Open Letter

Over the past couple of months, it has become clear that the world is facing an unprecedented challenge. The influx of new, daily developments has brought concerns and perhaps an environment of a degree of uncertainty. During this time, please rest assured that the health, safety, and welfare of all our exchange visitors, alongside our team and network of host employers and foreign entities, will always be of utmost importance and always a top priority.

In the context of a rapid and on-going global development, it is difficult to provide specific and long-term recommendations beyond what we have provided until today via various tools of communication. Please rest assured that our aim is to react properly, but not to overreact. The health, safety, and welfare of everyone are paramount and we are focused on reviewing and adapting to expert information available.

Our team has been monitoring all circumstances, both overseas and right here, at home. We have also taken into account possible scenarios related to COVID-19, defined principally by the guidance and advisories from the U.S. Department of State (DOS), Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO) and local public health authorities. If deemed necessary, any new policy for our program will be aligned solely with the authorized government agencies mentioned above.

At this stage, we hope that SWT Summer 2020 will take place successfully. Indeed, this can change according to government advisories to which we will adhere to and respond to as deemed necessary. We do remain optimistic, and as calm as possible, and we thank everyone for the cooperation, tremendous support, flexibility, and all good wishes.

The entire team at CSB, has always aimed to work in partnership with all exchange visitors, host employers, and foreign entities, helping as we all navigated thorough the participants’ American experiences. Although we are experiencing a difficult year, we will make every effort to see the participants have a successful program if the situation allows it.

Winter 2019

CSB team has been in contact with our winter season exchange visitors preparing to return home and the Embassies and/or Consulates of Argentina and Peru, assisting as necessary and following up with the travel advisories. We do not place any limitations on travel within the United States at this time.

The United States health officials are urging the same personal best practices that are standard for not only daily hygiene but also for a season of common cold and influenza. In addition, the sources mentioned at the end of this note are the best for the latest on travel advisories and restrictions regarding specific countries.
- CISI FAQ (Participant Insurance Coverage)

Spring 2020 season (suspended)

CSB has suspended the spring 2020 season of the program. All exchange visitors who have not traveled to the United States had their program canceled due to emerging COVID-19 reasons.

For those few exchange visitors who have entered the United States before March 13, 2020 and are active, they will be continued to be monitored and to be sent guidelines. United States health officials are urging the same personal best practices that are standard for not only daily hygiene but also for a season of common cold and influenza. We do not place any limitations on participant travel within the United States at this time.
- CISI FAQ (Participant Insurance Coverage)

Summer 2020 season

At this point in time, it is too early to tell how this will affect the summer 2020 season on the whole and we continue to monitor, review, adapt and make changes to properly respond to COVID-19 circumstances. We relate to the degree of concern and unpredictability over what the summer season brings, we are all in this. In such a dynamic context, we strive to find the right balance between being realistic and optimistic.

CSB has suspended the program for the participants originating in China. The hard decision was taken on February 7, 2020, and is valid until further notice. However, we do hope to once again offer the same exchange opportunities to the young people from China in the future seasons.

CSB has not processed any new applications as of March 15, 2020 and will no longer accept new participants for the season. In addition, CSB has delayed the start of the season to June 1, 2020. This means that all exchange visitors with a start date between May 1- 30, 2020 had their records amended to reflect a start date on or after June 1, 2020.

The Summer Work Travel sponsor community is operating, as usual, planning and lookingforward to a successful summer, adjusting policies daily based on guidance and advisories. We will continue to send updates, as deemed necessary and we thank the entire exchange network for the tremendous support, understanding, and flexibility during this time.
- CISI FAQ (Participant Insurance Coverage)

Travel restrictions implemented by the White House

 

The travel restrictions currently implemented by the White House House are specific to China, Iran and the Schengen space (Schengen Region includes 26 European states: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.).

 

This means that any foreign national who has been in China, Iran or the Schengen Region in the last 14 days may not enter the United States. The travel restriction for the Schengen Region is tentatively in place for a period of 30 days, effective March 13, 2020, 11:59 pm EST.

USEFUL LINKS REGARDING COVID-19
- U.S. Department of State (DOS)
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- World Health Organization (WHO)