[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 24, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 3913]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-821]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 5280]


Title: Statement of Policy on J-1 Flight Training Programs

AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Statement of policy.

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DATES: Effective Date: This policy is effective January 24, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stanley S. Colvin, Director, Office of 
Exchange Coordination and Designation, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 
301 4th St., SW., Room 734, Washington, DC 20547. E-mail: 
[email protected]; FAX: 202-203-5087.

SUMMARY: The Department hereby announces its policy regarding flight 
training programs, which are governed by the Department's Exchange 
Visitor Program regulations appearing in 22 CFR part 62.
    Since 1949 the Department has designated private sector and 
governmental entities to conduct training programs for eligible foreign 
nationals. For the past twenty years, flight training activities have 
been authorized and currently, eight organizations facilitate the entry 
into the United States of some 350 foreign nationals yearly for the 
purpose of flight training. Flight training programs utilizing the J 
visa are regulated by the Department under the authority of the Mutual 
Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended (Fulbright-
Hays Act), 22 U.S.C. 2451 et seq.; the Immigration and Naturalization 
Act, 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(J); the Foreign Affairs Reform and 
Restructuring Act of 1998, Public Law 105-277; as well as other 
statutory enactments, Reorganization Plans and Executive Orders. 
Regulations dealing specifically with flight training programs appear 
at 22 CFR 62.22(n). Certain flight training programs also utilize the M 
visa, which is regulated and administered by the Department of Homeland 
Security's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). 
Regulations governing the M visa appear at 8 CFR 214.2(m).
    The USA Patriot Act of 2001 (``The Uniting and Strengthening Act By 
Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct 
Terrorism''), Public Law 107-56, mandated that the Department of State, 
the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Education, and 
the Attorney General, all take cognizance of and undertake certain 
actions regarding flight training programs. The Department of State has 
determined that it does not have the expertise and resources to fully 
monitor flight training programs and insure their compliance with the 
national security concerns expressed in the Patriot Act. Consequently, 
as a matter of policy, the Department of State will henceforth not 
designate any new J visa flight training programs, nor will it permit 
currently-designated flight training programs to expand their programs, 
pending a determination as to which Federal agency ultimately will be 
tasked with the administering and monitoring of such programs. 
Redesignation of programs will continue as required by existing 
regulations.

    Dated: January 18, 2006.
Stanley S. Colvin,
Director, Office of Exchange Coordination, Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs, Department of State.
 [FR Doc. E6-821 Filed 1-23-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P