Exchange Visitor Program

Exchange Visitor Program (EVP) refers to the international exchange program administered by the United States to implement the Mutual Education and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (as amended, Public Law 87-256, 22 USC 2451, et seq., 1988). The purpose of the Act is to increase mutual understanding between the people of the US and the people of other countries by means of educational and cultural exchanges. Educational and cultural exchanges assist in furthering the US' foreign policy objectives.

The establishment and development of the EVP may extend as far back as January 1948, when the United States Congress passed the Information and Education Exchange Act, also known as the Smith-Mundt Act. The law was intended "to increase mutual understanding between the people of the US and the people of other countries" through:

An information service to disseminate abroad information about the US, its people, and its policies; and

An educational exchange service to cooperate with other nations in the interchange of persons, knowledge and skills; the rendering of technical and other services; and the interchange of developments in the field of education, arts, and sciences.

In 1956, the Philippine Government created an EVP Committee, through Administrative Order No. 191, to coordinate its participation in the Program and properly channel the services of returned participants to the benefit of various government projects.

In 1970, then President Ferdinand Marcos reconstituted the EVP Committee by turning over the chairmanship to the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, with the Secretary of Health as Co-Chairman. The membership was also expanded to include the undersecretaries of Education, Foreign Affairs, Labor, National Defense, and the Assistant Executive Secretary of the Office of the President.

On 04 May 1994, then Secretary of Foreign Affairs Roberto Romulo issued DFA Office Order No. 406-94 transferring the coordination of the Philippine participation in the Program from the Office of American Affairs of the DFA to the Commission on Filipinos Overseas. In an effort to institutionalize the necessary mechanism for the effective implementation of EVP, CFO conducted a series of consultation meetings with various government agencies with the end-view of instituting relevant changes in the structures and mechanisms for the EVP implementation. An interim EVP Committee was consequently formed out of these efforts.

This interim Committee, drawing from the mandate provided under A.O. No. 210 and through Resolution No. 01-95, tasked the CFO to be the Secretariat to the interim Committee.

The EVP Committee was finally reconstituted on 17 January 1996 through A.O. No. 242 (click here).

THE EVP COMMITTEE

The EVP Committee is composed of the following:

Chair:
Department of Foreign Affairs

Members:
Department of Health
Department of Education
Department of Labor and Employment
Department of Science and Technology
National Economic and Development Authority
Professional Regulation Commission
Commission on Higher Education
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
Office of the President
Commission on Filipinos Overseas

The following are the official functions of the EVP Committee:

Screen, process, and evaluate applications of prospective participants to the program;
Endorse qualified applicants to appropriate host agencies;
Establish linkages with concerned institutions in U.S. which could provide educational and training opportunities for Filipino professionals;
Provide information and advice to concerned government and private institutions in the Philippines on available training programs;
Establish an effective information management system on EVP growth opportunities in the Philippines, and available training programs being offered under the EVP;
Promulgate rules and regulations to implement Philippine participation to the program;
Coordinate and conduct pre-departure and on-site orientation sessions for participants;
Develop proposals on incentive schemes and re-entry programs for the participants to facilitate their return to the Philippines to share the skills and expertise they acquired overseas;
Conduct continuing monitoring and evaluation in compliance with the terms of the Program; and
Collect administrative fees and charges as may be necessary, just and reasonable to cover the full cost of services rendered consistent with the terms of existing laws.

J1 REGISTRATION

EVP participants are required to register with the CFO. Part of its registration requirements is attendance in the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) to inform them about the conditions and requirements of the EVP as well as their responsibilities as J-1 visa holders.

NOS APPLICATION

An EVP participant may be given a Waiver of the 2-Year Home Residency on the Basis of the No Objection Statement (NOS) issued by the Philippine Government.

The EVP Committee shall grant NOS to applicants, provided that the exchange program was not funded wholly or in part by any agency of the Philippine government, or any public or private educational or other institution in the Philippines, and that the participant has no outstanding financial or service obligations with any government agency, or any public or private institution in the Philippines.

Issuance of the NOS is not applicable for those receiving graduate medical education or training.

NTC APPLICATION

Need for Training Certificates (NTC) are issued to EVP participants, specifically to Filipino licensed physicians, to extend their training program in the US. The issuance of the NTC shall be made on a one year basis and on per program basis to facilitate the monitoring of the program.

(click here to visit EVP website)