How Much Is a Visa from Kenya to the United States: Complete Guide to Costs and Requirements

How much is a visa from Kenya to the United States

Travel from Kenya to the United States require obtain the appropriate visa, and understand the associate costs is crucial for proper planning. This comprehensive guide break down all visa fees, additional expenses, and requirements for Kenyan citizens apply for u.s. visas.

Basic u.s. visa application fees for Kenyan citizens

The U.S. department of state set standard visa application fees that apply universal, include for applicants from Kenya. These non-refundable fees must be pay disregarding of whether your visa is approved or deny:

• 
  B1 / b2 tourist / business visa
  
  $$160
• 
  F 1 student visa
  
  $$160
• 
  J 1 exchange visitor visa
  
  $$160
• 
  H work visas
  
  $$190
• 
  L intercompany transfer visa
  
  $$190
• 
  O extraordinary ability visa
  
  $$190
• 
  P performers / athletes visa
  
  $$190
• 
  R religious worker visa
  
  $$190
• 
  K fiancé(e) visa
  
  $$265
• 
  Ir1 / cr1 immigrant visas
  
  $$325

These fees are typically pay in Kenyan shillings at the current exchange rate when schedule your appointment.

Additional mandatory costs

Beyond the basic application fee, several other expenses factor into the total cost of obtain an u.s. visa fromKenyaa:

Visa issuance fee

Some applicants may need to pay a visa issuance fee base on reciprocity agreements between Kenya and the U.S. presently, Kenyan citizens aren’t subject to additional reciprocity fees for most visa categories.

Semi tip

Student (f )and exchange visitor ( () )sa applicants must pay a separate seviNevis:

• 
  F 1 / m 1 student visa semi tip
  
  $$350
• 
  J 1 exchange visitor semi tip
  
  $$220( (r most categories )
  )

Petition fees

For certain visa categories, specially employment base and family base visas, a petition must initiatory be approved byUSCISs. These petition fees are typically pay by theU.S.. sponsor and range from$1300 to over $1,000 depend on the visa type.

Practical expenses during the application process

When budget for your u.s. visa from Kenya, include these practical expenses:

Travel to the embassy

The U.S. embassy in Kenya is located inNairobii. If you live outside the capital, factorIndianaa:

Source: visaclue.com

• Transportation cost to and from Nairobi
• Potential accommodation if you need to stay nightlong
• Local transportation to the embassy

These costs vary wide depend on your location in Kenya and choice of transportation, range from 1,000 KES for local travel to 10,000 + KES for those travel from distant regions.

Medical examination fees

Immigrant visa applicants and certain nonimmigrant visa applicants must undergo a medical examination with an embassy approve physician. In Kenya, this typically cost between 15,000 25,000 KES ($$140$230 ))depend on require vaccinations and tests.

Document preparation

Prepare for expenses relate to document preparation:

• Passport fees (if you need a new passport or renewal ) roughly 4,500 keKES
• Photo requirements: 500 1,000 KES for visa compliant photographs
• Document translation (if applicable ) 1,000 5,000 keKESer document
• Authentication of documents: 1,000 3,000 KES per document

Courier / passport return fees

Formerly will process, your passport with the visa will be will return via courier service. This fee is typically included in your application fee, but confirm this during your application process.

Optional service fees

Some applicants choose to pay for additional services:

Visa application assistance

While not require, some applicants hire visa consultants or agencies to help with the application process. These services in Kenya typically charge 10,000 50,000 KES ($$90$450 ))epend on the level of assistance and visa type.

Premium processing

For certain employment base visas, u.s. employers can pay an additional fee (presently $$2500 ))or premium processing of the petition. This expexpeditesUSCISrocess to 15 calendar days but doesn’t affect embassy processing times.

Expedited appointment

In urgent situations, you may request an expedite interview appointment. While there be no fee for this request, you must demonstrate genuine emergency circumstances.

Payment methods for visa fees in Kenya

Understand how to pay your visa fees is important:

• 
  Mr fee ((asic application fee ))
  
  typically pay oonlinethrough the apapprovalayment system when schedule your appointment or at designate banks
• 
  Semi tip
  
  pay oonlineuse a credit card on the seSVPebsite
• 
  Other fees
  
  payment methods vary; follow specific instructions provide during the application process

Invariably keep receipts for all payments as you will need to will present them during your visa interview.

Visa application process for Kenyan citizens

Understand the application process help contextualize the associate costs:

Step 1: determine the appropriate visa type

Before apply, identify which visa category match your travel purpose. The almost common types for Kenyan travelers include:

• 
  B1 / b2
  
  for tourism, visit family, medical treatment, or business meetings
• 
  F 1
  
  for academic studies at u.s. institutions
• 
  J 1
  
  for exchange programs
• 
  H 1b
  
  for specialized employment

Step 2: complete the DS 160 form

All nonimmigrant visa applicants must complete the online DS 160 form. This form require detailed personal information, travel plans, and background details. Set by 1 2 hours to complete this form cautiously.

Step 3: pay the application fee

After complete the DS 160, pay the visa application fee through the approval payment channels.

