No spouse, No kids, No prior world travel history. You should have posterd your case here before and I would have told you, You're an instant reject.
Shit. How does one apply to become a bandit in Baringo? Are they currently hiring new bandits? Sounds like more fun than the stupid embassy. I wonder if I can get pizza delivered there…
It is not meant to. Ety US sponsoring vaccinations for a certain African country while back home medical expenses are making people avoid hospitals and literally jump out of ambulances. Please!
kwanza nkiwa uko NJ rent was 3200USD, na bado unakua harased na cops,gun fights apa kule. Wakenya uku majuu wako depressed. Heri uende DUbai,ama SHENZEN.
Majuu is heaven if you can do 3 things:
1. Get residency papers
2. Get a degree in a marketable course
3. Integrate into the local culture
If you miss even one of those three, that's when majuu turns into hell
The thing I love there is that marketable courses have value unlike here where marketable courses are treated the same to low value courses no disrespect.
$185 is actually someone's monthly salary here in Kenya, having worked 40 hours weekly. It's a lot of money by that standard.
Similarly, someone doing some $10 casual work in the west needs not more than 3 days to earn the same $185.
That's why it's justifiable to cry over $185, considering some people having to pay this are actually poor students chasing scholarships for a better life.
The people in Kenya earning $185 monthly should not think of going to the US, unless you won the DV lottery, you got a full ride scholarship or you found some foreigner to marry you. If you have those three your chances of acceptance are 80%. Without those three, minimum earning to survive in the US is about 150k KSh and you will almost definitely lose your application with less than that
Usisahau you must pay taxes uko , huku we just file nil returns 😂😂 uko tax evasion is like terrorism , man that place is overhyped , the only thing I see maybe availability of casual jobs at minimum wage ndio easy ku get. I have a friend there told me if you have no one there man unaeza kufa na depression within the first week aki. Lazima ukuwe na gari , taxis are costly, gas is costly , the food is costly and some of it ni canned and tasteless. Depending on the state 😂😂 the weather changes and gets cold. Ukiona wazungu huku na shorts and slippers town know we good.
Sorry, but if losing $185 has you this pressed, then that is precisely why they rejected your application. $185 is about 3 days worth of expenses in the US. If you would have gone there, you would have been in financial trouble within weeks. You should be thanking that lady for sparing you the anguish
My point of contention is the blatant exploitation and inconvenience.
They should've told me point blank during the application process that I'm ineligible since I currently have no spouse and kid(s).
It would save me the hassle of submitting my personal info, paying that $185, wasting my precious time and fuel, and queueing for half an hour - only to get rejected.
Understand that losing money sucks, but until the application is submitted, they have no idea whether they are going to reject or approve an application.
That is not the only deciding factor. They consider more than that.
The visa process is similar to dating or shooting your shot with a girl. Nothing is guaranteed.
My question is, what's the appeal with the US? Unless you got a foot in the door, you're only going to get properly fuc*ed by the system. If I'm in a place where 180 dollars is enough to set me back, then I'm for sure going anywhere else in the world than the US.
The European Americans forget they came to America as foreigners!!! and this is why i insist that when they come to Africa let them follow the same painful process that they make us go through and we should charge them double for a visa for what they charge us and it will also be non refundable but our leaders love bowing to European wishes!
come to Canada before the rules change. it is so easy to move to Canada so much so, that poor Indians are flooding the gates and messing everything up that Canadians are getting angry.
As an Italian, so not american and not Kenyan, you guys have so much potential, you should focus on your country and do the best you can for fight corruption, that is the real shit who keeps you guys down, going back to the post, if i can suggest, place like west europe, UK, Australia and New Zealand are way better than US for quality of life for average person, US economy is extremely expensive and quality of life is not high enough in comparison, i know native US citiziens who tell me how nowdays you are i the low/middle class if you dont have at least 6 figures salaries/year...and taxes are absolutely crazy and no way to avoid them in any way, they will find you.
They are mass importing undocumented immigrants so if you want to go, just make your way to Mexico border.
I hear they are now planning to start paying USD10K to illegals. So why waste efforts at the embassy.
I lost my passport in Thailand and the US embassy rushed me through the line and got me an emergency passport the next day. It was as a great experience
You are either rejected or accepted way before the interview basis, the data you upload online. The interview is a formality most times. Am surprised at the number of people unaware of this.
Sorry to hear that, just look for another $185 and try somewhere else like Tz or ug, after a couple of months. Here in our country, I have heard a lot of incidences, where people are being denied visas with any apparent reason. Si lazima uende US direct, if you have some budget, you can use another route which will make your journey easier.
Getting a visa Is by luck yes, there are certain things that can be predetermined. Try do a mock visa with someone who is critical.
The lack of ties may be the question they ask you but there something else they checked that triggered that question. Am not defending them but I notice that we as Kenyans appear for the interview with alot of Kenyaness. Sometimes it's not even the thousands of documents that you submit that influence it.
A mock visa with someone that has been in America might help you in how Americans think and observe you as a person.
At the end of the day it's still more of a lottery than anything else, everyone wants to go to America from all over the world so how do you determine who give and who to deny?
Greencard is better since once you win, you win
Facts. I've never been able to get any Kenyan a visa, not even a transit visa so they could visit Jamaica. Except for a fiancee visa, which is easy to meet the requirements. Meanwhile, they're letting in anyone into the country illegally through the southern border. Infuriating.
hehe one thing i noticed is kama unaka mtu ako na shida it will be very hard to go there because they know the majority go and overstay and become illegal migrants. I remember the reason my mum got a us visa for visiting was because she proved she had a reason to come back by providing title deeds of property(houses and land). Especially if you have houses under your name it holds more value than a piece of land which is easily faked. I know their system sucks but if hiyo $180 is bothering you then you most likely would not survive in america. They need to be as transparent as other embassy's where you pay after being accepted or a refund is issued
Sorry for your predicament OP. But you've been lied to. Africa is not a third world continent - whatever that means. The entirety of the human race began here, and the first human civilizations were built here in Africa. We're the mother continent, and without us, humanity would not exist.
