Fears over the J1 visa being cancelled have been growing since the election of the 45th President Donald Trump.
According to the Irish Examiner, the Wall Street Journal reported on the J1 visa programme and indicated, from 'unnamed sources', that the summer programme was on the chopping block. The report revealed that the administration was preparing for "major reductions" in the number of work exchange visitors.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has received no information about the possible threat from the US Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney told the Irish Examiner he had few concerns about the report:
It is important not to draw any conclusions. The program has been hugely successful and we have had absolutely no indication of any change. Thousands of Irish people, including myself, have hugely benefited from the special relationship we have with the US and I would like to see that continue into the future.
According to the Wall Street Journal report Trump's administration, which has taken an extreme and racially charged stance on immigration, will make reductions in "cultural exchange programs, including those for au pairs and summer workers” but not for educational exchanges.
Michael Kerrigan, President of the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), said the USI would like to see the number of programmes increased.
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The J1 Visa program has played an extremely positive role in building relations between the US and Ireland since it was started over 50 years ago.The J1 acts as a right of passage for a lot of students, and helps students learn valuable skills, build their careers, and to experience working abroad during their time at college.
Over 8,000 Irish students a year visit the US during their J1 visa programme. Irish J1 students have been frequenting the US since the introduction of the educational programme in 1961.
