BridgeUSA
Exchange Programs
Supporting Regulations for
U.S. Department of State
BridgeUSA Exchange Programs
Department of State BridgeUSA exchanges allow students and professionals from around the world to study, intern, train, conduct research, collaborate, and explore culture in the United States.The Alliance works closely with our members, the Department of State, and Congress to ensure that the regulations governing BridgeUSA programs support the health, safety, and welfare of participants and provide the strongest exchange experience possible.
THE LATEST
Duration of Status final rule takes another step forward
The final rule eliminating Duration of Status (D/S) has been cleared by the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA). The next step will be for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to send the rule for publication in the Federal Register. It’s anticipated to closely mirror the proposed rule published last August, with only minor corrections.
Regulatory Updates to Programs
Overview of 2026 Regulatory Plan and Unified Agenda
In early July 2026, the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) within the Office of Management and Budget released their 2026 Regulatory Plan and Unified Agenda. The agenda offers a snapshot of the Administration’s regulatory and deregulatory priorities across federal agencies, including the Departments of State and Homeland Security. As a reminder, this plan should be read as a statement of intent rather than a fixed timetable.
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Regulatory status: The previously listed advanced notice of proposed rulemaking related to exchange visitor insurance requirements no longer appears on the newly released regulatory agenda.
Alliance efforts: The Alliance will work to gather information on the impact of potential changes to the agenda and on different programs so we can deliver proactive feedback to the Department.
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Regulatory status: The agenda pushes the long-awaited Au Pair proposed rule further back, now listing a target date of July 2027. That is a notable shift from the previous agenda, which had projected action by October 2025. While the agenda now categorizes this regulation as a long-term action, ECA has indicated that it remains a near-term priority for the Bureau and may move sooner than the target date suggests.
Alliance efforts: Early in 2024, the Alliance weighed in on the proposed regulation and its significant impact in a number of ways. We compiled member feedback and created a 50+ page comment letter to the Department, supported a legal comment letter, and facilitated a grassroots letter-writing campaign that generated more than 5,000 comments from the larger Au Pair community. The Alliance continues to engage regularly with the Department as they work on the new NPRM.
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Regulatory status: The Camp Counselor and Teacher ANPRMs, both of which ECA officials have referenced publicly over the past year as possible future rulemakings, do not yet appear on the agenda.
Alliance efforts: The Alliance facilitates a Camp Counselor Working Group to guide the Alliance’s preparation of community recommendations around the regulations and help inform the content of a future proposed rule.
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Regulatory status: The planned update to the regulations governing the Intern and Trainee Programs has been moved off the official Regulatory Agenda as of Spring 2024, reflecting that an update is not an urgent priority for the Department.
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Regulatory status: There are currently no regulatory updates planned for the Secondary School Student Program.
Alliance efforts: The Alliance has partnered with the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET)’s committee on school outreach to further high school and host family recruitment efforts by engaging ECA and the Department of Education.
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Regulatory status: The Summer Work Travel Program currently has no regulatory updates on the docket but is still under a program cap and moratorium that was enacted in 2014. ECA officials have publicly indicated that they are currently considering ways to lift the cap and are committed to finding a way, but do not anticipate it will be in the coming year.
Alliance efforts: The Alliance has actively engaged with ECA on this issue by sharing our recommendations for responsible growth and the value of lifting the cap and moratorium for the Bureau’s public diplomacy goals. Alliance Members can access additional resources used in these discussions with ECA leadership and staff here.
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Regulatory status: The Camp Counselor and Teacher ANPRMs, both of which ECA officials have referenced publicly over the past year as possible future rulemakings, do not yet appear on the agenda.
Alliance efforts: The Alliance facilitates a Teacher Working Group that focuses on the program’s relevant and rising issues, including potential recommendations for these future regulatory changes, while informing the Alliance’s strategy to best advance our members’ priorities in the space.