Statement of the Alliance for International Exchange Regarding Proposed Reforms to the Federal Au Pair Cultural Exchange Program
Washington, D.C. – February 23, 2023 – On behalf of our members designated by the U.S. Department of State to administer the federal au pair cultural exchange program, the Alliance for International Exchange is supportive of the Department of State (DOS) taking steps to clarify and modernize the program via new regulations. DOS is uniquely positioned to modify the program and, in so doing, to strike a balance between the program’s clear foreign policy and public diplomacy goals and the need to update and clarify certain aspects of the program in support of all program participants.
On February 10, proposed new regulations were submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). We look forward to the opportunity to review the proposed new regulations in full once they become publicly available, and to weigh in at that time on the impact they may have on our international exchange community.
For more than three decades, the federal au pair program has remained a vitally important cultural exchange opportunity for thousands of American families and young people from around the world. The program provides a mutually enriching experience that builds bridges across borders and cultures, sparks mutual understanding, and creates meaningful life-long friendships.