http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2015/09/uhuru-says-manual-visa-application-extended/

George M. Mucee

I have received a number of complaints about people unable to pay using their credit cards. I have spoken to folks offering support for the evisa at Kenya Immigration and got this update:
1. Only DEBIT cards are being accepted by the system for now.
2. Only MASTERCARD AND VISA branded cards are being accepted.
3. This issue is being looked into but please make sure you pay using your MASTERCARD or visa branded Debit card for now!
More updates to follow as we get them

George M. Mucee

Starting September 1, 2015 all persons that require visa to travel to Kenya MUST apply for the visa online and have it issued before travel.

The good news is:

1. It will take about 2 days to be issued….most of the time less…same day!
2. The evisa portal is now separate but within the ecitizen and it is very interactive and amazingly easy to use and understand. see the links below:
   1. http://evisa.go.ke/evisa.html
   2. http://evisa.go.ke/evisa-types.html
   3. http://evisa.go.ke/evisa-faqs.html
   4. http://evisa.go.ke/evisa-helplines.html
   5. https://account.ecitizen.go.ke/visitor-registration
3. Important to note is that only countries that would previously get visa on arrival will be able to apply for evisa. Those under referred visa regime will continue with the usual manual application through the Kenyan Embassies in their countries of residence or through their host/companies in Nairobi…check your country here
   1. http://evisa.go.ke/evisa-faqs.html (eligibility)
4. Validity of the evisa: Once issued the visa is valid for travel within 90 days from the date of issue…I know this confuses many people but what it mean is that you can travel on the 90th day and still be allowed entry…the Immigration officer at the point of entry will determine your length of stay in Kenya ( Usually a maximum of 90 days which can be extended at the Immigration offices in town for another 90 days making a total of 180 days maximum stay on a Visa/Visitors pass.
5. Multiple Journey Visa applications are still NOT on the evisa platform…being done normally through the embassies/consulates or at the Immigration HQ in Nairobi.

watch this space for more

Source: Hello!

As many of us now know, all applications for visas to Kenya will be done online starting September 1, 2015.

Below are the latest updates on this process:

1. The most direct way of applying is going to: https://account.ecitizen.go.ke/visitor-registration    (Thanks to a follower of this blog one Jakegc who gave me this link)

That will take you straight to the place you can apply for the Kenyan Visa.

2. According to updates from the key stakeholders in the tourism sector from their meeting today ( August 19, 2015) with the Director of Immigration the following will happen: ( As quoted from Mohammed Hersi’s Facebook update earlier today)

• soon the e-visa application process will be on its own Domain: evisa.go.ke to make it easier for visitors to Kenya to apply.
• All e-visas will be available within 48-72 hours upon application.
• For 60 days from September 1 both e-visa and visa on arrival will be available.
• e-visa kiosks will be available at the JKIA-Nairobi and MIA-Mombasa to process e-visas for Tourists and other deserving visitors
• Please note that this is still work in progress and the Director of Immigration has been very open to positive suggestions and ways to make this better….
• See the link below for more updates on this     https://www.facebook.com/mohammed.hersi2010/posts/10153556487237422

Please also note that soon all other Immigration services including the application of Work Permits, Passes and the Alien Card will go online….this is most likely to be in September.

