[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 38 (Monday, February 27, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9850-9851]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-2722]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 5319]


Title: Summer Work/Travel 12-month Pilot Program

AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Notice with Request for Comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DATES: The Department will accept comments from the public up to 60 
days from February 27, 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 intent to investigate the 
possible adoption of a pilot program that will provide foreign 
university students an opportunity to work and travel in the United 
States for up to 12 months.
    The Conference Report (H. Rep. 108-792) that accompanied The 
Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related 
Agencies Appropriation Act, 2005, H.R. 4818, Public Law 108-447, 
incorporated by reference certain language set forth in S. Rep. 108-
344, that accompanied S. 2809. In that report, the Senate Committee on 
Appropriations directed the Department as follows:

    ''Working Exchanges--The Committee directs the Department of 
State to work with the Governments of Australia, Canada, and New 
Zealand to establish bilateral exchange programs that will allow 
young people from these countries to visit the United States for a 
period of up to 1 year for purposes of work and travel and vice 
versa. The United States has long enjoyed close and valuable 
exchange relationships with Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. The 
bilateral relationships between the United States and these 
countries would be further strengthened by expanding opportunities 
for young people to visit each other's countries for an extended 
period. The Committee directs the Department to work within current 
regulatory frameworks governing the exchange visitor programs, and 
specifically the summer work travel program, administered by the 
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The Committee recognizes 
the work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of New 
Zealand in raising the visibility of this promising program called 
``Working Holiday Schemes,'' within the United States Government.''

    To further the above stated directive and better inform its 
decision making, the Department hereby solicits comment and proposals 
on the design of a pilot program that will provide a 12-month period of 
work and travel that will operate within existing summer work travel 
program regulations set forth at 22 CFR 62.32. Of specific interest to 
the Department is the selection of eligible university students and how 
their

[[Page 9851]]

participation will affect their student status in their home country. 
Also of interest to the Department is the placement and monitoring of 
participants in a manner that will satisfy the requirements of the 
PATRIOT Act.

    Dated: February 21, 2006.
Stanley S. Colvin,
Director, Office of Exchange Coordination and Designation, Bureau of 
Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. E6-2722 Filed 2-24-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P