Foreigners Must be Vaccinated to Enter the US Starting November, Embassy in Nairobi Says

The American Embassy in Nairobi says anyone visiting the US from November must be vaccinated against COVID-19 to be granted entry.

This was disclosed by Eliot Fertik, the Deputy Consul General at the US Embassy, during an interview with Capital FM on Thursday.

Fertik said the US government is in the process of determining the type of vaccinations that will make one eligible to be granted access.

“If you plan to enter the U.S you will need to be vaccinated by November. Some of the details of these are still being worked out for example which exact vaccination will qualify will be determined by the Center for Disease Control,” he said.

The official pointed out that there will be a few exceptions for American nationals and Green Card holders.

Presently, those traveling to the US are required to have a negative COVID-19 test conducted not more than 72 hours before arrival.

At the same time, Fertik announced that the US Embassy in Kenya has introduced a waiver for the need for interviews for applicants whose visas have expired within a year.

He noted that the waiver is part of the reviews on visa processing procedures at the embassy during the COVID-19 pandemic. The embassy is also planning to increase capacity and the number of appointments for visa processing.

The Department of State temporarily suspended routine visa services in all US embassies and consulates across the world due to challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic.