22 CFR Part 62 - EXCHANGE VISITOR PROGRAM

This document contains minor corrections to the Exchange Visitor Program—Summer Work Travel interim final rule published in the Federal Register on May 11, 2012. In the interim final rule the facsimile number (under the contact section), a citation to an exception to the category of prohibited jobs, and the date by which the public must submit comments were all incorrect.

The Department of State (Department) published an initial interim final rule with request for comment on April 26, 2011) (2011 IFR) to amend the regulatory requirements of the Summer Work Travel category of the Exchange Visitor Program. In this second interim final rule (2012 IFR), the Department expands upon and provides guidance on additional regulatory changes and bolsters portions of the regulations to both further to protect the health, safety, and welfare of Summer Work Travel Program participants and to reinforce the cultural exchange aspects of the Program to promote mutual understanding in accordance with the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961. The Department has reviewed the comments submitted in response to the 2011 IFR, and this rule reflects those comments. Also, this 2012 IFR reinforces the cultural exchange aspect of the Program through the addition of a cultural component, and provides additional protection to program participants by describing types of job placements that are appropriate and by expanding the list of jobs prohibited under the Summer Work Travel Program. The enforcement of parts of this IFR is delayed until November 1, 2012.

The Department is amending existing regulations governing the teacher category of the Exchange Visitor Program. The proposed amendments clarify the duration of program participation; amend eligibility requirements with respect to verifying English proficiency; and reduce the required teaching or related experience from three years to the equivalent of two years full-time teaching experience; introduce a required cultural component; and propose the implementation of a two-year bar for repeat participation to foster the purpose of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, (“Fulbright-Hays Act”). These proposed changes will enhance the integrity and programmatic effectiveness of the teacher category.

The U.S. Department of State (Department) is proposing to revise regulations to increase the Application Fee for Sponsor Designation or Redesignation and the Administrative Fee for Exchange Visitor (J-1 Visa Holder) Benefits assessed for providing Exchange Visitor Program (EVP) services, in order to recoup the costs incurred by the Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs associated with operating aspects of the Exchange Visitor Program.

This document contains minor corrections to the Exchange Visitor Program—Summer Work Travel interim final rule published in the Federal Register on May 11, 2012. In the interim final rule the facsimile number (under the contact section), a citation to an exception to the category of prohibited jobs, and the date by which the public must submit comments were all incorrect.

The Department of State (Department) published an initial interim final rule with request for comment on April 26, 2011) (2011 IFR) to amend the regulatory requirements of the Summer Work Travel category of the Exchange Visitor Program. In this second interim final rule (2012 IFR), the Department expands upon and provides guidance on additional regulatory changes and bolsters portions of the regulations to both further to protect the health, safety, and welfare of Summer Work Travel Program participants and to reinforce the cultural exchange aspects of the Program to promote mutual understanding in accordance with the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961. The Department has reviewed the comments submitted in response to the 2011 IFR, and this rule reflects those comments. Also, this 2012 IFR reinforces the cultural exchange aspect of the Program through the addition of a cultural component, and provides additional protection to program participants by describing types of job placements that are appropriate and by expanding the list of jobs prohibited under the Summer Work Travel Program. The enforcement of parts of this IFR is delayed until November 1, 2012.