New Visa Regulation

UNCLAS PARIS 001465 SIPDIS DEPT FOR D STAFF (Matera and Davies)and EUR/WE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD CVIS FR SUBJECT: New Visa Regulation REF: Matera-Shub e-mail, 06 Feb 2006 ¶1. This message contains an action request. See Paragraph ¶4. ¶2. During the course of their meeting January 31 in Paris, France's Trade Minister-delegate, Christine Lagarde asked Deputy Secretary Robert Zoellick about a pending visa regulation. In sum, the minister understands that the USG is discussing a proposed visa regulation that would impose a requirement of two years of professional experience for trainee programs. The Minister indicated, in a letter to Deputy Secretary Zoellick dated March 2, that this requirement would "seriously undermine" France's international corporate trainee program, which is geared to giving recent business school graduates some practical experience in overseas subsidiaries of French companies. ¶3. Test of March 2 letter follows: Dear Mr. Secretary, I greatly appreciated meeting with you and hope to have a chance to continue our dialogue during my visit to Washington this coming April. During our recent meeting, I mentioned my concern regarding the drafting of a regulation by the Department of State, currently under review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This regulation would impose new requirements on our trainee program (Volontaires Internationaux en Entreprises "VIE") for French companies having subsidiaries in the USA. A requirement of two years of professional experience would, if confirmed, and applicable to this category of applicants, seriously undermine this program, open mainly to recent graduates of business and engineering schools. As Minister for Trade, I am encouraging French companies to use the VIE program. It is a very useful and efficient way for them to assess job applicants and possibly hire them upon their return to France. Young professionals gain first hand exposure to globalization and the United States whose dynamism, openness and business orientation are greatly appreciated by the beneficiaries of the program. I hope that the final regulation will allow us to continue operating in the same format as we do at present. Salutation /s/ ¶4. Action Request: Embassy would appreciate Department guidance on status of proposed regulation, and suggested response to Trade Minister Stapleton