On Monday, July 29, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi flagged off the first group of teachers from Kenya heading to the United States of America.

The first grouping, through a private company deal facilitated by the Ministry of Labour, was able to convince American schools to hire 67 teachers who applied for these slots after 150 of their colleagues were left unemployed.

It was further indicated that the teachers had been vetted by two recruitment agencies, Consult Centre Limited and Pesuar International Job Placement Consultancy, which subjected them to rigorous tests.

The source at Pesuar, a teacher placement expert, revealed that the Baltimore City Schools had placed an order for these teachers last year.

Pesuar Consultancy offers three ways to begin a teaching career in the United States of America: Certification-Only, J-1 Exchange Program, or H-1B Work Visa for specialized subjects like Math.

The J-1 Exchange Program is the most common route for teaching in the U.S. It allows non-immigrant teachers, professors, and other professionals to work in the U.S. for up to three years, with the possibility of extending for an additional one or two years.

To qualify for a J-1 visa for teachers, you must meet the following requirements:

1. You must be a non-U.S. resident.
2. You should be currently employed as a primary or secondary school teacher in your home country. If you’re not currently teaching, you need to have either an advanced degree or at least 2 years of full-time teaching experience within the past eight years.
3. You must have a degree equivalent to a U.S. Bachelor’s degree in the subject you plan to teach.
4. 4. Your teaching experience must meet the standards of the U.S. state where you wish to work.
5. You must be fluent in English
6. You’ll need an approved organizational sponsor. A J-1 sponsoring school system will screen and select qualified teachers, match you with potential schools, and oversee your stay to ensure you fulfil your role.

Government exports first batch of teachers for labour in US

To apply for the J-1 teacher visa, you’ll require the following documents:

1. DS-2019 Form: Also known as the ‘Certificate for Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status’. This form is essential for applying for the teacher visa and securing an interview with the U.S. Embassy in Kenya. It is provided by your sponsor
2. Sponsorship Letter: Provided by your sponsor, this letter verifies your eligibility with U.S. Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS).
3. Employment Offer Letter: This letter must be from an accredited U.S. primary or secondary school. Note that the J-1 visa only covers the school listed on your DS-2019, and you cannot work for or earn from any other teaching job.
4. DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application: Complete this electronic application form.
5. Valid Passport: Ensure your passport is current.
6. Recent Photographs: Provide recent passport-sized photos as required.