Work And Travel Program Brings Polish Students To the United States
The U.S. Embassy in Warsaw and Consulate General in Krakow are close to wrapping up what will be the busiest year for the State Department’s Summer Work and Travel (SWT) exchange visitor program in Poland. This year, more than 22,000 SWT visas will be processed, including more than 5,500 from Krakow and nearly 17,000 from Warsaw. The Summer Work and Travel program allows young Polish university students to travel to the U.S. to experience an American work environment and to improve their English language skills. This is a program that benefits both the U.S. and Poland, bringing needed summer workers to seasonal industries in America such as travel and tourism, while at the same time giving the next generation of Polish professionals a positive experience in the United States, learning more about its values and its business culture.
The SWT program in Poland has expanded almost every year since its beginning, and has grown more than four-fold since the year 2000. This year, due to changes in U.S. law, consular officers were required to interview the vast majority of applicants. This presented a significant challenge to the Embassy and local program agencies. Close cooperation between consular officers, Polish national embassy staff, and local agents, however, resulted in an interview process that was both efficient and effective, with all applicants being interviewed in a timely manner.
The State Department does its best to police the program and to ensure that every student has a job and an appropriate living situation waiting for them when they arrive in the United States. Some problems with job availability were reported in previous years. This year, no such situations have been reported thus far and we are hopeful that the Student & Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) program established by the Department of Homeland Security will help minimize any future problems of this type by ensuring that employers are clearly identified ahead of time.
Although the program is almost completed for this summer, students wishing to obtain more information about the Summer Work and Travel program for future years may visit the Department of State’s web page at http://exchanges.state.gov/education/jexchanges/private/swt.htm, or contact one of the local program managers. At least 25 organizations in Poland send students to the United States on SWT programs, and each year they hold a travel fair, usually in March. More information can also be obtained through Polish universities. The Department of State, however, cannot recommend individual local program managers.
IN THIS ISSUE:
Welcome to our Readers || All Visa Applicants To Be Fingerscanned || A Note to Tourists || 2004 Elections Swiftly Approaching || Windfall Elimination Provision || ASSISTING VICTIMS OF CRIME IN POLAND || ASSISTING THOSE ACCUSED OF CRIMES || VISA REFUSALS AND AMERICAN CITIZEN SERVICES || The Diversity Visa Program || Work And Travel Program Brings Polish Students To the United States || How Can I Get Answers To My Consular Questions?
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