Q-2 Irish Peace Program Extended Posted Dec 24, 2004 ©MurthyDotCom In early December 2004, the President signed a bill, H.R. 2655, to amend and extend the Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program Act of 1998. This extension became Public Law Number 108-449. ©MurthyDotCom Who is Eligible to Apply for the Q-2 Visa? ©MurthyDotCom The program participant requirements for the Q-2 are that the foreign national must be a citizen of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland. The foreign national must be between 21 and 35 years of age on the date of departure for the U.S. The foreign national must have resided continuously in a designated county for not less than 18 months prior to departure to the U.S. The foreign national must have been continuously unemployed for not less than 12 months prior to departure to the U.S. Finally, the foreign national must not possess a degree from an institution of higher education. ©MurthyDotCom Duration of Q-2 Status ©MurthyDotCom A Q-2 participant may now only come to the U.S. for two years in Q-2 status rather than three years. Further, a Q-2 is not eligible to apply for nonimmigrant status, an immigrant visa, or permanent residence unless the person has resided and has been physically present in his/her country of nationality or last residence for an aggregate of at least 2 years following departure from the U.S. A waiver of this requirement may only be obtained if departure from the U.S. would impose exceptional hardship on the foreign national's lawful permanent resident or U.S. citizen spouse or child, or if the admission of the foreign national is in the public interest or the national interest of the United States. ©MurthyDotCom Termination of Q-2 Program ©MurthyDotCom The U.S. Secretary of State is directed to verify that the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland will continue to pay a reasonable share of the costs of the administration of the cultural and training programs that are carried out under the Q-2 program. The Q-2 program's new sunset date is October 1, 2008. Barring further legislative action, the Q-2 program will cease at that time. © 2004 The Law Office of Sheela Murthy, P.C. All Rights Reserved
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