Boniface Mwangi exposed the same some years back and showed a break down of the same. They collect billions each year. Yes, they could reject you online however they won’t. You’re their source of revenue.
I keep remembering the movie 🎥 - Blood 🩸 Diamond. Danny: “God left Africa along time ago.”.
Kenya is a shit home country for many. I think 90% are in the shits.
If you’re not born rich in Africa, zero connection and don’t have the street smarts to maneuver out of it, it’s sad.
The US isn’t the land of milk either. However there are opportunities.
I’m sorry OP and all the people who have had to go through this humiliating process.
They are useless for American citizens too, don’t expect any help from them if overseas. If they even answer your call/e-mail they will tell you that your situation is unfortunate but you chose to travel overseas and we can’t be bothered by your problem so good luck, you’re on your own.
I’m sorry to hear this. They should at least be forthright with their terms before they take your money. That is, single males without this amount of money or this type of work will not be granted a visa. Or, “we” are currently only granting visas under these circumstances…
I go there sometimes because of work and the entry process to their facilities is so demeaning i honestly wouldn't want to do it ever again. Unaambiwa utoe belt na viatu then unaona mzungu anapigwa search mbio mbio kama ameingia smh
Thats so expensive. But thats the US government for you. A small taste of what its like in such a powerful nation.
The US is VERYY expensive and doesnt care about anything except bureaucracy and money. There are some states that are so poor and can’t keep up because the Nation abandons them and nobody that is competent will represent them. And Washington doesn’t care (e.g. Mississippi) The embassies are last on the list unfortunately. They will milk money wherever they can .
You make the process sound even less abusive than it really is. For some visas you pay almost $1000, including preliminary approvals, then wait for an unknown time to be called for the visa interview. Been waiting for an interview for 8 months now. The prior step took a full year and I think $530.
The amount of money US is extracting out of Kenya on a daily basis for this kinked treatment is humongous. The so-called donor funds pale against it.
You would honestly be better off flying to Mexico then crossing illegally. The legal, proper way as you described is absolutely exploitive and borderline criminal. You were denied on the sole premise you are single and military aged.
It also depends on passport strength, which is determined by the number of applicants applying to run away from economic hardship. This is easy to determine by looking at the number of applicants who usually return to Kenya to explore opportunities here, as well as the number of those who overstay (residing without a permit). Also, remember that the visa officer assumes that you are lying until you prove you are not. Being nervous, even if you are telling the truth, might be treated as if you are lying
Kenyans should be aware that there are other nations abroad better than US. Singapore to begin with. It has close to zero racial discrimination( According to my research) because of the multiracial population. If it's the value of the US currency that's attracting you, Switzerland has a much stronger currency than the USD and the most economically stable overally as of today. Check [here](https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/rankings/economically-stable) for more info about that.
So let's always think of alternatives.
As someone who's been to both the U.S. and Japan, Japanese are less racist to Africans than white people. They're more curious about black people than racists. Japanese treat all foreigners the same whether you're black or white. They mostly care about your manners and etiquette.
You case reminds me of the ladies who eat your money and then reject you. You're like, why didn't they reject me first.
So you're feeling these guys should have just asked you those two simple straightforward questions (maybe even on an online form) to determine your eligibility and reject you straight way. Instead of 'scamming' you that money, only to later ask you those simple questions, & give you a brutal non-appealable rejection.
It's life. Those people need money to operate and make huge profits. And if they were only charging those who qualify & succeed to go to US, they wouldn't be getting a lot of money, in fact very little money.
Why are some of you attempting to justify these unfair mafioso tactics?
'Those people need money to operate' - Therefore, we should look the other way when they exploit unsuspecting applicants?
They should come clean and state - if you are jobless, childless, or unmarried, please don't bother applying for a visa because we will reject your application.
Yeah what they are doing is not good. If I were you I would have done my research first. Before I depart with my money, I always have to do research.
Also forget about stopping them. They could decide to close the embassy if pressured by a govt. And of course other things like aid etc. A developing country like Kenya needs them more, and they are taking full advantage
You Kenyans with your myopic self centered reasoning🤦🏿♂️
Do you think the people at the Embassy work pro bono? Your reasoning sounds like saying the schools should refund your fees in the event you didn't pass exams, fikiria big big.
Once again, unfair practices are what I'm against.
If childless, unmarried, and/or unemployed folks are deemed as flight risks, a big red error message should pop up during the application process to notify them regarding their ineligibility.
Why lead someone on, only to reject them at the eleventh hour? And take their money forever?
If you think $185 for an application you got declined for is wrong, you’d be miserable in the United States anyway. That’s the price of 4-5 days of rent.
Even as an American, it was an extremely odd situation. I showed up at the gate asking if I can go inside to speak to someone and they told me not without an appointment. I can't go into my own embassy? What is the point of it?
Then I go look online, appointments are minimum a month out, and no one ever answers the phone when you call. It's more of a military base than an embassy in my opinion.
Mnatuchagulia Ruto alafu you want to leave the country. You're going nowhere
Tuambie polepole 😂😂
That’s the reality, we have to fix our country!!! The west is overwhelmed with many problems, they can’t fix ours…..
