Exchange Visitor Program-Cap on Current Participant Levels and Moratorium on New Sponsor Applications for Summer Work Travel Program

Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of State [Public Notice: 7677] AGENCY: Department of State. ACTION: Notice Regarding the Summer Work Travel Program. SUMMARY: Effective January 1, 2012, the Department is restricting the size of the Exchange Visitor Program (J-1visa) category of Summer Work Travel to 2011 actual participant levels. The Department is also announcing, effective immediately, a moratorium on designation of new Summer Work Travel sponsor organizations. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rick A. Ruth, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Acting, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State, SA-5, Floor 5, 2200 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20522-0505; Tel: (202) 632-2805. Email: JExchanges@state.gov . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Summer Work Travel (SWT) program allows foreign post-secondary students to come to the United States during their major academic break for a ( printed page 68809) maximum of four months to travel and work in largely unskilled positions. The program has been in operation since 1963 and helps the Department reach a segment of the youth demographic that often does not have the means to visit the United States unless they can work to defray their costs. In 2011, approximately 103,000 foreign students will have participated in the SWT program. Roughly one million foreign post-secondary students have participated in the past decade. The SWT program supports public diplomacy efforts by fostering constructive, personal ties with foreign youth and offering …