US State Department has revealed changes in policy that will impact foreign students entering the US.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced during the National Association of other Student Advisers (NAFSA) in Washington that they had streamlined the visa application process for students from other nations, including Kenya, who want to pursue higher education overseas.

According to him, applicants won’t need to participate in an interview to complete their application.

This adjustment is a significant deviation from the standard procedures, which at first required an interview.

The Department also extended the window in which a Visa application may be submitted, bringing it from 120 days to a full year.

Blinken stressed the significance of forging alliances with other nations when discussing visa reforms in order to provide students with additional opportunities  options to study abroad.

He applauded organizations like NAFSA for helping students seize opportunities and for organizing student exchanges.

“At the State Department, we are working to expand international education. After the acute phase of the pandemic ended, more and more international students began applying to study in the US again. We took steps to streamline our visa process and make it easier for students to apply,” he said.

M Square Media’s CEO, Raghwa Gopal, applauded the US government for taking action to expand international study programs. Gopal asserted that by giving students the skills they would need for future international engagements, the short-term educational courses would be advantageous to the students.

Foreign students can enter a recognized college, university, high school, or other educational program in the US under the academic student program.

Foreign students must be admitted by a school that has received formal US government recognition, and the program must result in a certification, certificate, or degree.

After a popular outcry, the deadline for the hike in worldwide visa fees was postponed from the originally announced date of May 30 to June 17; some applicants will now have to pay up to Sh42,000 to obtain the travel document.

Business and tourist visas (category B1/B2S), student visas (F), and exchange visitor visas (J) are the categories that would see a rise, going from Sh21,800 ($160) to Sh25,206 ($185) visas for temporary workers (H, L, O, P, Q, and R categories) will cost Sh27,941 ($205) from Sh25,897 ($190).

The US Embassy in Nairobi stated that they acknowledge the critical role that international travel plays in the US economy and pointed out that President Joe Biden’s foreign policy places a high priority on granting visas, particularly for work and tourism. They insisted that the fees are only intended to cover the costs of providing the consular services.

The cost of non-immigrant visas hasn’t gone up since 2014, so this is a big deal.

Following the suspension of the process in 2020 as part of the safety measures established at the height of the Covid-19 outbreak, the embassy has been dealing with a massive backlog of visa interviews.

The Embassy shortened the wait time for visa interviews for Kenyan visitors last month and permitted renewal of some categories without going through an interview physical appointments.

David Kipkoech can now breathe now that his probable deportation to Kenya has been deferred by the Canadian government, who also offered him six months to remedy his immigration issues on Wednesday, June 7.

Kipkoech, who was scheduled to leave the country on Friday, June 9, was given permission to stay until December 2023 with his family.

The family member told the media that he was thrilled to receive the deferral letter and expressed concern that the deportation would cause him to be separated from his family.

“I was so happy when I got the deferral letter though I only have a little bit of time,” he stated.

When he got the deportation letter in April, Kipkoech feared he would part ways with his young family, a son, and daughter.

“I am not 100 per cent happy. I still have a long way to go, so I cannot rest,” he added

Kipkoech’s attorney argued in court that his client should remain in Canada to care for his family. His daughter and son are both citizens of Canada.

The attorney further asserted that if he is deported, it will be challenging for him to enter Canada again.

“He is a young person and has a family here. He is motivated to work and there is no question that if he were to stay here, he would be a contributing member of this society. As his lawyer, my goal is to see him stay and take care of his family.

“Deportations by their nature tend to be permanent unless you can demonstrate by writing to the minister and asking for permission to come back in,” the lawyer told the court.

Prior to requesting refugee status, Kipkoech entered Canada in 2016 on a visiting visa. He had worked in a food processing facility and a nursing home.

However, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Department in Canada denied his application for asylum and said it was okay for him to return to Kenya.

As a result of words he had made before, Kipkoech was afraid for his life when he returned to Kenya.

Mark Omondi’s transformative journey to the University of Louisville through The KENYA Airlift Program began with a simple ad that caught his eye while scrolling through Facebook. Intrigued by the opportunity to pursue his American dream, he embarked on a path that would change his life forever.

Mark Omondi in University of Louisville

Determined to make his dream a reality, he immediately began researching the program’s requirements and the universities he was interested in. Recognizing what this choice meant for him, he diligently prepared for the GMAT exam, fully aware that it would serve as a crucial step towards achieving his goal which he passed.

As Mark reflects on his journey, he is profoundly grateful for the unwavering support provided by the program that led him achieving his dream in the University of Louisville.

This video provides more insights on the same.

This article is brought to your courtesy of The KENYA Airlift Program

The KENYA Airlift Program is an award-winning initiative that helps brilliant Kenyan Students achieve the dream of studying in the US regardless of their financial background.

The program was founded in late 2018 by US-based education & technology consultant Bob Mwiti in collaboration with a Member of County Assembly of Meru Hon. Dennis Kiogora popularly referred to as DMK.

The program’s mission is achieved through key partnership with MPOWER Financing as the official lending partner for unsecured student loans that cover both tuition and living expenses, partnership with universities in US where the program negotiates tuition fee waivers and scholarships, partnership with The Airlift Sacco to help finance students’ relocation expenses and partnership with Qatar Airways who offer discounted relocation air tickets to the students.

The program only accommodates ambitious and incredibly talented Kenyans who are willing to take a leap of faith in joining the tech industry by studying STEM or business-related master’s programs.

This award-winning program is trying to fix three major challenges Kenyan Students face in their quest to study in America, namely:

• Acquiring funding for relocation, tuition and living expenses.
• Finding well-paying jobs after graduation
• Acquiring permanent residency in America after graduation

The program is divided into two options; regular and parallel, which are based on the student’s academic qualifications and financial capabilities.

Regular student’s academic requirement is a B plain mean grade in KCSE with a B plain in Mathematics or Physics and a second class division in undergraduate, whereas Parallel students’ academic requirements is a C+ mean grade in KCSE and a second class division in undergraduate.

The program has an active membership of about 2000 students, and as of January 2023, the program has seen over 200 students relocate since inception, to study at various top State Universities in the US, with many more currently in the relocation pipeline.

The program has official working relationship with top Universities in North America namely:

• The University of Alabama in Huntsville
• Grand valley State University
• South Dakota State University
• Indiana University of Pennsylvania
• Missouri State University

If you are interested in joining this fantastic program, please apply today by visiting our website at www.kenyaairliftprogram.com

For any further inquiries, you can also visit our head office in Nairobi at Muthaiga Square, 3rd Floor suite 311 on Thika Road opposite Muthaiga Police Station or you can give us a call at 0721-263-977.