From Boreal Community Media - August 4, 2020

The Cook County Chamber of Commerce is urging local businesses to participate in a new survey to measure the business impact of the lack of availability of J1 Work Travel Visas.

The Alliance for International Exchange is working to advocate with Congress and the Trump administration on behalf of the endangered J1 Work Travel visa program. The Alliance now is requesting that those businesses who value the J1 program participate in a survey that can help build a case for its importance.

According to the Alliance: 

• The vast majority of J-1 Summer Work Travel (SWT) program participants have not been able to take part in their exchange programs this summer. 
• In June the Administration issued a Presidential Proclamation suspending Summer Work Travel and other work-based exchange programs until December 31, 2020. The Proclamation requires periodic reviews, and while restrictions may be relaxed, it’s also possible that it could be extended into 2021.
• The SWT program would have been much smaller in 2020 since most consulates shut down for in-person visa appointments and travel restrictions were instituted across the globe. However, the Presidential Proclamation has severe implications for the long-term sustainability of SWT.  
• The absence of SWT participants has greatly impacted seasonal businesses, and we need your help to ensure the long-term availability of this program.

The international exchange community and host organizations have already been very active in reaching out to the Administration and Congress over the past few weeks.

873 organizations have signed a coalition letter 

3,500+ letters have been sent to President Trump and Congress 

44 former U.S. Ambassadors signed a letter to President Trump

This week, the Alliance is surveying host businesses in Minnesota to gather data on how the absence of program participants impacts their business. Our government needs to know that economic recovery and the stability of American seasonal businesses depends on the Summer Work Travel program.

Businesses can access and complete the survey by following this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Y73QPJ6