School leavers will be able to work and travel in the US for up to 12 months under a new visa agreement announced today.
The agreement was signed into law by Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin at a ceremony in Washington today with the US deputy secretary of state John Negroponte.
Under the terms of the agreement, a minimum of 20,000 people who are in, or have recently completed, post secondary education will be entitled to live and work in the US for up to a year. In return, up to 5,000 US citizens will be able to work and travel in Ireland for up to 12 months.
The existing summer J1 programme for students will continue to exist as a separate programme.
"This represents one of the most significant developments in our visa arrangements with the US in almost two decades", said Mr Martin.
He claimed that the agreement represented "a vital investment" in the long term health of Ireland's relationship with the US.
"By working and travelling for a relatively lengthy period in each others' countries, our young people will build important connections which will help maintain our very close ties to the US," he said.
As many as 13,000 Irish people participated in a similar arrangement with Australia last year
Minister Martin emphasised that the new agreement is separate to the Government's ongoing campaign to find a solution to the plight of undocumented Irish citizens in the US.
"Today's announcement is just one element in our three pronged approach involving a solution for our undocumented; new bilateral arrangements to provide reciprocal long term working visas (known as E3s) and the Working Holiday Agreement. Finding a solution for our undocumented remains a key priority for this Government."
Fine Gael welcomed the agreement but warned that the Government should continue to lobby for better rights for undocumented Irish citizens.
