Camp Counselor Program Resource Page

The BridgeUSA Camp Counselor Program enables post-secondary students, youth workers, and teachers to share their culture and ideas with the people of the United States in camp settings throughout the country. Camp Counselor participants are authorized to participate in the program for up to four months during the long break between academic years as determined by the Department of State. Extensions of program participation are not permitted.

 

Resources for Sponsors:

The Office of Private Sector Exchange Administration (OPA) monitors and enforces full compliance with Department regulations and policies with a focus on exchange visitors’ health, safety, and well-being, and responds to complaints and incidents.

Incident Reporting:

Sponsors are required to report any serious incident that has or could have the effect of endangering the health, safety, or welfare of an exchange visitor. An incident report is required in all situations, but a quick e‐mail regarding an evolving situation, to be followed later by an incident report, is acceptable.

* 2023 Camp Counselor Reporting Rubric (PDF)

* Incident Report Form (PDF)

* OPA Incident Reporting Video

* Electronic Code of Federal Regulations

Contact: CCSponsors@state.gov 


The Office of Private Sector Exchange Designation works with the sponsor community and specifically with the following:

* Processing applications for designation and re-designation

* Reviewing annual reports to acknowledge, assist, and to resolve sponsor’s issues or concerns to administer a successful exchange program.

* Assisting sponsors with J-visa related inquiries, policy and regulatory interpretations; as well as responding to requests for change of category, extension, reinstatements, or permission   to issue.

* Providing daily outreach to assist sponsors and to evaluate the effectiveness of program categories; and

* Reviewing program application requests:

  • * Adding officials
  • * Amendments
  • * Form DS-2019 allotments and expansion requests
  • * Other matters regarding program administration
  • * Pay.gov

Contact: DesignationSWT@state.gov

Resources:

Resources for Exchange Visitors:

Who Are We?: The Office of Private Sector Exchange Administration (OPA) was created in 2013 to monitor and enforce full compliance with Department regulations and policies with a focus on exchange visitors’ health, safety, and well-being.

Emergency Contact Information: The State Department maintains a 24/7 hotline to ensure the health and safety of its exchange participants, including au pairs. All participants have a right to be treated fairly and to report abuse without retaliation or threat of program cancellation. In the event of an emergency, au pairs should contact their sponsors. In case additional assistance is required, participants can contact the State Department at any time via the hotline 1-866-283-9090 or send an email to jvisas@state.gov.

How OPA Processes Exchange Visitor Complaints: Click Here

Accredited U.S. Post-Secondary Institutions: U.S. Department of Education

Know Your Rights: Wilberforce Pamphlet (PDF)

Tax Information: Internal Revenue Service

Mental Health Information: National Institute of Mental Health

Mental Health Emergency Hotline: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Victims of Crime Information: Toll Free and Online Hotlines