Half of Bosnian Au-pairs remain in America

UNCLAS SARAJEVO 000464

DEPT FOR CA/EX,CA/FPP, CA/VO, AND EUR/SCE (MIKE FOOKS); DEPT ALSO
PASS TO KCC; POSTS FOR FRAUD PREVENTION MANAGERS; VIENNA FOR DHS
MARLA BELVEDERE; DEPT ALSO PASS TO DHS SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: KFRD CVIS CMGT CPAS ASEC BK

SUBJECT: Half of Bosnian Au-pairs remain in America


1. [Summary] Sarajevo FPU recently completed a validation study
for all J1 au-pair cases Post issued in 2006. Nearly half of the
program participants from Bosnia found legal ways to stay in the
USA. [End Summary]


2. Methodology: FPU examined cases from 2006 to provide ample time
for return to Bosnia. Of Post's 228 cases in this study, only five
were male. Our FPU unit primarily made telephone calls to the
au-pairs' homes, but also made some visits to the houses of several
applicants in the cities of Sarajevo, Tuzla and Banja Luka. SEVIS
checks, as well as ADIS reports were also used as needed in the
study.


3. Findings: Of the 228 issuances, 108(47.5%) of the participants
stayed in America, 118
(51.6%) returned to Bosnia, and two visa recipients did not travel
at all. Of those that remained in the U.S., 58 (25.5%) are now F1
students, 32 (14%) were married and received LPR status, while for
12 (5.3%),FPU could not determine any clear status. We believe
these individuals are probably illegally in the U.S. An additional
four applicants had pending applications requesting student status
and two applicants had pending cases for visa extensions.


4. Of the returnees, 55 (24.1%) returned after finishing their
original one year stay, 26 (11.4%) returned after two years (they
extended Au- pair status in America for an additional one year),15
(6.6%) returned after spending between one and two years (the
majority closer to two years),16(7%) returned after staying less
than a year, while 4(1.8%) came back to Bosnia after having
overstayed.


5. Most of the participants in Bosnia were from the Federation
(70%),29% were from Republic of Srpska and 1% from the Brcko
District. There were few applicants from the Herzegovina region in
the Federation, or from cities other than Banja-Luka and Doboj in
the Republika Srpska.


6. (Comment)Post is aware that the total number of Au-pairs issued
in Sarajevo is modest compared with other posts in the region.
However, the surprisingly high percentage of those remaining in the
US raises some concerns. Are local agencies coaching and advising
individuals that the Au-pair program is a way to indirectly receive
immigration benefits and circumvent likely ineligibilities as
visitors? Furthermore, a very high percentage of the Au pairs who
became students are receiving support from their former host
families. Many of these students may be working unofficially, long
after their Au-pair status has expired. Finally, are these dismal
return rates (even though the vast majority are legally present in
the USA) a natural function of an age group that is likely to study
and marry, or is the spirit of the au-pair program being breached?
(End Comment)


7. Our consular officers will continue to monitor these concerns. We
plan to follow these trends in future validation studies.


CEFKIN