Happy New Year!

Global Current is open for business for the 2011 calender year.

We look forward to assisting our existing friends and new customers with their J-1 visa sponsorship needs.

Happy Holidays!

We here at Global Current would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Please note that we will be closed from Thursday, December 24th through Sunday, January 2nd. We will reopen on Monday, January 3rd.

Have an inquiry? We will do our best to respond to any urgent e-mails during the break.

Jon Adler
Global Current
Program Manager

Cuts in Federal Funding for Exchange Visitor Programs?

Incoming chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), indicated in a statement released today that Department of State and foreign aid programs “will be under the knife” when she takes the helm in 2011, CQ.com reports.

“As chairman of this committee, I will work to restore fiscal discipline to foreign affairs, reform troubled programs and organizations, exercise vigorous oversight to identify waste, fraud, and abuse, and counter the threats posed to our nation by rogue states and violent extremists,” Ros-Lehtinen said.

Ros-Lehtinen indicated she was prepared to “propose a number of cuts to the State Department and foreign aid budgets,” which she said have “much fat” in them. CQ’s coverage of Ros-Lehtinen’s statement did not indicate any specific programs targeted for cuts.

Could this mean that funding for exchange visitor programs may be slashed as well? Thoughts? Comments?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Please note that Global Current will be closed on both Thursday, November 25th and Friday, November 26th in observance of Thanksgiving.

We wish everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving! Save us some leftovers :)

Global Current

Record Number of International Students

This past week the Institute of International Education (IIE)released their important "Open Doors 2010" report. The 2010 report revealed that a record high number of 690,923 international students studied in the United States during the 2009/2010 academic year, a 3 per cent increase over the previous year.

We at Global Current have also seen a steady increase in the number of international exchange visitors on J-1 visa trainee and intern programs. The biggest growth we have seen is from emerging economies such as China and India.

Both of these figures reflect a continued global recognition that both the U.S. educational system and business community remain amongst the best in the world.

U.S.Department of State Launches Social Networking Site

The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs recently launched its own ambitious social networking portal for exchange program alumni, ExchangesConnect. All users are now able to browse groups, discussions, photos, videos, and more!

Check it out if you have some free time. It is a great resource for recent, current, and potential exchange visitors coming to the U.S......
http://connect.state.gov/

GC will be closed on Thursday, November 11th

Global Current will be closed this upcoming Thursday, November 11th in observance of National Veterans Day. We will reopen on Friday, November 12th.