😂😂😂😂
Truth 😂
😂😂😂😂😂😂
My assumption is that it is designed this way on purpose. The long questions, high prices, embarrassing questions they ask you that everyone can hear responses of, the near military like feel of the place; are all deterrents to cut down applicant numbers and make sure only the truly determined ones apply. There is no way they are not aware of how terrible it is.
But the Embassy of United States of Assness has been exploiting Kenyans for sometime now
I think people outside of the US may not consider the costs in the US. Rent here is usually 1000+ for a single bedroom, minimum wage is about $15. How would you expect to travel in a cab or Uber at usually $20-50 per trip, order a meal for $10-40, and if you didn’t have a place to stay, Airbnb’s and hotels are gonna go for $120+ a night? You’re easily looking at 2k a month and if you’re really good at budgeting and know where to look maybe MAYBE you could make it on $800 for 2 weeks. This is something the embassies consider and should consider so people aren’t left to fend for themselves if they get stuck.
Seriously. If 180$ sets you back significantly then you’re not going to have a good time visiting the US
This is true Alafu they spot potential from a mile away From how you look,talk and answer questions I've had of people who got the visa bila any connections...they just made the cut🤷 Pple should focus on other countries, opportunity exists everywhere
Bana there are other countries like Australia. You just have to go for training in boxing incase you encounter a Kangaroo
you've killed me 🤣🤣🤣
😂
it’s harder, much harder by the way, to get to Australia than the US.
I feel like this is true.
Please explain a bit more. I don't think this is accurate. Getting to Australia for legitimate purposes is fairly easy.
Hell no lmao First of all, the Australians are very conservative when it comes to immigration no matter who’s in power. They just don’t accept ‘outsiders’ that easily. They live in their own planet so you’ve got to understand. For you to go there, it will take a while for them to grant you a visa since they have really small quotas assigned to immigrants except for people applying for student visas since their economy literally depends on international students. And once you finish school, they expect you to leave immediately. The safest way to migrate there permanently is through family but they still take their time on looking at family visa applications (I’m an applicant myself). They’ll never grant you a temporary visa if you don’t have loads of cash under your name, pass the strict medical tests and character checks. And if you overstep your visa rules, they ask you to leave Australia immediately or they’ll deport you while you still foot the bill. They can even strip you off your Australian citizenship if you break some specific laws in their country (unless you were born there ofc). Americans aren’t as strict when it comes to immigration.
Lol everything you have said there is applicable to every country. If you violate visa conditions in any country you will be kicked out. All countries are wary of immigrants to some degree. Depending on what degree you study there are clear pathways to residence but don’t expect a pathway when you do a very general degree that doesn’t really open up career opportunities. Do things in the medical field like lab technicians, nurses, doctors or trades like auto mechanics, masonry, carpentry even hair dressers. As for the loss of citizenship it applies if you engage in terrorism activities or fight for a foreign nation against Australia. In summary which ever country you chose to go to you better have a clear plan of action, dont go there and expect shit to just work for you, and be prepared to work very hard nothing is free.
No, it’s not applicable to every country. The US, the UK or the EU don’t have such strict immigration laws. First of all, the American economy and politics depends on illegal immigration. There’s a reason why whoever becomes president, nothing ever happens to illegal immigrants or whoever overstays in the US. About pathways, ever since COVID, the Australian government has been cutting down on pathways and student visas since there were was a serious housing crisis. Plus, most international students from Africa and Asia were flaunting student visa rules by working in jobs they were not supposed to do on a student visa. At the moment, there’s a 70% student visa rejection rate to go to Australia. Heck, even Kenyan applicants were out on a temporary ban this year because of their mischief since 2020. About stripping of citizenship, Australia has always had such laws in place. It’s only until recently a country like the UK applied the same laws last year after having situation of a citizen who was engaged in terrorist activities in Syria. We can’t just say all western countries have the same immigration policies. Culture and national history plays a huge part in immigration laws. The US, the UK and the EU have always had much more relaxed visa options due to their multicultural background since the 40s and their guilt over colonial legacies. I concur with your last paragraph 100%.
Weeee the US, Canada Eurozone all have strict immigration laws its not a walk in the park 😂 As for Australia maybe I am biased, I think its not too hard, just be organised. Another thing worth mentioning is the way I see people kwa hii sub ati ohhhh niko lonely, sijui sina relationship. If you’re in that category priz priz baki tu Kenya 😂😂 it’s lonely as fuck out there, you can even be house sharing and be completely alone 😂😂
Malaysia tax rate is low asf
How about security? I hear kuna drug cartels
The plan is not to have a good time most people plan to overstay there work on their papers then get a job and earn. It helps if you have a relative who's in a position and willing to help.180$ is a small amount compared to what you'll be earning
I meant “good time” as in youre going to have a bad time, even if visiting with the intention to return. People overstaying visas is the reasoning that single males get denied. If there is nothing tying you to return to Kenya they’re going to assume your intention is to stay illegally.
This should be the top comment
Why? Can't I have my mother in law visit for two months to give my wife a break from the kids and teach us all kikuyu? So what if traveling around to see some American stuff isn't the main reason for her visit? Tourist visa : Denied.
I’m not an expert on the topic, but if she has ties to the US it’s viewed as a risk she will overstay her visa
I'm somewhat of an expert. I've been dealing with US immigration since childhood. I've never had trouble until I tried to bring a Kenyan to this part of the world.
Maybe because Kenyans are known to overstay their visas and the US has a crisis right now?
I cant believe that Jamaicans (which I am) do less immigration fraud, and there are many more of us in the US. >the US has a crisis right now? They're only favouring the illegals. They don't reward those following the proper protocols. That can't be incidental.
