DOS Cable on Au Pair Program
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Unclas USIA 03583
USIA
State For VO/L-Scully
E.O. 12958: N/A
Subject: Au Pair Status
1. On December 23, 1996, President Clinton signed public law 104-72 into law. This legislation authorizes the continued operation of Au Pair Program, on a world-wide basis, until September 30, 1997.
2. The agency is publishing a Federal Register notice regarding the information set forth herein.
3. Au Pair Program guidelines that date to 1986 are no longer in force and effect. Au Pair regulations adopted February 15, 1995 and the General Exchange Visitor Program regulations adopted March 19, 1993 are in place and both are fully applicable to Au Pair operations.
4. Unless otherwise prohibited by law, Au Pair may now be recruited from all world countries. The agency interprets “world-wide” not repeat not to include countries with which the USG does not maintain diplomatic relations.
5. The agency is of the opinion that a national of one country, resident in another, may be recruited and issued a visa in the country of residence.
6. The numerical program limitations for individual program sponsors have been lifted. The agency intends to impose an aggregate limitation of 22,720 total Au Pair participants per annum. Designated sponsors wishing to expand their Au Pair Programs may do so to the extent that they can adequately demonstrate to the agency that they have sufficient organizational capacity to do so. In the short-term, the agency is permitting a ten percent increase in program size.
7. New Au Pair Program sponsors will be designated. Such newly designated sponsors will be given temporary designations in light of the limited extension.
8. USIA advises the Department that further information on the Au Pair Program can be obtained from USIA, Exchange Visitor Program Services, GC/V, Tel (202) 401-9810.
9. Minimize Considered.