[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 43 (Monday, March 4, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8215-8216]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-4973]



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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY

22 CFR Part 514


Exchange Visitor Program

AGENCY: United States Information Agency.

ACTION: Statement of policy and notice to sponsors.

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SUMMARY: Public Law 104-72 directs the Agency to continue its oversight 
of au pair activities in the United States until September 30, 1997. 
This announcement sets forth the Agency's intended implementation of 
this law.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This policy statement is effective March 4, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Stanley S. Colvin, Assistant General Counsel, United States Information 
Agency, 301 4th Street SW., Washington, DC 20547; telephone, (202) 619-
6829.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Au pair programs, whereby European youths 
are placed with American host families seeking child care, have been 
overseen by the Agency since 1986. Originally begun as a pilot project, 
the au pair program has expanded over the past ten years to now 
encompass eight Agency-designated sponsors who facilitated the entry of 
some 11,000 au pair participants in 1995. Congress, in enacting Public 
Law 104-72, extended temporarily the Agency's authority to oversee this 
activity. As discussed below, the Congress also addressed two long-
standing programmatic matters of concern to the Agency.
    Since begun in 1986, au pair participants have only been selected 
from the countries of Western Europe. This limitation was set forth in 
initial pilot-project guidelines but remained in place pursuant to 
subsequent legislation that directed the Agency to continue its 
oversight of au pair activities under the ``same terms and conditions'' 
of the pilot guidelines. Public Law 104-72 removes this programmatic 
limitation by directing the Agency to oversee au pair activities 
conducted on a ``world-wide basis.''
    Accordingly, the Agency has advised au pair sponsors that, unless 
otherwise prohibited by law, au pair participants may be recruited from 
all world countries. The Agency construes ``world-wide'' basis to not 
include nationals of countries lacking diplomatic relations with the 
United States. Further, the Agency is of the opinion that ``World wide 
basis'' would allow a national of one country, resident in another, to 
be recruited and issued a visa in the country of residence.
    The Agency concludes that Public Law 104-72 renders inoperative, 
the ``same terms and conditions'' requirement of prior legislation. 
Accordingly, the Agency will accept applications from United States 
organizations seeking designation as an au pair sponsor. Due to the 
time-limited authority given the Agency in Public-Law 104-72, all 
designated au pair sponsors will continue to be given temporary, not 
permanent, program designations. Such designations will be made by the 
Agency under the authority of Public Law 104-72 and not under the 
Agency's Fulbright-Hays Act authorities as set forth at 22 U.S.C. 1474 
et seq.
    Finally, the Agency hereby gives notice of its intent to limit the 
number of au pair participants to not more than 22,720. The Agency does 
not believe that currently designated sponsors, and those organizations 
receiving new designations, will be affected by this numerical 
limitation. This belief is based upon the past history of au pair 
activities and the Agency's knowledge of the growth rates of similar 
programs overseen by the Agency.
    The Agency specifically reserves the right to limit the number of 
participants sponsored by an individual organization. Participant 
levels for newly designated au pair sponsors will be determined by the 
Agency in consultation with the sponsor. The organization's prior 
experience, organizational capacity, and resources will be specifically 
considered in determining participant levels.

List of Subjects in 22 CFR Part 514

    Cultural exchange programs.


[[Page 8216]]

    Dated: February 28, 1996.
Les Jin,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 96-4973 Filed 3-1-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M