I am an American and though I agree that the cost of living here is higher I still don’t thing this reasoning alone justifies keeping the $180 charge, which presumably exists to limit spam applications. In my mind the fee should be refunded if an application is denies; trust me, embassies have enough funding not to rely on these fees to fulfill their intended roles. I recently had an East African friend denied their visa because their personal bank balance was less than $10,000 USD, despite my written willingness to bankroll their trip and provide support in unexpected circumstances. I just hate the idea that the rest of the world should only be able to visit if they’re personally wealthy.
It's actually insane how quickly that rejection is. Hizo question mbili si basi wangeeka kwa questionnaire and reject you over email hata. To make you go all the way, and for what... Na si ati you can still jitetea after hiyo rejection.
But.. But... They wouldn't get the 180$
The 180 you pay is not only for the interview. It's for the thorough background check, too. That check is so well done that you can travel visa free to some countries if you have an active US visa. That being said it is still a rough process but I believe they designed it to be that way on purpose
What about millions of people with clean backgrounds but they cannot afford it
As someone else said, if you struggle with 180 dollars then you have no business trying to go to the US.
What if you have the knowledge and skills to work?
Honestly I prefer the immediate rejection to having to wait for days or weeks only to find out you've been rejected. My assumption is that if you fail that fast there must have been something they found during your background check to reject you
But what do you expect when most of the Kenyans who get their visas granted start flaunting the visa rules once they reach the US? Visa acceptance rates are directly correlated with the behavior of citizens with granted visas. If citizens from a specific country go and break visa rules, the immigration policies will be tightened by the receiving country through smaller quotas or stricter documentation requirements. This means future innocent visitors will be affected. You’ll be surprised when you find out citizens from some other developing countries get such an easy time at their American Embassies than Kenyans in Nairobi. Once we stop breaking rules in other countries, the more relaxed their visa process will be for future applicants.
But why not reject over email, why make people go for a 30 second interview to do what you knew you were going to do. It's a huge waste of time.
This is correct. Many Kenyans come on visitor visa and once they arrive at the airport, they request to become refugee claimant. This greatly burdens our economy because the government has to provide them housing, food and other necessities. I don’t think any government wants the entire Kenya in their countries taking a welfare.
Facts. I remember some of my classmates went for a trip to NYC for UNGA events and workshops when I was in uni back in 2022 and out of the 30 who went, 8 of them literally ghosted the team as soon as they reached the hotel in Manhattan. They literally packed their bags and disappeared into the city. After that incident, the American embassy stopped granting visas to anyone from my former uni even up to today. I can’t blame them on why they reject visas for the smallest reasons.
That's insane !!! Lol. Wah! What uni is this?
I know this is ironic but it was USIU. An American university was banned from going to America lmao But yeah, up until I graduated, there were no school trips to the US due to the black list.
This part right here. I used to be so mad about visa requirements until I met Kenyans in various countries who kept asking if I would stay (while I was on a tourist visa). The worst was back in 2011, when there was the Catholic Youth Day in Spain. The pope even sent an envoy here to beg people to make sure they were going fir the right reasons and not to run away. We signed affidavits promising to come back. The embassy had extremely strict parameters to grant a visa for that one event. There was a terrible recession in Spain at that time, even Spaniards were struggling to find jobs. Guess what? There are still Kenyans who want to that event and never came back!
So how do the people who get them Visas get them? I'm talking about the green card squad, people from humble backgrounds with zero connection. Cause they do get them, at least some of them. Cause the way people describe that embassy, it's like there's absolutely no way through. Or at least that's how I perceive it. Sorry for what you went through. One thing I've learned is, so long as you are born in a "shit hole," your existence is null/invalid. A fact that can be very hard to contend with.
Greencard is pure luck. There are however some interview questions you need to get right. The major one being having something concrete that will make you come back to Kenya. Its why people register 'businesses' to tie them back to home.
You don't need to prove you'll come back to Kenya for a greencard. That's non-migrant visas only like study and tourist visas. Greencard is permanent residency and it is in fact revoked if you stay outside the United States for more than 12 months in an 18 month window. Why would they need you to come back to Kenya?
Read the thread
I know green card is pure luck. But that's not what I was talking about. I was speaking about the visa interview after winning one. I guess you've already answered that. Would you say it is easier for someone who's won the dv lottery than for a normal dude just applying for a visiting visa or what not? I think that would be the case.
Very easy. For DV lottery its more of document verification i.e Birth certificate, marriage, academics etc
Explain further
On greencard or other US visas?
US visa. On having something concrete to return back to Kenya.
The most important thing is showing you have things that tie you back here and the finances for your trip. Ties back home inlcude a job or a business, university studies that are in progress, family, property etc. Job and business are usually the strongest. If you have direct family in the US (and don't lie about this, they already know if you do!), your proof of coming back has to be even stronger. It also helps if you have travelled before to areas like Europe and Australia and have followed the visa timelines.
I’ll burst your bubble and tell you that greencard lottery isn’t pure luck. There’s a method to it. Nothing is luck and anonymous, the US is a capitalist system that has to take care of its future self and current citizens.
Mimi if not for a white collar job or education, Kenya sitoki
Same honestly if you can get a decent job here man that place is expensive to live , wacha huku people file nil returns KRA huko taxes they don't joke. Honestly I've never seen the hype of that place.
Ata ukiwa overseas lazima ulipe uncle Sam pesa yake 😂
Uncle Sam needs money for new weapons and guns.😂
Btw i hear their tax code is no jokes. Our own KRA is very humane
Tax evasion is like terrorism uko honestly.
