Regulations and Compliance Administration
Advisory Letters
- Au Pair Host Family Appreciation Letter (2024) (PDF)
- Au Pair Welcome Letter (2024) (PDF)
- College or University Student Letter (2024) (PDF)
- Camp Counselor Welcome Letter (2024) (PDF)
- Intern Welcome Letter (2024) (PDF)
- Newly Validated Exchange Visitor Email (2022) (PDF)
- Professor Welcome Letter (2024) (PDF)
- Secondary School Student School Admin Appreciation Letter (2024) (PDF)
- Secondary School Student Host Family Appreciation Letter (2024) (PDF)
- Secondary School Student letter (2024) (PDF)
- Scholar Welcome letter (2024) (PDF)
- Summer Work Travel Host Employee letter (2024) (PDF)
- Summer Work Travel Participant letter (2024) (PDF)
- Teacher Host School letter (2024) (PDF)
- Teacher Welcome letter (2024) (PDF)
- Trainee Welcome letter (2024) (PDF)
Related Legislation
- Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (PDF) (Public Law 87-256) as amended, 22 U.S.C. 2451, et. seq. (1988), also known as the Fulbright-Hays Act
- Summer Work Travel Statutory Authority (Public Law 105-277) (PDF)
- Au Pair Statutory Authority (Public Law 105-48) (PDF)
- USA PATRIOT ACT of 2001 (PDF) – Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (Public Law 107-56)
- Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2002 (PDF) (Public Law 107-173), Section 501 Foreign Student Monitoring Program (SEVIS)
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations or E-CFR
Rulemaking Documents
Guidance Directives
- Guidance Directive 2024-05 Housing and Transportation Requirements (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2024-04 Wage Requirements and Licenses (2024) (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2024-03 New MOU Designation (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2024-02 Proper use of "shorten", "end" and "terminate" Sevis functions in the exchange visitor program (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2024-01 Permissible contact in Academic Categories (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2023-02 Clarifying the Department of State’s Interpretation of Commensurate “Compensation” and “Pay and Benefits” (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2023-01 Exchange visitor participation in host organizations’ remote policies or enrollment in online classes (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2022-01 - Exchange Visitor Program - K-12 School Accreditation (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2020-01 - Exchange Visitor Program - Confucius Institutes 2020-01 (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2019-03 - College and University Student Screening and Monitoring (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2019-02 Permission to Issue in the Exchange Visitor Program (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2019-01: Teacher Regulation Clarification (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2018-01: College and University Student Category: Avoiding Unskilled Placements in Academic Training and Student Internship Programs (August 10, 2018) (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2017-02 SSSP: Host Family Placement and Monthly Contact Reports (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2017-01 Casual and Unskilled Labor (PDF)
- Annex to Guidance Directive 2017-01 Casual and Unskilled Labor (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2016-03 Visa Revocation (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2016-02 Teacher Rule Transition (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2016-01 SEVIS Functions (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2015-01 SEVIS Guidance (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2015-02 SEVIS Formatting Guidance (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2015-03 SEVIS T/IPP (Form DS-7002) (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2014-02 Foreign Entity Report (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2014 Deadlines and Holidays (PDF)
- Updated Guidance on SEVIS Maintenance, Summer Work Travel Program (PDF)
- 2018 Guide for ROs and AROs (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2013-02: Summer Work Travel - Purpose and Placements (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2013-01: Summer Work Travel - SEVIS (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2012-06: Exchange Visitor Program – Confucius Institutes (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2012-05: Intern and Trainee Categories – Social Services and Social Science Activities (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2012-04: Secondary School Student Program – Advertising for the Recruitment of Host Families and the Use of Photographs of Potential Students (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2012-03: Summer Work Travel – Program Exclusions (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2012-02: Summer Work Travel – Implementation of May 2012 Interim Final Rule (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2012-01: Summer Work Travel Program – 2012 Placement Season (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2011-06: Maintaining SEVIS Records (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2011-05: Summer Work Travel Program – A Cultural Experience (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2011-04: Intern and Trainee Categories: Form DS-2019 Allotment For the Remaining 2011 Calendar Year, Partial Form DS-2019 Allotment, and the Transfer of Forms DS-2019 (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2011-03: Maintaining Current and Accurate SEVIS Records by Summer Work Travel Sponsors (October 26, 2011) (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2011-02: Au Pair Exchange Visitor Program: Statutory Considerations of Continued Collection of “Performance Bonds” (June 3, 2011) (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2011-01: Secondary School Student Program Coordinator and Host Family Vetting (April 12, 2011) (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2010-10: Secondary School Student Program Final Rule (December 21, 2010) (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2010-09: On-Site Review Results: Identified Program Management Weaknesses in Secondary School Student Program (October 12, 2010) (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2010-08: New Intern and Trainee Regulations and Guidance on Work in Counter Service Positions (August 12, 2010) (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2010-07: Notice of On-Site Reviews, Secondary School Student Program (August 11, 2010) (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2010-06: Program Duration for Exchange Visitor Program Teachers Currently Teaching in Georgia Public Schools (June 17, 2010) (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2010-05: Program Duration for Exchange Visitor Program Teachers Currently Teaching in South Carolina Public Schools (June 17, 2010) (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2010-04: Program Duration for Exchange Visitor Program Teachers Currently Teaching in Virginia Public Schools (June 17, 2010) (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2010-03: Form DS-2019 Allotment for 2011/2012, Secondary School Student Program (June 10, 2010) (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2010-02: Program Duration for Exchange Visitor Program Teachers Currently Teaching in North Carolina Public Schools (May 13, 2010) (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2010-01: Use of Promotional Materials, Secondary School Student Program (March 23, 2010) (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2009-06: Establishment of a Toll Free Number for Secondary School Students (July 27, 2009) (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2009-05: Contact Information on Identification Cards for Students, Secondary School Student Program (June 12, 2009) (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2009-04: Sponsor Reporting Requirements, Secondary School Student Program (June 12, 2009) (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2009-03: Host Family Screening and Selection, Secondary School Student Program (June 12, 2009) (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2009-02: Form DS-2019 Allotment for 2010/2011, Secondary School Student Program (June 10, 2009) (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2009-01: One Year Program Extension for Third-Year Exchange Visitor Teachers (February 23, 2009) (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2008-05: Prohibition on Paying Host Families, Secondary School Student Program (July 22, 2008) (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2008-04: Form DS-2019 Allotment for 2009/2010, Secondary School Student Program (May 21, 2008) (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2008-03: Annual Reports, Placement Reports, and Incident Reporting, Secondary School Student Program (May 14, 2008) (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2008-02: Request for Comment on Paying Host Families, Secondary School Student Program (May 7, 2008) (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2008-01: Compensation, Program Duration and Transfers for Exchange Visitor Teachers (April 23, 2008) (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2007-02: Guidelines for Administration of the Intern Work and Travel Pilot Program with Australia and New Zealand (October 30, 2007) (PDF)
- Guidance Directive 2007-01: Policy Changes and Requirements Regarding the Placement of Exchange Visitors with Host Families, Secondary School Student Program (July 12, 2007) (PDF)
Memoranda of Cooperation and Understanding (MOUs/MOCs)
The U.S. Government signs country-specific international agreements, such as MOUs and MOCs, to create and expand reciprocal cultural and educational exchange opportunities. These agreements modify Exchange Visitor Program regulations. Sponsors must have an approved MOU/MOC program designation to administer exchange programs governed by these MOUs and MOCs. Please direct any inquiries to DesignationMOU@state.gov.
- Guidelines for U.S.-Switzerland Vocational Internship and Training Programs (2024)(PDF)
- Application for MOU/MOC Program Designations (2024) (PDF)
- Guidelines for Work and Travel Program with Australia and New Zealand (2007) (PDF)
- Guidelines for Intern Work and Travel Program with Ireland (2023) (PDF)
- U.S.-Austria Reciprocal Professional Development and Cultural Exchange Program(2024) (PDF)
- Guidelines for WEST (Work, English Study, and Travel) Program with Korea (2024) (PDF)
- Guidelines for Language and Culture Specialist Program with Japan (2024) (PDF)
- Guidelines for U.S.-Switzerland Vocational Internship and Training Programs (2024). (PDF)