Alliance Commentary
Analysis of the latest news around Washington, D.C. and the exchange community from Alliance staff and members.Alliance sends letter to Sec. Blinken from over 500 Businesses
Washington, DC: The Alliance for International Exchange’s Executive Director, Ilir Zherka, issued the following statement today regarding an Alliance letter to Secretary Blinken from over 500 businesses. The letter urges the Department of State to take additional...
Alliance Applauds Administration Decision re P. 10052
Washington, DC: The Alliance for International Exchange’s Executive Director, Ilir Zherka, issued the following statement today regarding the Biden Administration allowing Presidential Proclamation 10052 to expire yesterday, March 31. P. 10052 was intended to suspend...
Action by Biden Administration needed on visas to promote diplomacy, support economy
The Biden Administration correctly ties the United States’ national security to our country’s economic health in their new Interim National Security Strategic Guidance. These goals, however, are being inadvertently undermined by unnecessary restrictions on...
2020 Annual Conference
The Alliance held its 2020 Annual Conference virtually over the days of October 28-29. The Alliance welcomed 245 attendees, including Alliance members, supporters, and more than 50 U.S. government representatives (many from the U.S. Department of State). The...
Proposal to Replace Duration of Status
On Friday, September 25, 2020, the Department of Homeland Security published a proposed rule to eliminate duration of status (D/S) for F students and their dependents, J exchange visitors and their dependents, and I media representatives in the Federal Register. The...
Alliance Annual Conference 2020
The Annual Conference is a platform for the international exchange community to engage in programmatic and policy discussions with representatives from key government agencies, including the U.S. Department of State. The Annual Conference is also an opportunity to network with partners and to develop the strategies necessary to address the challenges and opportunities facing our community.
Au Pairs are Essential During Pandemic and Beyond
As published in Medium on September 14, 2020. Families are managing challenges with their children going back to school in a world that certainly looks different than it did last September. Many school districts have returned to classes virtually and parents continue...
National Business Survey: Suspension of Summer Work Travel Program Will Thwart American Economic Recovery
Because of Lack of International Exchange Program Participants, One in Five Businesses Could Not Open this Summer, Average Company Lost an Average of $470,000 The Alliance for International Exchange released today the findings of a national survey of predominantly...
We Can’t Afford to Weaken J-1 Cultural Exchange Programs
As published in Medium on August 5, 2020. As Congress debates another round of coronavirus relief legislation, American businesses and families continue to struggle while the coronavirus pandemic maintains its tireless chokehold on the economy. The Administration has...
Alliance for International Exchange Co-signs Amicus Brief
The Alliance for International Exchange and 103 others co-signed an amicus curiae brief led by the Society for Human Resource Management in support of J-1 Exchange Visitor Programs, which were included in a June 22 Presidential proclamation suspending some...