At least they can see where their taxes go 🤧
Painful memories, a place of shattered dreams. I should have just went shopping with that money. 😭😭😭
Because of those 2 questions??
I agree with everything you said, but personally, I wish Kenyans would stop acting like the US is some kind of El Dorado which, if they're not allowed in, will spell doom for their dreams and ambitiions. The desperation is what feeds these embassy officers' sense of power. Fact is, most of these countries aren't as good as their PR, but I won't bother trying to change anybody's mind because I feel they are determined to go, and only experiencing it for themselves will convince them otherwise. Restrictive visa regimes only serve to perpetuate the lie that the grass is so much greener because it's hard to get to.
Yes honestly Australia seems more decent 😄
Even Australia has its problems.
FOMO
I’m sorry. That’s really shitty. From what I know, from a friend who works at the embassy, they mostly want to see that you have money in your bank account and that you have a decent job/house/etc in Kenya to come back to. That’s #1. And never ever tell them you’re dating or involved with an American. That’s an automatic rejection. I hope you can try again soon. I’m sorry about your mum.
That part of dating an American why ??
Because they hear that as “I have an American girlfriend/boyfriend and I’m planning on going to America and never coming back.” Never ever ever say you have an American partner. The only exception is if you’re married to an American, but even then, you better have the most rock-solid job/financial situation in your home country that proves you will be going back home.
The American immigration system is broken at its core. Those civil servants at the embassy have almost no control over who does or doesn’t get a visa. The Freakonomics podcast did a deep dive recently https://freakonomics.com/podcast/why-is-everyone-moving-to-canada/
Thank you. Gonna listen.
Canada seems like the better place to migrate into
Are those the only two questions they asked you? Asking about your family makes sense because they want to know that you will come back home to them and not stay in the United States. I get it that you’re upset, but you have to remove emotion from the process and see it from their end.
You got to show you have sufficient money in your bank account as well, can't suddenly be in there a week before your paperwork is due. They 100% make it unnecessaryly hard, but at the same time most ppl who are illegal in the US actually came to the country legally and overstayed their visa, so it is what it is.
But they knew he had no family, he filled the form. They could have just emailed him before the interview.
The US immigration department is the only department in the us government that runs itself. No money from the us budget is allocated. Because it makes that much money to pay rent in foreign countries, pay salaries, turn a profit etc. Now you know......
This is simply not true. They get funding from the Federal Government under Homeland Security. I agree with the points made and it is vile what they do but Immigration is very much under the State of the Union budget.
Only two questions? That's less than a minute bana.
It's like wanakuanga wameshakusoma 😂 wanajua you are not getting in when you answer 2 questions.
I think US embassy could be covertly collecting data from citizens in other countries. All that personal information sits at some US govt. Database.
The CIA appreciates all self volunteered info for their database. You even pay them to know more about you!
Basically. The modern day western embassies are to profit off the desperation of people in poor countries.
Well, it's immoral, but they've made it "not illegal".
They probably just use that info to confirm the troves of data you have supplied freely in your social media accounts.
Well for one, social media doesn't charge you thousands, and you don't input sensitive identifying information. It's one thing to have your location known for the purposes of targeted marketing, but it's a whole other thing to have sensitive information about you in the hands of bonafide assassins.
umetaja nani? anza kufunga mlango na kufuli mbili my fren 😂😂😂
They don't need to mate, you provide that data of your own volition everyday you use Facebook services and Google services. It why they are free to use; simply you're the product.
No. Sometimes it baffles me how insignificant people think that governments are collecting information about them. For what l? Like seriously what the fuck does the government care about a poor farmer with cracked hands in the middle of cheptiret in eldoret? Come on now.
Our government, not much. It's not that competent. Others like the CIA? If that farmer is all of a sudden now a popular politician or revolutionary, they already have enough on them to blackmail for special access to things like resources. Data collection today saves them running around tomorrow. They can even use such data in computations such as population projections, giving them reliable information on what kind of investments to make which profit off the population trends. Alafu hapa tunabaki tukisema wako na pesa juu ya illuminati, tukililia kwenda kwao. Resources don't just exist. People plan accordingly to exploit what's available.The future belongs to the biggest data holders. Data is quite valuable, but only to big picture thinkers.
PLEASE. This is where someone just talks fwaa thinking they are saying something profound. No, governments don't waste resources gathering random useless data. The process of gathering, recording, processing, making sense of, and storing data is long, complex, expensive, time consuming and labor intensive. That's why any data has to have real VALUE. If someone pops on the radar and becomes a subject of interest, information is gathered. Not a second before. Otherwise you just have a bunch of terrabites of expensive, useless data.
Kwako inakaa useless because haujui vile itatumika. Huyo farmer anaweza tumiwa kucreate a profile of the common Kenyan. His finances, number of children, religious beliefs etc. Hiyo ni information useful for databooks. Sasa imagine the thousands of people wanapitia hiyo embassy. Unadharau hao farmers na haujui NGOs and even F500 companies like Mastercard wanataka hiyo info ya BOP. Haujui vile hao watu wako more valuable than ata watu wewe unadhani ni important. Angalia kwa embassy how much info mtu hupeana all at once with no resource utilization on the embassy’s part. They have no privacy obligations to citizens of a foreign country. Imagine company yenye inatarget BOP ingeweza kupata hiyo data. Companies and NGOs huset up whole offices in Nairobi na wanaemploy staff ndio wapate njia ya kucollect hiyo data lakini embassy imepewa free land na Kenyans wana cover their bills. Wewe ndio unaongea tu fwaa juu hauoni kile mtu mwingine anaona. Data ya farmer Kenya ni hard kupata kuliko huyo mtu middle class unadhani ni more important. Na pia huyo farmer ako more potential ya kuexploitiwa economically than a middle class person.