watch this space for more updates soon

Immigration issues

In the world of mobile telephony today two operating systems are virtually in every person’s mind and mouth: Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android mobile operating systems. Both operating systems are great for the users depending on the devices you own. The merits or demerits of both aside, these mobile devices operating systems have one thing in common: They get regular updates with superior capabilities to handle any emerging challenges based on user experiences.
If my facts are right ,the latest version of Apple’s iOS is 8.4 while Android is 5.0….you may wonder what has his to do with Immigration? As many people will agree, the world is moving at a high speed and bringing along new challenges and ways of doing things….people are now moving around the world in many more ways than before….wherever there are people moving across the globe,then issues of Immigration crop up…. Countries around the world are grappling with issues to do with immigration…in fact elections are won or lost due to the Immigration debates in some countries: The US and UK are good example of countries struggling with issues of Immigration. Kenya too has enough shares of immigration related challenges.
I must say that Kenya has some of the most recent laws and regulations governing Immigration in Africa and the world…it is also true that the practice of Immigration  is much more modern and progressive in Kenya than it is many other countries in Africa. That is not to say there are no challenges! No! In fact we have many challenges as well. As someone that has worked with Immigration department in Kenya for over 9 years and now working on corporate immigration practice side, I have a good view of how it is like on either side.
Immigration officials have a job to do as per the applicable laws while the corporate world needs immigration services as per their business needs. On many fronts these interests don’t quite agree yet looking at the mission of Kenya Immigration Department there is every intent to address the corporates needs on Immigration….the facilitation of the socio-economic development of the country through regulation of exit, entry and residency is indeed a testament that Immigration is a balance between regulation and facilitation.
One of the questions that I keep answering almost every day from my corporate clients or potential investors seeking to start their offices in Kenya is the need to identify Kenyan understudies for all employee work permits applications in what is commonly referred to as Kenyanization. Although the origin of this concept was after independence and the intentions were to ensure that indigenous Kenyans who were obviously disadvantaged in terms of skills got jobs that were initially denied to them….there is need to start a debate as to the suitability of this requirements in 2015! That debate should be about the how and why of Kenyanization…
The truth of the matter is that now Kenyans are some of the most skilled folks in the world and many Kenyans are all over the world working as expatriates and at the top of their game….obviously every country must protect its interests and jobs for their citizens in areas where there are adequate skills. However, that has to be balanced with the commitment by the current regime to encourage foreign investments and many companies setting their regional hubs here. If for instance you take Equity Bank or Kenya Commercial Bank as an example, both have regional presence in the East Africa and if you look at most of their branches across the region, there are good numbers of Kenyans working in those branches… to ensure that their interests are protected as well as to infuse the corporate cultures in those branches….in most cases the same model is utilized by foreign companies setting up in Kenya.
This is not to say that we open our doors to all and sundry to come and work in Kenya: NO! we must ensure that in cases where Kenyans are competent to work then they should be given chances to work but we must also as a country realize that Kenya is now a big exporter of human capital just like those other countries who send expert to work in Kenya! It is a two way traffic. I remember there was a huge hue and cry when South Sudan threatened to expel Kenyans working there not to mention the frequent complaints by Kenyans about hostility towards them in Tanzania.
I therefore believe that the government of Kenya needs to occasionally evaluate the various Immigration laws, regulations and policies with an intention to seal any loop holes that put the country at risk but also create more conducive environments for foreign investors to set up their companies to create more jobs, transfer skills and grow our economy. No country is self-sufficient and we cannot afford to frown at the world because we too can easily face similar treatment….the Kenya- South Africa Visa issues are still being looked into and is one example of how countries can engage each other to benefit their countries. The recent visit by President Obama also saw issues of Kenya-US Visa discussed.
As our president travels the world engaging other leaders and encouraging investors to set up in Kenya, the bureaucrats need to translate his talk into real operational policies and regulations to encourage investments into the country…just like iOS and Android keeps improving on their systems to address the ever emerging challenges, there is need to keep upgrading our policies, laws and regulations on Immigration and other related sectors.
I am looking forward to a discourse on how best to run our Immigration practice and the required upgrades to ensure that our interests as Kenyans are preserved without shutting the doors to foreigners who have good intentions of investing in Kenya.

http://lm.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.the-star.co.ke%2Fnews%2Fnew-online-tourist-visas-under-review&h=kAQG3Xmv9&enc=AZNYztUvACgmkEnsf-qU1ibif-Ntwltb-kWbK5yJijjXDLMxnqT2aZp71rrsyJAisVU&s=1

Many of my fans and followers have been asking me about the Kenyan Evisa. how effective the system is and how long does it take? Well my answer is that so far the system is working well. On average you should get your visa approved within 1 week but people must also realize that if you do not provide all documents required then your visa can as well be denied.

Please feel free to use the system but be keen to provide all the information as required and also attach required documents and photo.

About the Visa Nationals( those in the referred Visa regime) you still have to apply for your visa in the normal way and only when you have the letter of approval should you then go online and apply for the e visa to enable you travel.

People have also asked me about people that initially did not visa to enter Kenya…do they need to apply for the e visa? My answer is no…the Visa regimes have not changed, if you don’t need a visa just travel and you will be cleared the normal way.

I will keep interacting with Kenya Immigration officials to get further insights and keep you posted on this forum…keep checking good people.

Regards.

GMM

According to the press statement by Presidents Obama and Uhuru Kenyatta from Nairobi state house today the 25th July 2015, Kenyans going to the US will get up to 5 years Business/Students visa. Consequently Americans coming over for business will get up to 5 years Business/permits to manage their businesses better.

As an Immigration service provider, I am keen to see how this will roll out.

At the same time direct flights from Nairobi to the US may be a reality soon of course bearing mind that there are some basics to be sorted.

Watch this for more as this goes on