Tourism industry uncertain if international student workers will be available this summer
International travel restrictions block student workers
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Updated: 6:55 PM EDT Mar 16, 2021
International travel restrictions block student workers
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Updated: 6:55 PM EDT Mar 16, 2021
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GET INTO THE COUNTRY. WHEN ACTIVITY PICKED UP AT HAMPTON BEACH LAST SUMMER, SOME EMPLOYERS HAD TO TAP FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO STAY IN BUSINESS. >> WE CLOSED EARLY. WE ARE USUALLY OPEN THROUGH OCTOBER AND WE CLOSED THE SECOND WEEK OF SEPTEMBER BECAUSE WE DID NOT HAVE ANY STAFF. JENNIFER C: IN A STATE WITH LOW UNEMPLOYMENT, TOURIST AREAS LIKE THE BEACH RELY HEAVILY ON J-1 STUDENT VISA WORKERS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES. STILL GROUNDED BY INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS. >> IF WE FIND OUT THAT ONCE AGAIN LIKE LAST YEAR, THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO COME, OUR BUSINESS OWNERS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SCRAMBLE. JENNIFER C: WITH FINGERS CROSSED, CHUCK RAGE STARTED THE VISA WORKER HIRING PROCESS LAST DECEMBER. >> WE SENT OUT TRIPLE THE OFFERS WE NORMALLY GET, BECAUSE THERE ARE FEWER STUDENTS AND THEY ARE PICKING AND CHOOSING WHERE THEY GO. JENNIFER C: HE MADE 50 OFFERS AND GOT 15 TO ACCEPT. AND THAT’S EVEN WITH PROVIDING SUMMER HOUSING, AND ACCOMMODATING DURING MANDATORY QUARANTINE. NOT SO EASY FOR OTHER EMPLOYERS, LIKE THE STATE HOPING TO HIRE ABOUT J-1 WORKERS AT THE BEACH. 20THAT IS IF THEY CAN GET HERE. >> THE PRESIDENT WOULD HAVE TO SIGN OFF AND RELEASE THE RESTRICTION. THE STATE DEPARTMENT WOULD THEN NOTIFY COUNTRY EMBASSIES THAT IT IS OK TO START STAMPING THESE WORK VISAS FOR THESE STUDENTS. JENNIFER C: SENATOR SHAHEEN SAYS THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS RE-EVALUATING SOME OF THE POLICIES MADE BY THE PAST ADMINISTRATION AND WE COULD NO MORE BY THE END OF THE MONTH. EVEN WITH J-1 WORKERS, THERE ARE LOTS OF JOBS AVAILABLE IN OUR TOURISM INDUSTRY.