Step 4: schedule your interview

With your payment confirmation and DS 160 confirmation pages, schedule your interview at theU.S.. embassy inNairobii.

Step 5: prepare documentation

Gather all require documents, which typically include:

• Valid Kenyan passport (valid for at least six months beyond your iintentstay )
• DS 160 confirmation page
• Application fee payment receipt
• Photo (if not upload with dDS160 )
• Support documents specific to your visa type

Step 6: attend the interview

Arrive at the embassy on your schedule date with all require documents. The interview typically last 3 5 minutes, focus on your travel purpose and ties to Kenya.

Step 7: wait for processing

If approverove, your passport with visa will be will return via courier, typically within 3 5 business days.

Factors affect total visa costs

Several factors can influence your total visa expenses:

Visa type

Different visa categories have different base fees and may require additional payments like Nevis fees or petition fees.

Processing time need

If you need expedited processing for certain employment visas, premium processing fees importantly increase costs.

Family applications

Each family member requires a separate application with individual fees. A family of four apply for b1 / b2 visas would pay$6400 in basic application fees exclusively.

Location within Kenya

Your distance from Nairobi affect travel costs for the interview and any follow-up appointments.

Typical total cost scenarios

To help with budgeting, Hera are estimate total costs for common visa scenarios:

Tourist visa (b1 / b2 )from naNairobi

• Visa application fee: $160 ((oughly 17,500 keKES)
• Local transportation: 2,000 KES
• Document preparation: 3,000 KES
• 
  Approximate total
  
  22,500 kKES(( $205
  )

Tourist visa (b1 / b2 )from outside naNairobi

• Visa application fee: $160 ((oughly 17,500 keKES)
• Transportation to Nairobi: 5,000 10,000 KES
• Accommodation: 5,000 10,000 KES
• Local transportation: 2,000 KES
• Document preparation: 3,000 KES
• 
  Approximate total
  
  32,500 42,500 kKES(( $295385 )
  )

Student visa (f 1 )

• Visa application fee: $160 ((oughly 17,500 keKES)
• Nevis fee: $350 ((oughly 38,500 keKES)
• Transportation and accommodation: 10,000 20,000 KES
• Document preparation: 5,000 KES
• 
  Approximate total
  
  71,000 81,000 kKES(( $645735 )
  )

Work visa (h 1b )

• Visa application fee: $190 ((oughly 21,000 keKES)
• USCIS petition fee: pay by employer, typically $460 +
• Transportation and accommodation: 10,000 20,000 KES
• Document preparation: 10,000 KES
• 
  Approximate total for applicant
  
  41,000 51,000 kKES(( $370460 )
  )

Tips to manage visa application costs

Consider these strategies to manage your visa application expenses:

Plan well in advance

Early planning help avoid rush fees and last minute transportation price increases. Current wait times for interview appointments in Nairobi can range from a few weeks to several months depend on visa category and seasonal demand.

Prepare documents exhaustively

Have all documents right prepare the first time prevent costly return visits to the embassy.

Consider group travel

If multiple family members are applied, schedule interviews on the same day to share transportation and accommodation costs.

Be cautious with visa services

While visa assistance services can be helpful, many charge substantial fees for services you can complete yourself. Research cautiously before hire assistance.

Refund policies and reapplication costs

Understand refund policies is important when budget for visa applications:

No refunds for denied applications

Visa application fees are non-refundable disregardless of the outcome. If your visa is denied, you must pay the fee again if you reapply.

Source: visahq.com

Validity period considerations

Most u.s. visas issue to Kenyan citizens are valid for multiple entries over several years:

• B1 / b2 visas: oftentimes valid for 5 years with multiple entries
• F 1 student visas: ordinarily valid for the duration of studies
• Work visas: validity vary by specific category

The longer validity period helps offset the application costs for frequent travelers.

Common reasons for visa denials

To avoid waste application fees, understand common reasons Kenyan applicants face denials:

• 
  Insufficient demonstration of ties to Kenya
  
  fail to show strong reasons to return home
• 
  Incomplete or inconsistent information
  
  errors or contradictions in your application
• 
  Inadequate financial documentation
  
  not demonstrate sufficient funds for your trip
• 
  Unclear purpose of travel
  
  vague or unconvincing travel plans
• 
  Previous immigration violations
  
  history of overstays or visa violations

Currency exchange considerations

Since visa fees are set in u.s. dollars but much pay in Kenyan shillings:

• Be aware of current exchange rates when budgeting
• Factor in potential bank or currency exchange fees
• Consider exchange rate fluctuations if plan far in advance

Final considerations

When plan your u.s. visa application from Kenya, remember these key points:

• Budget for both direct visa fees and indirect costs like travel and document preparation
• Factor in potential waiting periods for appointment availability
• Keep all payment receipts throughout the application process
• Prepare exhaustively to maximize your chances of approval on the first attempt
• Check the U.S. embassy in Nairobi’s website for the about current fee information and payment procedures

Understand the full cost picture help ensure you’re financially prepared for the visa application process, increase your chances of a smooth journey from Kenya to the United States.