Secondary School Student Program Sponsor Resource Page

The Secondary School Student category of the Exchange Visitor Program (EVP) allows foreign secondary school students to study in the United States at accredited public or private secondary schools for an academic semester or an academic year while living with American host families or residing at accredited U.S. boarding schools. The Office of Private Sector Exchange offers the following office descriptions and information to assist sponsors of the Secondary School Student Program with the routing of questions, complaints, or incident reports.  

Office of Private Sector Exchange Designation

The Office of Private Sector Exchange Designation deals specifically with the following:

*Reviewing designation and re-designation applications

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

*Assisting sponsors with J-visa related inquiries 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 category

*Adding officials

*Amendments

*Form DS-2019 allotments and expansion requests

*Other matters regarding program administration

*Pay.gov

Sponsors should submit all program questions, requests and reports electronically.

Hosting Foreign Exchange Students

Contact: DesignationSSSP@state.gov

Office of Private Sector Exchange Administration

The Office of Private Sector Exchange Program Administration (OPA) focuses on exchange visitors’ health, safety, and well-being; and responds to complaints and incidents. Additionally, OPA serves as a resource to sponsors through monitoring and enforcing compliance with Department regulations and policies.

Sponsors should report the following situations to OPA:

*Death of an exchange visitor

*Serious injury of an exchange visitor

*Sexually related incidents or abuse

*Incidents involving the criminal justice system

*Public events or natural disasters directly involving student safety

*Patterns of behavioral problems

*Substance abuse

*Mental health issues

*Dangerous or unsuitable living conditions

*Any other event that could bring the Department or the Exchange Visitor Program into notoriety or disrepute

Exchange visitors or third parties may contact OPA to file a complaint. OPA will then contact the sponsor to address the matter with them directly.

Download the OPA Secondary School Student Program Incident Report Form (Word)

To clarify the Department’s reporting requirements, OPA worked with the sponsor community to develop a rubric to assist sponsors in adhering to 22 C.F.R. § 62.13(d). Download the OPA Secondary School Student Program Reporting Rubric. (PDF)

School Safety Resources Mental Health Resources Sexual Misconduct

Contact: HighSchoolExchanges@state.gov
Resources:
  • Secondary School Flyer
  • OPA Incident Reporting Video: YouTube
  • OPA: How the Department Processes EVP Complaints: YouTube