🚀 go-pugleaf

January 8, 1996


Dear Friends,

Re:  Visas to the United States for high school programs

A new law went into effect November 1, 1996, in the United States that
dramatically affects the F-1 student visa for secondary school students
wishing to attend high school in the United States.  The law in the
United States now requires students from other countries who wish to
attend school in the States to pay full tuition to the local American
public high school.  It also now limits the time a student may attend
high school on the F-1 visa to one year after which the student must
return to his or her country.  =


Before the law was passed, most American public schools would allow the
foreign student on the F visa to attend free of tuition charges and for
more than one year.  Obviously, the cost was borne by the American
taxpayer but the cultural contributions the foreign student made to the
student body and the local community far out weighed the cost of
educating the student.       =


This new law, as well as a recent law passed by the California
electorate, proposition #187, represents a conservative shift among
Americans in the States with regards to immigration.  As an American, I
understand the need for orderly immigration but we must not lose sight
of the countless contributions immigrants to the United States have made
to our society and to the world.  For over 200 years we have happily
embraced from other countries as our own - great minds in science and
mathematics, inspired film makers, rhetoricians -- and our very own
ancestors.   =


Please note that the new law regarding the F-1 visa for the secondary
student does not affect the J-1 visa.  The J visa will still allow a
student to attend high school without having to pay tuition while living
with an American host family.   These visas are issued by not-for-profit
exchange organizations and monitored by the United States Information
Agency. =


I will gladly respond to any comments regarding this issue.  Please feel
free to email me at:  ri@iprolink.ch or fax me at, +41.21.321 4450.

Warm regards,



Rick Anaya
President, The Council for Educational Travel, SA
38 Petit Ch=EAne, 1003 Lausanne, Switzerland