The Department of Labor recently published a proposed rule to amend
regulations regarding the Exchange Visitor program for the teacher
category. The proposed rule clarifies the duration of program
participation, amends eligibility requirements in relation to verifying
proficiency in the English language, and reduces the required teaching
or related experience from three years to two years of full-time
teaching experience (or its equivalent). In addition the rule introduces
a required cultural component to the Exchange Visitor category and
proposes a two-year bar for repeat participation.
Many of these changes were proposed to support the use of the teacher
exchange program as a method to further cultural exchange between the
United States and other countries. According to the Department of State,
in recent years the category has been used by some sponsors in a way
that falls outside the program’s intended scope and goal to fill labor
needs in U.S. public and private schools. Comments will be accepted by
the Department of Labor up to July 1, 2013.
