The United States Embassy has said demand for visas to the United States from Malawi citizens is high, resulting in visa appointments taking a long time.
Malawians have been expressing frustrations with delays to have their visa applications processed at the embassy.
One of them, human rights activist Emma Kaliya, said she and some Malawians who are supposed to attend the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women which is expected to take place from March 11 to 22, 2024, are struggling to find slots for their applications.
“I have been writing the embassy so many times so that we can get a waiver, but to no avail,” Kaliya said.
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She said the system is not giving dates even for those who desire expedited visas.
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But Public Affairs Officer for the United States Embassy, Namita Biggins, has told Malawi News that the surge in applications has led to longer waiting times for visa appointments because there are only a limited number of appointment slots available each day.
She said, as a result, applicants may need to wait longer than usual to secure an appointment for their visa interview.
“Demand for visas to the United States is high, and as a result, our appointment wait times are long. The US Embassy in Lilongwe offers appointments for visa interviews based on staffing capacity,” said Biggins.
She said US law requires visa applicants to be interviewed by a Consular Officer at a US Embassy or Consulate, and appointments for interviews are made through a standardised online system on a first-come, first-served basis.
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She said visa interviews and application decisions are conducted based on standards established in US law, which puts the burden on the applicant to demonstrate that she or he qualifies for the visa based on residence and ties to the home country.
On allegations of agents accessing visas for outsiders, including Zimbabweans, and that these agents pay a lot of money and that they are conniving with others inside the embassy, Biggins said Malawians should obtain credible and factual information about the US visa application process and appointments.
