The Department of State (Department) published an initial interim final rule with request for comment on April 26, 2011 (2011 IFR), to amend the regulatory requirements of the Summer Work Travel category of the Exchange Visitor Program. In a second interim final rule (2012 IFR) published May 11, 2012, the Department expanded upon and provided guidance on additional regulatory changes and bolstered portions of the regulations to both further protect the health, safety, and welfare of Summer Work Travel (SWT) Program participants and to reinforce the cultural exchange aspects of the SWT Program to promote mutual understanding in accordance with the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961. The 2012 IFR further reinforces the cultural exchange aspect of the SWT Program through the addition of a cultural component, and provides additional protection to Program participants by describing types of job placements that are appropriate and by expanding the list of jobs prohibited under the SWT Program. The Department has reviewed the comments submitted in response to the 2011 IFR and the 2012 IFR, and plans to publish a notice of proposed rulemaking with 60 days for public comment to reflect comments received from both rulemakings and further protect the health, safety, and welfare of participants by specifically requesting comments on greater protections for participants, restrictions on eligible participation in the SWT Program, and some additional requirements and restrictions on sponsors of the SWT Program.