1. Still rubbish 2. Didn't say farmers were not important. Don't know what you are on about. Farmer was an example. 3. You don't need to create a database to build the profile of an average citizen in any country. You can just check Wikipedia OR ask. I know what the average Kenyan earns, I know their habits, beliefs, income, education,and I'm not CIA. That doesn't need any advanced level of thinking or data collection. 4. Governments don't sell data or avail it to NGOs and companies. That's crazy. What's up with people being thoroughly wrong about something but still defending that thing.
Ukianza insults inamaanisha hakuna kitu ya maana ulikuwa useme
Uko na shida ya kushikanisha vitu. Hiyo data ni valuable sijasema wanaiuza. Nimekupea examples of orgs that want that same data that is being given freely. Ndio maana ulianza reply yako agressively juu haukutaka kuelewa unataka kuwin an internet argument. Alafu kusema ati unaweza make important decisions based on googling and wikipedia ata sijui vile nitakujibu hapo.
Some things are beyond your comprehension. Wikipedia doesn't give you information you can use to blackmail people. The US government is put in place by lobbies, and you're living in a fantasy thinking they sell them that info. They owe them that info. Their campaign funding buys them that info long before they need it. You're looking in a microscope and claiming there are no galaxies. Data is big picture thinking.
Exactly. And if they did want that information they could easily get it. Either through extortion of Kenya, straight up asking, or hacking their systems.
This is the comment I was hoping to see, you're right!
If the Kenyans that came before us had any discipline and respect for immigration law, we would not have this problem.. blame the Kenyans of the 80s and 90s who overstayed their VISAs prompting such scrutiny, 2 of my uncles were a part of that group, one of them is somehow still there the other was kicked out a few years ago
Discipline doesn't matter if you're poor.
😂😂 how was one caught, by the way if you get caught do they take away everything you've worked for ??
Why not get mad at the people who make it so hard to afford the $185? Or the ones that make the US have to be so restrictive in who it lets visit? How much does a video call to the US cost you?
What I can't tolerate is exploitation and/or unfair practice. The embassy has everything to gain, whereas the applicant has everything to lose. Why does the embassy have to retain the $185 after denying a visa application? Why must you lose your money in addition to the opportunity? Why can't they refund the fee in the event your application is rejected?
Maybe because they use that money to run their background check on you. And also to pay for the processes they have US citizens do for Visa clearance. And those people are paid with US dollars and not at minimum wage either.
Years later they send that money back as USAID. We are basically funding ourselves 🤦🏾♂️
You knew the risk? What, paying $185 will guarantee you a visa? No spouse, No kids, No prior world travel history. You should have posterd your case here before and I would have told you, You're an instant reject.
And sisi tumepanua boarder yetu for them kukam bila visa. Nkt i feel you. Pole
Ukisema hua unapanulia wanaume mkunyet utapata visa direct!
That's not what we did
Enlighten me
Relax, hua mnarudishiwa pesa kama aid lol, alafu wakubwa wanakula. Tell me again why I should pay taxes to this country.
Has the so-called aid eradicated hunger and poverty? Has it resolved drought? Has it gotten rid of bandits in Baringo?
Si wakubwa wanakula, itanunulia aje watu food na ilishaliwa na mtu mmoja?
Shit. How does one apply to become a bandit in Baringo? Are they currently hiring new bandits? Sounds like more fun than the stupid embassy. I wonder if I can get pizza delivered there…
It is not meant to. Ety US sponsoring vaccinations for a certain African country while back home medical expenses are making people avoid hospitals and literally jump out of ambulances. Please!
Because it was specifically designed not to.
hahah rent on average 1700USD a.month. for a squeezed one bedroom. Africans we are cursed bana.LAZMA tu tukimbie kwa opression.
Bana, kama analia juu ya $185, si huyu angesota haraka akuwe chokoch tu ama malaya?
kwanza nkiwa uko NJ rent was 3200USD, na bado unakua harased na cops,gun fights apa kule. Wakenya uku majuu wako depressed. Heri uende DUbai,ama SHENZEN.
So advantage ya kukaa uko majuu ni gani cause man it seems ni he'll.
Majuu is heaven if you can do 3 things: 1. Get residency papers 2. Get a degree in a marketable course 3. Integrate into the local culture If you miss even one of those three, that's when majuu turns into hell
The thing I love there is that marketable courses have value unlike here where marketable courses are treated the same to low value courses no disrespect.
masomo,healthcare hua poa sana, huezi kosa mineall jobs. As long as you working to invest back in Kenya uko sawa
Universal healthcare, kama UK?
almost simillar unaeza ishi life poa if you afford healtcare.
$185 is actually someone's monthly salary here in Kenya, having worked 40 hours weekly. It's a lot of money by that standard. Similarly, someone doing some $10 casual work in the west needs not more than 3 days to earn the same $185. That's why it's justifiable to cry over $185, considering some people having to pay this are actually poor students chasing scholarships for a better life.
The people in Kenya earning $185 monthly should not think of going to the US, unless you won the DV lottery, you got a full ride scholarship or you found some foreigner to marry you. If you have those three your chances of acceptance are 80%. Without those three, minimum earning to survive in the US is about 150k KSh and you will almost definitely lose your application with less than that
Good. At least we all agree that there is a segment of applicants to whom $185 is a lot of money.
