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Title 22, Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-110

§2508 Foreign Participants; Admission Into the United States as Nonimmigrants; Removal

Title 22 › CHAPTER 34 — THE PEACE CORPS › § 2508

Last updated Sep 23, 2026|Official source

Summary

The President may pay for travel, housing, meals (or a per diem instead), and health care or insurance for foreign nationals who help train volunteers or work on Peace Corps projects while they are away from home. Per diem rates cannot be higher than the rates set by the Secretary of State under section 2679 of title 22. These people, and those who come under contract under section 2509(a)(5), may enter the United States as nonimmigrants under section 1101(a)(15) of title 8 if they qualify, for the times and conditions set by rules made by the Secretary of State and the Attorney General. If someone admitted this way fails to keep their allowed status, stays past their allowed time, or takes political or security-harming actions, the Attorney General can order their arrest and quick removal under chapter 4 of title II of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1221 et seq.). Those removal proceedings will be summary, and the Attorney General’s factual findings are final.

Full Legal Text

Title 22, §2508

Foreign Relations and Intercourse, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

In order to provide for assistance by foreign nationals in the training of volunteers, and to permit effective implementation of Peace Corps projects with due regard for the desirability of cost-sharing arrangements, where appropriate, the President may make provision for transportation, housing, subsistence, or per diem in lieu thereof, and health care or health and accident insurance for foreign nationals engaged in activities authorized by this chapter while they are away from their homes, without regard to the provisions of any other law: Provided, however, That per diem in lieu of subsistence furnished to such persons shall not be at rates higher than those prescribed by the Secretary of State pursuant to section 2679 of title 22. Such persons, and persons coming to the United States under contract pursuant to section 2509(a)(5) of this title, may be admitted to the United States, if otherwise qualified, as nonimmigrants under section 1101(a)(15) of title 8 for such time and under such conditions as may be prescribed by regulations promulgated by the Secretary of State and the Attorney General. A person admitted under this section who fails to maintain the status under which he was admitted or who fails to depart from the United States at the expiration of the time for which he was admitted, or who engages in activities of a political nature detrimental to the interests of the United States, or in activities not consistent with the security of the United States, shall, upon the warrant of the Attorney General, be taken into custody and promptly removed pursuant to chapter 4 of title II of the Immigration and Nationality Act [8 U.S.C. 1221 et seq.] proceedings under this section shall be summary and the findings of the Attorney General as to matters of fact shall be conclusive.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 87–293, Sept. 22, 1961, 75 Stat. 612, known as the Peace Corps Act. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 2501 of this title and Tables. The Immigration and Nationality Act, referred to in text, is act June 27, 1952, ch. 477, 66 Stat. 163. Chapter 4 of title II of the Act is classified generally to part IV (§ 1221 et seq.) of subchapter II of chapter 12 of Title 8, Aliens and Nationality. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1101 of Title 8 and Tables.

Amendments

1996—Pub. L. 104–208 substituted “removed pursuant to chapter 4 of title II of the Immigration and Nationality Act” for “deported pursuant to section 1251, 1252, and 1253 of title 8. Deportation”. 1981—Pub. L. 97–113 substituted reference to section “2509(a)(5)” for “2509(a)(4)” of this title.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1996 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 104–208 effective, with certain transitional provisions, on the first day of the first month beginning more than 180 days after Sept. 30, 1996, see section 309 of Pub. L. 104–208, set out as a note under section 1101 of Title 8, Aliens and Nationality. Abolition of Immigration and Naturalization Service and

Transfer of Functions

For abolition of Immigration and Naturalization Service,

Transfer of Functions

, and treatment of related references, see note set out under section 1551 of Title 8, Aliens and Nationality.

Executive Documents

Delegation of Functions Functions of President under this section delegated to Director of Peace Corps by section 1–103 of Ex. Ord. No. 12137,
May 16, 1979, 44 F.R. 29023, eff.
May 16, 1979, set out as a note under section 2501 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

22 U.S.C. § 2508

Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse

Last Updated

Sep 23, 2026

Release point: 119-110