Kenya gets U. S. FAA Cat 1 rating

*  Direct flight opportunity for Kenya Airways

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved Category 1 rating for Kenya for complying with international safety standards under the agency’s International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program.

A Category 1 rating means Kenya’s civil aviation authority meets International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.  With the Category 1 rating, Kenyan air carriers, including Kenya Airways, that are able to secure the requisite FAA and DOT authority can establish service to the United States and carry the code of U.S. carriers.

The FAA had not previously assessed Kenya's civil aviation authority for compliance with ICAO standards. The Category 1 status announced Tuesday February 27, is based on a February, 2017 FAA assessment of the safety oversight provided by Kenya’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

As part of the FAA’s IASA program, the agency assesses the civil aviation authorities of all countries with air carriers that have applied to fly to the United States, currently conduct operations to the United States, or participate in code sharing arrangements with U.S. partner airlines, and makes that information available to the public.  The assessments determine whether or not foreign civil aviation authorities are meeting ICAO safety standards, not FAA regulations.

In order to maintain a Category 1 rating, a country must adhere to the safety standards of ICAO, the United Nations’ technical agency for aviation that establishes international standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance.

Immigration Opportunities for Graduates through Ontario, Canada

Many international graduates from publicly-funded universities in Ontario, Canada now have a further option for permanent immigration. The International Student — Masters Graduate and International Student — PhD Graduate streams of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) reopened on February 21, 2017,according to Canadian Immigration News. 

This is the first time these two streams have opened since a temporary pause took effect on May 9, 2016.

In reopening these two streams that target talented and highly-educated individuals, the Ontario government is recognizing that international graduates are desirable as future newcomers to the province. Having already established themselves in the province through their studies, and in many cases through employment, international graduates may find themselves in a prime position to settle and integrate successfully into Ontario’s labour market and society.

One of the most attractive characteristics of these OINP streams is that a candidate does not require a job offer in order to be eligible. 

Moreover, a candidate does not have to be residing in Ontario at the time of application. While this was previously the case for candidates under the International PhD Graduate category, it represents a new and more relaxed criterion for International Masters Graduate candidates.

Previously, candidates under this latter stream were required to be living in Ontario at the time of application. International PhD Graduate candidates may be residing anywhere in Canada or outside Canada; International Masters Graduate candidates may be residing outside Canada (however, if they are residing in Canada but outside Ontario, they are not eligible to apply).

Successful applicants to these two streams receive a ‘base’ provincial nomination certificate, putting them in a position to submit an application for permanent residence to the federal government. The term ‘base’ refers to the fact that the streams are not aligned with the federal Express Entry system, but still provide a route to Canadian permanent resident status.

Another popular stream of the OINP, the Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream, also reopened on February 21. This stream issues Notifications of Interest to candidates in the Express Entry pool whose profiles meet the province’s requirements.

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New U. S. immigration guidelines expand deportations of immigrants

John F. Kelly

The  United States Department of Homeland Security has released new guidelines on its immigration policy Tuesday, February 21, 2017 which put any immigrant in the U.S.  illegally at risk of deportation.

Reports monitored on Houston Chronicle News said that “under the new memorandums, immigration agents are instructed to deport anyone convicted of a criminal offense, including those driving without a license.”

Parents who seek to send their children here illegally could also be prosecuted for smuggling if they are identified by federal agents.

"DHS shall ensure the proper enforcement of our immigration laws against those who — directly or indirectly — facilitate the smuggling or trafficking of alien children into the United States," the agency said in a release.

"This includes placing parents or guardians who are removable aliens into removal proceedings, or referring such individuals for criminal prosecution."

The policy also calls for an expansion of a process known as expedited removal, which allows agents to deport more people immediately. Previously it was only used within 100 miles of the border for immigrants who had been in the country no more than 14 days. Now it will include those who have been in the country for up to two years and who are detained anywhere in the nation.

Agencies are required to hire 10,000 new immigration agents, 5,000 Border Patrol agents, and increase the number of federal detention facilities.

It also would expand the use of a controversial program known as 287 (g,) which allows local law enforcement to help enforce federal immigration law. The program has been accused of leading to racial profiling and under the Obama administration was greatly scaled back.