ISSUE STATUS UPDATE: January 2010

The comment period has ended and the Department of State is now in the review phase.  We have heard that they were overwhelmed with the response (from the camp community and other cultural exchange programs) and are seriously considering some changes to the proposed rules in response to those comments.

Thank you for your advocacy response.  We made a difference!  See below for the details of all the advocacy generated on behalf of the camp community.

Watch this website for Department of State response and any impact on camps.

The US Department of State issued proposed changes to the J1 Visa program in September 2009 with the public comment period ending in late November.  (J1 Visas are the most common type of Visa granted for international camp counselors and support staff.)  The proposed rule changes would have a negative impact on the camp community's ability to use international staff.  (See section below for details.)

ACA posted an online advocacy request in October 2009 and asked for messages to be sent to the US Department of State and to Congress through our web-based advocacy site.  We had tremendous response! 

• The Department of State received over 700 comments. 
• Over 350 were generated through the ACA site. 
• We generated over 600 messages from our site to dozens of members of Congress. 
• Many from the camp community also posted comments directly on the Department of State website. 

ACA also advocated on behalf of the camp community by:

• Participating in a national advocacy coalition with the Cultural Exchange community and other stakeholders.
• Organizing special efforts in IN, MA, ME, NJ, PA with local ACA offices and camps contacting Congressional members and their staff in person and by phone.  (These states were targeted because their Congressional members serve on key legislative committees.)
• Meeting directly, in-person with the Department of State.
• Members of the camp community worked with the Small Business Administration and the National Federation of Independent Business and aquired their support. 
• The camping community was instrumental in getting congressional letters to be sent to the Department of State from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the House Foreign Affairs Committee and a “Dear Colleague” letter from the House of Representatives.
• Staff from five key Senators met directly with Department of State staff.

Questions?  Contact the

ACA Governmental Affairs and Policy Department.