November 21, 2024 - Secretary Dante Klink Ang II had an enriching discussion with the US Embassy officials led by Jessica Simon, Counselor for Public Affairs, on the implementation of the US-Ph Exchange Visitor Program (EVP) during the courtesy visit of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas at the US Embassy in Manila.
Also in attendance were Undersecretary Ma. Arlene Borja, Dir. Marita Del Rosario-Apattad, Kristine Gacer, and Frencel Tingga of the CFO.
Both parties shared their respective data on EVP participants (J1 visa holders) and administrative processes, including CFO’s provision of pre-departure services, and discussed issues involving the participants. Dir. Apattad and Ms. Gacer gave an overview and reported about CFO’s J1 frontline service, including EVP-related concerns it handled. More than 6,000 Filipinos participated in the Program in 2023 alone based on the records of CFO and US Embassy.
While it is acknowledged that the EVP, having been in existence for more than seven decades, is one of the best practices between the US and Philippine diplomatic relations, the Program is without flaws.
Since EVP is a nonimmigrant, training and cultural exchange program, participants are expected to return to the Philippines after the end of their training/ education, to transfer the knowledge and skills they have learned in their respective field or profession. Both parties however, have observed that many of the participants have misused their J1 visa and opted not to return to the Philippines. While staying in the US may be personally and economically advantageous to participants, this leaves a gap in the pool of talents (brain drain) in the Philippines, especially in the cases of senior teachers or doctors.
Secretary Ang also stated that EVP participants should honor their commitment and responsibility of returning to the Philippines to preserve the integrity of the program and mutually benefit both countries. During their PDOS, CFO informs EVP participants not only of their rights but also of their obligations, especially after completing their training and education. Participants should they wish to, are free to return to the US and seek employment after completing their contract obligation.
US Embassy officials supported the Secretary’s stand and said that continued misuse of the J1 visa may jeopardize the program, and thus affect future applicants.
Moving forward, both parties offered recommendations to improve the program and address the concerns of EVP participants. These include offering other pathways when they return to the Philippines such as secured job, building a network of EVP alumni, data-sharing between two parties, broadening teacher participation but limiting the duration of the program, reviewing and updating the Philippine Skills List, among others.
The EVP was created as part of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (The Fulbright-Hays Act) to allow foreign nationals (J1 visa holders), to temporarily reside in the US and participate in a variety of education or training programs and to promote cultural exchange between the US and other countries, Philippines included. Under the arrangement of US-Philippines EVP, CFO is part of the Philippine EVP Committee, and provides online pre departure services for J1 visa holders such as teachers, doctors, interns, summer work and travel participants, among others.