Anthony Kujawa, the U.S. Embassy Spokesperson in Kampala said that B1 and B2 visitor visa interviews have temporarily been suspended in response to recent challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The US
Embassy in Kampala has temporarily suspended routine visitor visa interviews
following a recent spike in Covid-19 cases in the country.
The
suspension comes in the wake of the third wave of the pandemic declared by the
Ministry of Health on 7 January 2022. According to Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, the
country has been registering at least 37 percent, and a 4.8 percent increase in
positive cases and test positivity rate respectively.
As of 12
January 2022, Uganda has recorded 523 new cases representing a test positivity
rate of 8.2 percent and seven new deaths bringing the cumulative deaths toll to
3,385 since March 2020.
Anthony Kujawa, the U.S. Embassy Spokesperson in Kampala on Friday said that B1
and B2 visitor visa interviews have temporarily been suspended in response to
recent challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Kujawa explained that affected applicants whose scheduled interviews were canceled
were notified through automated computer-generated messages and how soon the
Embassy will resume such services remain unknown.
He says the
Embassy continues to process only students’ visa applicants with approaching program
start dates and other applicants who are traveling to the US for medical and
other family emergencies.
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B1 and B2 visas, also referred to as “B visas”, are generally the most common
types of visa issued for short-term business trips, temporary employment, study
exchange, and tourism purposes in the United States.
A visa is an
endorsement on a passport that grants the holder official permission to enter,
leave or stay in a country for a specified time period. Depending on where
you are traveling, a visa can be valid for single or multiple visits.
Like the US,
several other countries around the globe require an interview or medical
screening prior to applying for a visa.
Ochola's journalism career begun from Radio King 90.2 FM in Gulu around 2009, and Radio Rupiny 95.7 Fm under Vision Group in 2012. He also reported for Mighty Fire 91.5 Fm, Kitgum in 2015 before joining Wizarts Foundation in 2017.
He has been reporting for Uganda Radio Network (URN) since 2017 before being posted as Bureau Chief Kitgum, and latr Gulu between 2018 - 2021. Currently, he reports from Parliament.
