Pages - KATO/CIRCULAR/AUG-22/7

REF                    :        KATO/CIRCULAR/AUG-22/7

DATE                 :        19^th August, 2022

TO                       :        All KATO Members

Dear Member.

We continue to received reports from different members whose Agents and Clients are unable to pay for their eVisa applications using credit cards.

The error message being received by the applicants is “Payment failed. Kindly use a 3D Secure Enabled card”.

What is 3D Secure?

3D Secure (3DS) enables the exchange of data between the merchant, card issuer and the consumer in order to validate that the transaction is being initiated by the rightful owner of the account.  The objective is to provide extra anti-fraud protection and 3D Secure requires customers to complete an additional verification step with the card issuer when paying.  Typically, one will be directed to an authentication page where they will enter either a password associated with their card or a One Time Password (OTP code) sent to their registered phone from the eVisa website.

How does one activate 3D Secure on their Visa card:

The Bank that issued the Visa card is the one to activate 3-D Secure for you automatically but apparently this feature is not available with US Banks.

What are the other Options for Payment:

Under the auspices of KTF, we have engaged Immigration about this problem and they have assured us that they are taking steps to address this issue.

Whilst this is being sorted out, Members can consider the following options: –

1. Apply for your Clients:   using your Ecitizen account, anyone can lodge an eVisa application but get all the required information and input the details of the client.  One can make payment in Kshs and the eVisa will be issued in the clients name which you can forward to them.  A number of members have already been doing this as a service for a fee.

1. Make Payment locally:   The client can choose KCB Bank or Equity Bank as the mode of payment and the system will produce an invoice with a specific reference number related to their application.  Someone here in Kenya neds to go to the Bank and use that invoice to make payment.  The payment will reflect immediately and update the visa application.

We will update immediately we get feedback from Immigration about the steps taken to address this issue.

Kind Regards,

Fred Kaigua,  ACIArb, CPM

Chief Executive