Strengthening and Reforming the Summer Work Travel Program

The Summer Work Travel program is a long-standing people-to-people diplomacy program that engages young people from around the world with a goal of fostering mutual understanding.

Following a Department-wide review of the program in 2010, steps were taken to protect American workers and ensure the health, safety, and welfare of program participants.  Further steps to strengthen the program were taken in 2012 through publication of an Interim Final Rule (IFR).

On January 12, 2017, following the routine Department-wide review of the program, we published a “Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for the Summer Work Travel Program” to the Federal Register. Through February 27, 2017, the State Department will be taking comments on proposed changes to the regulation that governs the J-1 Summer Work Travel Program.

The Department will continue to engage stakeholders and pursue ways in which to strengthen this program.