Voluntary Visitors Program
The Voluntary Visitors Program offered by the U.S. Department of State provides Bolivian visitors to the U.S. a focused program of professional appointments on topics relevant to the goals of the U.S. Embassy in Bolivia. Visitors must fund their own international travel. U.S. Government funding is available for costs of per diem and travel within the U.S.
Duration
The Voluntary Visitors program may be of short duration, minimum two days, with four or five professional appointments in one city, or longer, with a maximum of ten calendar days, with various appointments in several cities in the U.S.
Who may participate in this program?
Bolivian professionals who would like to arrange meetings in the U.S. that relate to their area of professional expertise. The overall topic of the meetings must be relevant to the goals of the U.S. Embassy in Bolivia.
Application Process
An interested Bolivian professional must provide the following to the U.S. Embassy's Public Affairs Section:
- Topic of interest - In one page or less, describe the topic in which you are interested. Include the type of appointments you are seeking, and when possible include the names of the organizations or individuals with whom you wish to meet.
- Justification - In one page or less, justify your qualifications for participation in the Voluntary Visitors program. In addition, describe how this program will improve your current position and how you will apply the experience you obtain when you return.
- Biographical Information - Include a current CV or resume.
- Deadline - Requests must be received a minimum of eight weeks before the proposed program date.
Key Selection Criteria
To qualify, candidates must present concrete professional objectives. Nominees with previous experience in the United States, especially those that have previously received scholarships from the U.S. Department of State, will be considered low priority.
Visitors that may NOT be considered for this program:
- Visitors whose busy itineraries only allow time for one or two professional appointments.
- Visitors intending to do business during a portion of their trip to the U.S.
- U.S. lawful permanent residents or U.S. citizens.
The following activities are NOT eligible for the Voluntary Visitors program:
- Appointments to attend movie screenings, concerts, theatrical performances.
- Promotional visits to art galleries, editing houses, or companies.
- Training or research programs.
- Meetings to conduct business transactions.
Interpretation Services
An interpreter may be requested for participants who do not speak English.
Other Important Information
All Voluntary Visitors must be briefed by an officer or representative from the U.S. Embassy's Public Affairs Section before departing for the United States, where emphasis on the following points of the program will be placed:
- VIP or protocol treatment is NOT offered.
- Only those services and resources that the Public Affairs Section and the Department of State have specifically agreed to in advance of the visit will be offered to the visitors.
- Visitors will receive final program itineraries after arriving in the United States.
- All materials distributed during the program will be in English.
Visitors are expected to follow the established itinerary. The Department of State will allow only limited flexibility in order to include minor changes in the program.
Tardiness, or the cancellation of appointments, is not allowed as it could jeopardize the capacity of the Department of State to arrange future appointments for other visitors.
Appointments arranged by the Department of State are solely and exclusively for the visitors and interpreter. The presence of spouses, family members, or friends is prohibited.
For additional information please contact the U.S. Embassy's Public Affairs Section:
Telephone: (591 2) 216 8422