Kenyan applicants selected for the U.S. Diversity Visa (DV) 2025 program are facing increasing anxiety as the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi remains unresponsive on interview scheduling.
The delay has created a backlog that threatens their chances of securing visas before the program deadline. With only a few months left before the fiscal year ends, concerns are growing that many selectees may miss out on the opportunity due to administrative bottlenecks.
The Diversity Visa program is a U.S. government initiative designed to grant permanent residency to individuals from countries with historically low immigration rates. Every year, thousands of applicants worldwide are selected through a random lottery.
However, being selected does not guarantee a visa. Applicants must pass interviews and meet all eligibility requirements before the deadline. If they fail to complete the process within the designated timeframe, they lose their chance, and their slots are not carried forward.
The situation in Kenya is particularly frustrating for the selectees, as reports indicate that the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi conducted a round of DV-2025 interviews in October 2024 but has since remained silent.
This has left around 900 cases pending, with no clear indication of when the next round of interviews will be scheduled. Many applicants who had expected interview notifications for November, December, January, and subsequent months are still waiting without any updates.
With only four months remaining until the September deadline, applicants are running out of time. Normally, interview notifications are sent six weeks in advance, meaning that those hoping for interviews in May should have received official communication by now.
However, no new notifications have been issued, leaving selectees in a state of uncertainty. The lack of transparency has heightened frustration, with many fearing that their opportunity may slip away simply due to delays beyond their control.
Efforts to seek clarification from the U.S. Embassy’s call center have been unfruitful. Officials continue to advise applicants to “keep checking their emails” without offering specific timelines or explanations.
This vague response has done little to ease concerns, especially given the precedent of DV-2022 cases where similar delays resulted in many applicants failing to secure interviews in time.
One DV-2025 selectee shared their concerns, highlighting how the backlog is putting hundreds of applicants at risk of losing their visas. They pointed out that after the October interviews, there has been complete silence from the embassy, with no interviews scheduled for November through April.
With 900 cases still pending, they are worried that there is not enough time left to process all applicants before the deadline. They also noted that normally, May interview notifications would have been sent out by now, but nothing has happened.
This situation is alarming because the Diversity Visa program operates on strict deadlines. If the interviews do not take place within the fiscal year, the opportunity is lost permanently. The lack of communication from the U.S. Embassy has only added to the uncertainty, making it difficult for applicants to plan or take necessary steps.
The delay not only affects individuals but also families who had hoped to relocate for better opportunities. As the clock ticks, the backlog continues to grow, and unless urgent action is taken, many qualified selectees may be left out due to no fault of their own.
The embassy needs to address this issue promptly, provide clear updates, and ensure that all applicants are given a fair chance to complete the process before the deadline.
