Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said the number of J1 visas being issued could be drastically cut, as US authorities are considering tightening the rules of the system.
Speaking in the Dail yesterday, Kenny said that “because of a series of issues that have arisen, the authorities that issue J1 visas seem to be bent on introducing a requirement for pre-employment for young people before they go".
He claimed that a pre-employment rule could bring "an abrupt ending to the J1 system as we know it", as he estimated that 60%-80% wouldn't be able to avail of the visa.
Kenny was quick to point out the benefits of the system for both sides involved, saying "I firmly believe that the J1 system has been important in keeping that connection alive in the modern sense with young people in university and throughout the country working in America for the summer and so on. It keeps the connections between our countries very much alive currently and for the future".
The Taoiseach has already been in contact with the US Ambassador, Kevin O’Malley, regarding the issue and has said he'll do so again.
Hopefully those talks go well, or else there's going to be a couple more thousands Irish students looking for work back home during the summers. From our own experience, it was tough enough to find any work even with them all gone, so get on it Enda.
Via The Journal
