Policy Updates

Kenyan EB-2 applicants will experience the standardized application of Section 2, where DHS authorities must access DOJ criminal records. This is expected to be a routine addition to the existing background check framework.

As USCIS intensifies its focus on EB-2 fraud, Kenyan applicants will likely encounter more thorough reviews of their petitions. This increased scrutiny is expected to lengthen the overall processing time for employment-based green cards.

Kenyan applicants, particularly those in healthcare and academia, will see a rise in the cost of securing expedited petition approvals. This fee change affects the overall affordability of the EB-2 route for self-petitioners.

Kenyan applicants will be subject to the same enhanced vetting as other 'Rest of World' countries, likely resulting in incremental increases in total processing time for permanent residency.

Applicants from Kenya will see an increase in the cost of securing permanent residency through the EB-2 track. This change occurs alongside general visa availability delays for the 'Rest of World' category.

The court order creates a period of transition for Kenyan applicants where the required Asylum Program Fee may vary. This affects the initial filing phase of the EB-2 process, which is essential for Kenyan nationals seeking permanent residency.

The policy requires all EB-2 filing fees to be paid electronically. Kenyan applicants should coordinate with their legal counsel to ensure that payment methods meet the new USCIS technical requirements.

The new enforcement measures will require Kenyan professionals to provide more detailed evidence of their job offers and employer qualifications. This will likely result in a more complex and time-consuming application process.

Kenyan nationals seeking EB-2 status will face higher scrutiny and financial barriers. The prevailing wage increase will make it more difficult for smaller institutions or regional employers to sponsor Kenyan experts who fall under the EB-2 umbrella.

Kenyan professionals, particularly those in the tech and research sectors, will face more detailed questioning regarding their NIW endeavors. Special agents will be tasked with confirming that the proposed work truly serves the U.S. national interest.

The move to electronic payments simplifies the financial aspect of the EB-2 petition for Kenyan applicants. It provides a more transparent and immediate way to fulfill fee requirements, supporting a more efficient overall immigration workflow.

Kenyan professionals seeking EB-2 status must ensure all supporting documentation for PERM or NIW is strictly accurate. The policy emphasizes the consequences of inflating professional achievements or job duties.

There is no evidence to suggest Kenyan nationals will be specifically targeted by this policy. The impact is limited to the general increase in scrutiny applied to all EB-2 benefit requests globally.

Kenyan applicants are currently impacted by the global retrogression in the EB-2 category. This policy change ensures that children do not lose their path to a green card due to the gap between filing eligibility and final visa issuance.

The fee update applies to all Kenyan nationals, impacting those in the high-skilled and NIW subcategories. This change occurs while the EB-2 category for Kenya remains subject to worldwide retrogression dates.

The guidance ensures that Kenyan applicants are not unfairly penalized by undisclosed information, promoting a more transparent and equitable visa adjudication process.

Kenyan nationals applying for EB-2 status will no longer need to monitor the two-year window for their medical exams. This simplifies the path to permanent residency during periods of USCIS workload backlogs.

Kenyan EB-2 applicants will benefit from a less rigorous medical screening process as the COVID-19 vaccination is no longer a prerequisite for adjustment of status. This change supports faster processing of the I-485 form.

Kenyan applicants benefit from the standardized interpretation of NIW requirements. As there is no specific backlog for Kenya in the EB-2 category, this update primarily serves to make the initial filing process more transparent.

As with other 'Rest of World' countries, Kenyan nationals are impacted by the current EB-2 visa backlog. The updated filing procedures mean that any error in the I-140 submission could result in a loss of time in an already delayed process.