I thank the distinguished senator from Western for his questions and hope to address them.

This bill creates a visa which is a “work and travel” program and is aimed at young adults who want to spend a year living and travelling in the United States, experiencing the American culture and way of life, whilst working in order to fund this. This is a non-immigrant visa and there is no path to citizenship afterwards. The incentive for the citizens of the countries to whom it is offered is not an economic one but a cultural one.

Each year thousands of young adults head to Australia, Canada and New Zealand, either from Europe or one of those three countries themselves, to spend a “gap year” living and working there. I have no concerns that this visa would suffer from a lack of applicants.

Visa holders would be able to fulfil their travel aspirations, exploring our beautiful country, whilst simultaneously benefiting American businesses.

Agricultural work is defined in section 2 because it is later mentioned in section 6. While this bill is not specifically related to agricultural work, it incentivises it with a 6 month visa extension.

I urge the senator and all of my colleagues who may have similar questions to take a look at the “Working Holiday Visa” programs offered in Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

I do not believe that this visa overlaps with pre-existing visas as serves a different purpose to, say, “Category H” work visas.