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The J-1 visa program was created under the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 and was designed as more than an avenue for international students and scholars to visit the United States. At its core, the program was a diplomatic initiative designed to strengthen cultural and educational ties between the United States and the world. The preamble of the act states: The purpose of this Act is to enable the Government of the United States to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries by means of educational and cultural...

Foreign Students Walk Off Hershey’s Factory Job In Protest By Liz GoodwinAugust 18, 2011 Hundreds of foreign students on a State Department cultural exchange visa program walked off their factory jobs in protest on Wednesday. The J-1 visa program brings foreign students to the country to work for two months and learn English, and was designed in part to fill seasonal tourism jobs at resorts and seaside towns. The 400 students employed at a Pennsylvania factory that makes Hershey's candies told The New York Times that even though they make $8.35 an hour, their rent and program fees are deducted...

Five Afghanistan scholars visiting the University of Washington have been reported missing. UW officials say the five scholars are in Seattle for a three-month research and training program.

Five Afghanistan scholars visiting the University of Washington to work on their master's theses were reported missing after failing to show up for a week of training sessions, university officials said today. The five were among 38 mid-career government and nonprofit officials in Seattle for a three-month research and training program. They are working toward a master's degree in public policy and administration at Kabul University. The program is in its second year through the Evans School of Public Affairs. It's also the second time Afghani scholars have gone missing. SNIP The five men, who are all 30 or younger,...