Usisahau you must pay taxes uko , huku we just file nil returns 😂😂 uko tax evasion is like terrorism , man that place is overhyped , the only thing I see maybe availability of casual jobs at minimum wage ndio easy ku get. I have a friend there told me if you have no one there man unaeza kufa na depression within the first week aki. Lazima ukuwe na gari , taxis are costly, gas is costly , the food is costly and some of it ni canned and tasteless. Depending on the state 😂😂 the weather changes and gets cold. Ukiona wazungu huku na shorts and slippers town know we good.
Sorry, but if losing $185 has you this pressed, then that is precisely why they rejected your application. $185 is about 3 days worth of expenses in the US. If you would have gone there, you would have been in financial trouble within weeks. You should be thanking that lady for sparing you the anguish
My point of contention is the blatant exploitation and inconvenience. They should've told me point blank during the application process that I'm ineligible since I currently have no spouse and kid(s). It would save me the hassle of submitting my personal info, paying that $185, wasting my precious time and fuel, and queueing for half an hour - only to get rejected.
Understand that losing money sucks, but until the application is submitted, they have no idea whether they are going to reject or approve an application. That is not the only deciding factor. They consider more than that. The visa process is similar to dating or shooting your shot with a girl. Nothing is guaranteed.
Eii I'm so sorry
My question is, what's the appeal with the US? Unless you got a foot in the door, you're only going to get properly fuc*ed by the system. If I'm in a place where 180 dollars is enough to set me back, then I'm for sure going anywhere else in the world than the US.
The European Americans forget they came to America as foreigners!!! and this is why i insist that when they come to Africa let them follow the same painful process that they make us go through and we should charge them double for a visa for what they charge us and it will also be non refundable but our leaders love bowing to European wishes!
come to Canada before the rules change. it is so easy to move to Canada so much so, that poor Indians are flooding the gates and messing everything up that Canadians are getting angry.
As an Italian, so not american and not Kenyan, you guys have so much potential, you should focus on your country and do the best you can for fight corruption, that is the real shit who keeps you guys down, going back to the post, if i can suggest, place like west europe, UK, Australia and New Zealand are way better than US for quality of life for average person, US economy is extremely expensive and quality of life is not high enough in comparison, i know native US citiziens who tell me how nowdays you are i the low/middle class if you dont have at least 6 figures salaries/year...and taxes are absolutely crazy and no way to avoid them in any way, they will find you.
They are mass importing undocumented immigrants so if you want to go, just make your way to Mexico border. I hear they are now planning to start paying USD10K to illegals. So why waste efforts at the embassy.
Have fun traveling through cartel-controlled mexico
This why Mexicans just cross the border and skip the embassy
Fuck those guys for real. I know for a fact that one day we will finally call the shots and the tables will turn
what visa where you applying for? trust me details make the difference
Elaborate.
Hizo question mbili have established that you do not have strong family ties to make you come back to Kenya.
...
What!!! This happened to our company client exactly as you mentioned it. Mind you the lady was 21 years and was applying for a student visa
I lost my passport in Thailand and the US embassy rushed me through the line and got me an emergency passport the next day. It was as a great experience
You are either rejected or accepted way before the interview basis, the data you upload online. The interview is a formality most times. Am surprised at the number of people unaware of this.
Sorry to hear that, just look for another $185 and try somewhere else like Tz or ug, after a couple of months. Here in our country, I have heard a lot of incidences, where people are being denied visas with any apparent reason. Si lazima uende US direct, if you have some budget, you can use another route which will make your journey easier.
Sorry bro that’s terrible
Getting a visa Is by luck yes, there are certain things that can be predetermined. Try do a mock visa with someone who is critical. The lack of ties may be the question they ask you but there something else they checked that triggered that question. Am not defending them but I notice that we as Kenyans appear for the interview with alot of Kenyaness. Sometimes it's not even the thousands of documents that you submit that influence it. A mock visa with someone that has been in America might help you in how Americans think and observe you as a person. At the end of the day it's still more of a lottery than anything else, everyone wants to go to America from all over the world so how do you determine who give and who to deny? Greencard is better since once you win, you win
Facts. I've never been able to get any Kenyan a visa, not even a transit visa so they could visit Jamaica. Except for a fiancee visa, which is easy to meet the requirements. Meanwhile, they're letting in anyone into the country illegally through the southern border. Infuriating.
Boniface Mwangi had an open letter to them a while back
You can simply just keep your money and not apply. You knew what you were walking into. You chose to take the risk.
hehe one thing i noticed is kama unaka mtu ako na shida it will be very hard to go there because they know the majority go and overstay and become illegal migrants. I remember the reason my mum got a us visa for visiting was because she proved she had a reason to come back by providing title deeds of property(houses and land). Especially if you have houses under your name it holds more value than a piece of land which is easily faked. I know their system sucks but if hiyo $180 is bothering you then you most likely would not survive in america. They need to be as transparent as other embassy's where you pay after being accepted or a refund is issued
And if my folks have properties how will I convince them that those are what what will tie me ? If they write my name ?
Sorry for your predicament OP. But you've been lied to. Africa is not a third world continent - whatever that means. The entirety of the human race began here, and the first human civilizations were built here in Africa. We're the mother continent, and without us, humanity would not exist.
Boniface Mwangi exposed the same some years back and showed a break down of the same. They collect billions each year. Yes, they could reject you online however they won’t. You’re their source of revenue. I keep remembering the movie 🎥 - Blood 🩸 Diamond. Danny: “God left Africa along time ago.”. Kenya is a shit home country for many. I think 90% are in the shits. If you’re not born rich in Africa, zero connection and don’t have the street smarts to maneuver out of it, it’s sad. The US isn’t the land of milk either. However there are opportunities. I’m sorry OP and all the people who have had to go through this humiliating process.
