New U.S. Visa Rules to Squeeze Kenyan Travelers with Higher Fees and Tighter Vetting

Kenyans hoping to visit, study, or work in the United States will soon face steeper costs and more rigorous application requirements, as the U.S. government rolls out a new set of visa rules starting October 1, 2025.

A Visa Integrity Fee of $250 (Ksh32,280) will be imposed on most non-immigrant visa applicants, significantly increasing the overall cost of applying for a U.S. visa. The fee will apply to common categories such as tourist (B1/B2), student (F and M), temporary worker, and exchange visitor (J) visas.

This new charge comes on top of existing visa application fees, raising concerns among many Kenyans, particularly students and job seekers, who already find U.S. visa costs prohibitive.

Diplomatic travelers and nationals from Visa Waiver Program countries, including Canada, Japan, and most EU nations, are exempt from the new fee.

In addition to the financial strain, applicants will now be required to disclose all social media handles used in the last five years when filling out the DS-160 application form, a move intended to enhance vetting but which some critics view as overly invasive.

These changes reflect a broader tightening of U.S. immigration policy, potentially discouraging travel from countries like Kenya where interest in U.S. opportunities remains high despite rising barriers.