[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 34 (Tuesday, February 20, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12937-12938]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-03346]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 12329]


Exchange Visitor Program

ACTION: Notice of an arrangement through a Memorandum of

[[Page 12938]]

Understanding and waiver of certain regulatory requirements.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Visitor 
Program regulations, the Assistant Secretary for Educational and 
Cultural Affairs (ECA), U.S. Department of State, has waived certain 
regulatory provisions to establish an exchange of German principals to 
secondary schools overseen and financed by the government of the 
Federal Republic of Germany within the United States.

DATES: This action was effective on November 15, 2023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rebecca Pasini, Deputy Assistant 
Secretary for Private Sector Exchange at 2200 C Street NW, SA-5, 5th 
Floor, Washington, DC 20522 or via email at [email protected] or by 
telephone at (202) 826-4364.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The arrangement between the United States 
and the Federal Republic of Germany, establishing an exchange of German 
principals, fosters long-term international cooperation with U.S. 
communities across the United States. German exchange principals, 
through their leadership, promote an intercultural environment and 
strong bonds that last through their students' years at school, 
university, and beyond. The principals are instrumental in creating a 
global network of well-connected German and American alumni.
    This exchange has been established in accordance with the existing 
Exchange Visitor Program regulations (22 CFR part 62), including the 
regulations applying to the Specialist category (22 CFR 62.26). These 
exchange visitors are experts in a field with specialized knowledge or 
skills. Program participants are required to be German citizens, hold a 
valid German passport, and have teaching certification for the 
secondary level or an advanced degree equivalent to a Master's degree 
in school administration or a similar field. Program participants are 
selected by the Federal German Foreign Office and its subordinate 
authority, the Central Agency for Schools Abroad. Participants are 
placed as principals in German schools in the United States that are 
recognized and overseen by the Federal Foreign Office.
    Consistent with the arrangement, the Assistant Secretary for 
Educational and Cultural Affairs waives certain provisions set forth in 
22 CFR 62.26. Regulations at 22 CFR 62.26(i) provide that specialists 
shall be authorized to participate in the Exchange Visitor Program for 
the length of time necessary to complete the program, which shall not 
exceed one year. Regulations at 22 CFR 62.26(d)(3) establish that a 
foreign national is eligible to participate in an exchange visitor 
program as a specialist if that individual does not fill a permanent or 
long-term position of employment while in the United States. Through 
the arrangement with the Federal Republic of Germany, the United States 
supports the purposes of the Fulbright-Hayes Act by facilitating 
administrative support for German schools in the United States and 
recognizing that international schools are an important way to allow 
the possibility of young people to be educated in a unique 
multicultural environment. The arrangement allows German principals to 
promote intercultural exchange throughout their program, which is 
permitted to be three years, subject to the terms of the principal's 
visa.
    Subject to the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), participants 
may be eligible for one-time repeat participation in the program upon 
the exchange visitor's valid application and after meeting any other 
applicable requirements. Although the principal position filled by the 
participant may remain a long-term one for the school, varying 
individual principals, including program participants, may serve in 
that role. Accordingly, the Department waives subsections (d)(3) and 
(i) of 22 CFR 62.26 with respect to this program.

Lee A. Satterfield,
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2024-03346 Filed 2-16-24; 8:45 am]
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