81 FR 43695 - Exchange Visitor Program-Use of Forms DS-2019 in the Summer Work Travel Program

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 128 (July 5, 2016)

The Department of State (the Department) will permit current sponsors in the Summer Work Travel (SWT) program category to apply to the Department for a program adjustment by allocation of Forms DS-2019 that were previously allocated to SWT sponsors in business for the full 2011 calendar year, but which no longer operate in the SWT program category. These forms are not currently allocated to any sponsor. If allocated, the total number of SWT program participants would remain within the aggregate actual total SWT participant program size for 2011 (i.e., the overall program participant level and designation moratorium established by the notice published by the Department in 2011 (Public Notice 7677, 76 FR 68808).

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 128 (Tuesday, July 5, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43695-43696]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-15831]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 9622]


Exchange Visitor Program--Use of Forms DS-2019 in the Summer Work 
Travel Program

AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Re-allocation of Forms DS-2019 to designated Summer Work Travel 
Sponsors.

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SUMMARY: The Department of State (the Department) will permit current 
sponsors in the Summer Work Travel (SWT) program category to apply to 
the Department for a program adjustment by allocation of Forms DS-2019 
that were previously allocated to SWT sponsors in business for the full 
2011 calendar year, but which no longer operate in the SWT program 
category. These forms are not currently allocated to any sponsor. If 
allocated, the total number of SWT program participants would remain 
within the aggregate actual total SWT participant program size for 2011 
(i.e., the overall program participant level and designation moratorium 
established by the notice published by the Department in 2011 (Public 
Notice 7677, 76 FR 68808).

DATES: Effective September 1, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: G. Kevin Saba, Director, Office of 
Policy and Program Support, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, 
U.S. Department of State, SA-5, Floor 5, 2200 C Street NW., Washington, 
DC 20522; or email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department administers the Exchange 
Visitor Program pursuant to the Mutual Educational and Cultural 
Exchange Act of 1961, as amended (22 U.S.C. 2451 et. seq.), also known 
as the Fulbright-Hays Act (the Act). The purpose of the Act is to 
increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States 
and the people of other countries, including through educational and 
cultural exchanges. The Department's implementing regulations for the 
Exchange Visitor Program are set forth at 22 CFR part 62.
    On November 7, 2011, the Office of Private Sector Exchange 
published Public Notice 7677, which provided that, until further 
notice, SWT program sponsors in business for the full 2011 calendar 
year would not be permitted to expand their number of program 
participants beyond their actual total 2011 participant program size (a 
cap), and that no new applications from prospective sponsors for SWT 
program designation would be accepted (a moratorium).
    In effect, the cap limited the SWT program's aggregate size to the 
2011 participant level, which was 109,187 participants, and the 
moratorium fixed the 50 designated sponsors active in the 2011 SWT 
program. The purpose of the cap and moratorium was to give the 
Department time to review and take next steps in reforming the SWT 
program.
    Since 2011, the Department has implemented significant reforms of 
the SWT program, reflected in several rulemakings, increases in 
Department staff to monitor SWT program implementation in the field, 
compliance reviews, and periodic Department-sponsor dialogue sessions.
    Between 2011 and 2015, the number of designated SWT program 
sponsors operating in the SWT program decreased from 50 to 41. In 2015, 
12,959 fewer exchange visitors could participate in the SWT program 
than the 109,187 participants that constituted the aggregate actual 
total program participant size in 2011.
    This notice informs SWT program sponsors that they may apply to 
adjust their number of program participants beyond their respective, 
sponsor-specific 2011 participant program size. A designated sponsor in 
good standing (one without imposed sanctions in the SWT program 
category), and currently active in the SWT program, may apply in 
writing to the Department's Office of Designation, on or after 
September 1, 2016, for program adjustment pursuant to 22 CFR 62.12(d).
    22 CFR 62.12(d)(2) provides that a request for program adjustment 
must include certain required information as well as any other 
information requested by the Department. The Department requests that, 
pursuant to Sec.  62.12(d)(2), an application for SWT program 
adjustment include information about the sponsor's:
    (1) Ability to meet emerging foreign policy priorities through 
increased people-to-people exchanges;
    (2) need to meet demand while maintaining an equitable balance 
between summer (northern hemisphere)

[[Page 43696]]

and winter (southern hemisphere) cycles of the SWT program; or
    (3) ability to address exigent diplomatic needs that can be served 
by increased people-to-people exchanges.
    The Department has the sole discretion to determine the number of 
Forms DS-2019 to be issued to a sponsor. See 22 CFR 62.12(d)(1). The 
overall number of program participants in the SWT program remains 
limited by the SWT program's aggregate size at the 2011 participant 
level established by Public Notice 7677. No new applications from 
prospective sponsors for SWT program designation will be accepted at 
this time.

     Dated: June 27, 2016.
 G. Kevin Saba,
 Director, Office of Policy and Program Support, Bureau of Educational 
and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2016-15831 Filed 7-1-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4710-05-P