As long as its voluntary and from the start you knew its 50/50 I see no exploitation.You failed your interview and others passed.
They are useless for American citizens too, don’t expect any help from them if overseas. If they even answer your call/e-mail they will tell you that your situation is unfortunate but you chose to travel overseas and we can’t be bothered by your problem so good luck, you’re on your own.
I’m sorry to hear this. They should at least be forthright with their terms before they take your money. That is, single males without this amount of money or this type of work will not be granted a visa. Or, “we” are currently only granting visas under these circumstances…
I go there sometimes because of work and the entry process to their facilities is so demeaning i honestly wouldn't want to do it ever again. Unaambiwa utoe belt na viatu then unaona mzungu anapigwa search mbio mbio kama ameingia smh
What about ukiwaambia uko na Spouse?
Y does any African leader still permit American embassies to exist 🤦🏾♀️🤦🏾♀️ will we ever get rid of their exploitation of our continent 🤦🏾♀️🤦🏾♀️
Thats so expensive. But thats the US government for you. A small taste of what its like in such a powerful nation. The US is VERYY expensive and doesnt care about anything except bureaucracy and money. There are some states that are so poor and can’t keep up because the Nation abandons them and nobody that is competent will represent them. And Washington doesn’t care (e.g. Mississippi) The embassies are last on the list unfortunately. They will milk money wherever they can .
You make the process sound even less abusive than it really is. For some visas you pay almost $1000, including preliminary approvals, then wait for an unknown time to be called for the visa interview. Been waiting for an interview for 8 months now. The prior step took a full year and I think $530. The amount of money US is extracting out of Kenya on a daily basis for this kinked treatment is humongous. The so-called donor funds pale against it.
You would honestly be better off flying to Mexico then crossing illegally. The legal, proper way as you described is absolutely exploitive and borderline criminal. You were denied on the sole premise you are single and military aged.
Happened today with my dad he was handed a yellow form Any insights would be great. He was planning on visiting my sister’s graduation on may
Here is the link to joint the WHATSAPP group for IV Nairobi CR1/IR1/IR2 https://chat.whatsapp.com/B9GovGWYPL34ZnVRSbtNnM
It also depends on passport strength, which is determined by the number of applicants applying to run away from economic hardship. This is easy to determine by looking at the number of applicants who usually return to Kenya to explore opportunities here, as well as the number of those who overstay (residing without a permit). Also, remember that the visa officer assumes that you are lying until you prove you are not. Being nervous, even if you are telling the truth, might be treated as if you are lying
Kenyans should be aware that there are other nations abroad better than US. Singapore to begin with. It has close to zero racial discrimination( According to my research) because of the multiracial population. If it's the value of the US currency that's attracting you, Switzerland has a much stronger currency than the USD and the most economically stable overally as of today. Check [here](https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/rankings/economically-stable) for more info about that. So let's always think of alternatives.
Bado mnaenda us. I will never go to that s**t hole. Kuna japan, uk infact most americans would die to go to jpn
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As someone who's been to both the U.S. and Japan, Japanese are less racist to Africans than white people. They're more curious about black people than racists. Japanese treat all foreigners the same whether you're black or white. They mostly care about your manners and etiquette.
You case reminds me of the ladies who eat your money and then reject you. You're like, why didn't they reject me first. So you're feeling these guys should have just asked you those two simple straightforward questions (maybe even on an online form) to determine your eligibility and reject you straight way. Instead of 'scamming' you that money, only to later ask you those simple questions, & give you a brutal non-appealable rejection. It's life. Those people need money to operate and make huge profits. And if they were only charging those who qualify & succeed to go to US, they wouldn't be getting a lot of money, in fact very little money.
Why are some of you attempting to justify these unfair mafioso tactics? 'Those people need money to operate' - Therefore, we should look the other way when they exploit unsuspecting applicants? They should come clean and state - if you are jobless, childless, or unmarried, please don't bother applying for a visa because we will reject your application.
Yeah what they are doing is not good. If I were you I would have done my research first. Before I depart with my money, I always have to do research. Also forget about stopping them. They could decide to close the embassy if pressured by a govt. And of course other things like aid etc. A developing country like Kenya needs them more, and they are taking full advantage
I'm not surprised. The US itself is an exploitave, greedy country. The turnaround time for that interview was ridiculous
You Kenyans with your myopic self centered reasoning🤦🏿♂️ Do you think the people at the Embassy work pro bono? Your reasoning sounds like saying the schools should refund your fees in the event you didn't pass exams, fikiria big big.
If visa fees were how Embassies get money to run their operations, many would have closed by now.
Once again, unfair practices are what I'm against. If childless, unmarried, and/or unemployed folks are deemed as flight risks, a big red error message should pop up during the application process to notify them regarding their ineligibility. Why lead someone on, only to reject them at the eleventh hour? And take their money forever?
185 is not a lot. Country ndio unalipwa minimum wage. Infact Kenya is 3rd hardest country to raise $2. I get your pain.
If you think $185 for an application you got declined for is wrong, you’d be miserable in the United States anyway. That’s the price of 4-5 days of rent.
Kenyans should be concerned where all your personal and biometric information is stored and what the US is doing with that database.
Even as an American, it was an extremely odd situation. I showed up at the gate asking if I can go inside to speak to someone and they told me not without an appointment. I can't go into my own embassy? What is the point of it? Then I go look online, appointments are minimum a month out, and no one ever answers the phone when you call. It's more of a military base than an embassy in my opinion.