The State Department for Diaspora Affairs through Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi saw the first batch of Kenyan teachers off to the United States on Monday, July 29.
The teachers who secured jobs in the foreign country left Kenya to begin their teaching at American Schools as per an agreement between private companies and the Ministry of Labour.
The lot comprises of 67 teachers who made it through a series of rigorous interviews from a group of 150 who had indicated interest to work in American schools.
The evaluation was done by two recruitment companies namely the Consult Centre Limited and PesuaR International Job Placement Consultancy, who subjected teachers to thorough testing.
An official from the Pesuar agency which solely deals in teacher placement stated that Baltimore City Schools made a request for the teachers last year.
Becoming an international teacher in the USA is a lengthy process but one that is possible only if you are committed in taking their career to the next level. The Persuar Consultancy offers three options in how to start your journey as teacher in the US: through certification only, the J-1 Exchange Program or through the H-1B Work Visa( for specialized subjects like Maths).
The J-1 Exchange Programme is the most common way to pursue teaching in the US as through the J-1 visa, non-immigrant teachers, professors and other professionals are able to work in the US for upto three years with the possibility of a one or two years extension.
To obtain a J-1 visa for teachers, you must meet the following requirements:
1. You must be a Non-US resident
2. You should currently work as a primary or secondary school teacher in your home country. If you are not working as a teacher currently, you need to complete an advanced degree or have at least 2 years of full-time teaching experience in the past eight years.
3. You must hold a degree equivalent to a US Bachelor’s degree in the subject you wish to teach.
4. Your professional teaching experience must meet the standards of the US state in which you want to serve a school.
5. You must be proficient in the English language.
6. You must be sponsored by an approved sponsoring organization. A J-1 visa sponsor is mandated to screen and select qualified foreign teachers ,connect you with prospective schools, and supervise your stay in the country to make sure you do the intended job.
Recruitment agencies help in finding you sponsors as they are will be the main point of contact throughout the application process.
7. You must not be involved in any criminal activities or anything that makes your reputation and character questionable.
8. You must have no intention of seeking legal residence in the US. You must enter the US for the sole purpose of teaching full-time at a primary or secondary school.
To apply for the visa, the following key documents are needed:
1. The DS-2019 form: also known as the ‘Certificate For Eligibility For Exchange Visitor Status’, this is the main form you need to submit to apply for a teacher visa in order to secure an interview with the US Embassy in Kenya. This is provided by your sponsor.
2. Sponsorship letter- this is also provided by sponsor and it verifies your eligibility before the US Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS).
3. The employment offer letter from an accredited US primary or secondary school. It is important to note that the J-1 visa for teachers only covers the school that you mentioned on your DS-2019. You can not work for or earn from any other teaching job.
4. DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application
5. Valid passport
6. Recent photographs
Fill out your DS- 2019 document to the best of your knowledge and pay the visa application fee, and wait for approval to be able to schedule for an interview at the US Embassy.
After approval, the recruitment agencies help you prepare for the interview, guiding you through rigorous testing to ensure that you are well equipped on how to answer interview questions.
During the interview, questions about the program, your teaching experience and personal background may be asked so it is best to be prepared thoroughly.
Make sure to gather all required documents before appearing for the interview. As with all visas, the J-1 only enables you to work as a teacher in the US, so remember to show evidence that you will return home after your contract lapses.
You will then receive a confirmation that your visa has been approved from the US Embassy through the consultancy agency and hence begin your journey as a teacher in the US.
