Non-profit to offer cheaper J-1 visas to Irish students

A new entrant to the Irish student travel market is offering cheaper J-1 visas in a move likely to lure more young people to spend time in the United States, writes Barry O’Halloran for The Irish Times.

The US J-1 programme gives students the chance to spend time in the US on cultural exchanges, for work, to intern or engage in other activities.

The Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE), a non-profit, has just begun offering J-1 sponsorships direct to Irish students, with charges beginning at €499 (US$523) for a basic programme. The organisation says that it recognises there are financial barriers to J-1 and cultural exchange programmes that can deter some students from taking part, so hopes to make them more accessible.
Full report on The Irish Times site