J1-VISA INTERN AND TRAINEE CHANGES

Following revision of the J-1 exchange visitor visa in the USA, changes have been made to the regulations governing the J-1 trainee programme, and a new intern sub-category has been added.

The changes, which came into effect in July this year, have resulted in the expansion of programmes, as well as clarifying past regulatory ambiguities and permitting the Department of State to more closely monitor quality and compliance of the participants.

A review of the exchange visitor programme revealed that the trainee visa category had occasionally been used as a work visa, rather than for its intended purpose. The amendments will ensure that the visa is used for professional training purposes only. The new intern sub-category is designed for foreign nationals that are current students or recent graduates, and who have not had the opportunity to acquire hands-on experience in their academic field. Previous entry was restricted by the requisite of prior experience.

Just like the trainee sub-category, the intern programme must directly correspond with the participant’s career or study field. Damon Mastandrea of Interexchange Inc., a work experience provider in New York, USA, said that the changes to the J-1 exchange visitor visa programme “will enrich the overall quality of the programme by ensuring that only serious and qualified students participate”.

NEW MARINE VOLUNTEER PROJECT IN FIJI

An Internet-based agency with its head office in New Zealand has developed a new volunteering project that will see volunteers helping to establish a marine conservation area in Fiji.

Warwick and Jacqui White from Worlds Best Language Schools set up the project after visiting Fiji and becoming concerned by the damage sustained by the coral reef by fishing methods, littering and tourism. “We are at the beginning of a very long process,” said Jacqui White. “We are planning to undertake a longitudinal study to collect, collate and report on the coral reef resources to establish base year data. [We are also planning to] form a relationship between our organisation and an NGO to establish a marine conservation area and help oversee its ongoing management.”

Volunteers can choose from four projects of varying lengths: Gap diver certification; Volunteer marine conservation and Fijian culture; Gap dive master internship and Fijian culture, dive package with optional marine biology; and a marine conservation internship. Previous diving experience is not a requisite.

White said, “People of all ages are now looking for more than just going on holiday and lying in the sun. They are seeking opportunities for truly unique travel experiences that enable them to learn skills and help others.”

Changes to Australia’s skilled migration visa will favour those who have previously undertaken work experience placements in the country. As of September this year, applicants with 12 months previous skilled work experience in Australia will gain an extra 10 points towards their total needed to gain a migration visa.

The English requirements for the skilled migration visa have also been raised so that applicants will have to have reached level six in all the four different components of an Ielts test, up from five previously. Applicants applying under trade occupations will only have to obtain an Ielts score of five in all components. International students already studying in Australia who do not meet the new language requirements will be able to apply for an 18-month skilled graduate visa, which will allow them to increase their English fluency and gain valuable work experience before applying for a skilled migration visa.

The Centre for Cultural Interchange in the USA has launched a Greenheart Environmental Department in order to build on the company’s green credentials. The Greenheart Development Manager will source more environmentally friendly employers for the company’s work and travel programme as well as adding to the company’s existing environmental volunteer programmes around the world.

China is calling for international volunteers to help out at the 2008 Olympic Games. The Beijing Organising Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad is recruiting 100,000 volunteers for the Paralympic and Olympic Games and in March, it opened applications up to those living outside China. Native Chinese speakers are required to speak a second language while those whose first language is not Chinese should be able to speak elementary Chinese.