Primary and Secondary Study

Recent changes in U.S. law mean that it is now much more difficult than in the past to come to the United States to study at the primary and secondary levels. These changes primarily affect student exchanges and the ability of secondary students to obtain student visas. Very few primary level students participate in such travel.

K-12 Student Visa Regulations explains the new secondary student visa regulations from the point of view of the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs, which issues visas.

INS Fact Sheet on Changes Affecting F-1 Student Visas presents the policy of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, which is the agency that permits noncitizens to enter the United States and remain.

Federal Youth Exchange Programs

The U.S. Information Service continues to sponsor two youth exchange programs that permit secondary school students to come to the United States for educational purposes.

U.S. Department of State Youth Exchange Programs are sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to foster interaction between American high school students and secondary school students from abroad.

Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program (CBYX) describes a bilateral exchange program involving students sponsored by the U.S. Congress and the German Federal Parliament.

Independent Youth Exchange Programs

High School in the U.S.A. provides information on sponsored opportunities for foreign secondary school students to spend a term visiting a U.S. secondary school.

Worldwide Classroom provides information on international opportunities for study and exchange at the secondary level.

Regardless of what type of youth exchange program you might be involved with, you need to remember the following:

There may be charges levied by the secondary school or school district participating in the program (in order to defray the cost of educational services for someone not paying local taxes);

The period of any exchange program is fixed and cannot usually be extended; and

As a consequence, you cannot expect to use an exchange program as a steppingstone to becoming a regular student and graduating from a U.S. secondary school.