台北市長蔣萬安的大兒子蔣得立錄取台北市國際交換學生學習實施計畫,取得全市僅25個公費名額之一,但因蔣萬安證實兒子出生於美國、具有美國國籍,引發外界質疑是否符合交換計畫資格。近日有網友號召向美國國務院反映此事,並公布美方回信;不過,回信內容主要說明一般申請規定,尚未針對蔣得立個案作出資格認定。

蔣萬安日前證實,大兒子在美國出生並具有美國國籍。消息曝光後,部分網友質疑,美國中學交換學生計畫通常以J-1交流訪客身分辦理,申請對象是否限於非美國公民,以及蔣得立將以何種身分赴美,均有待主管機關進一步釐清。

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有網友在Threads等社群平台公布美國國務院相關聯絡信箱,號召民眾「一人一封信」向美方反映,並提供英文信件範本。網友質疑,如果申請人具有美國公民身分,是否仍能取得DS-2019表格並申請J-1簽證;若以美國公民身分入境,又是否符合該交換計畫的參與條件。

發起行動的網友隨後公布美國國務院教育及文化局(ECA)交換訪客計畫單位回信。根據回信內容,美方說明,中學交換學生方案(Secondary School Student Program)是讓「外國國民」(foreign nationals)前往美國參與教育與文化交流;參與者須先獲得美國國務院指定贊助機構接納,取得DS-2019表格,再於所屬國家申請J-1簽證。

網紅徐小花轉發回信並表示,美國國務院的說明顯示,這項交換計畫原則上以外國國民為對象,因此認為擁有美國國籍者的申請資格存在疑問,呼籲相關單位交代審查及赴美程序。

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不過,美國國務院這封回信屬於制度性說明,並未直接提及蔣得立,也未就其是否參加特定交換方案、以何種身分申請或入境作出個案判定。蔣得立的錄取資格是否符合台北市計畫規定,以及後續赴美程序如何辦理,仍有待台北市教育局、承辦交換機構或美方進一步說明。

美國務院回信全文如下:

Thank you for your inquiry. You have reached the Office of Private Sector Exchange within the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). This office administers the Exchange Visitor Program, which is overseen by the Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for Private Sector Exchange in ECA. The Exchange Visitor Program is for foreign nationals who come to the United States for international educational and cultural exchange experiences.

感謝您的詢問。您所聯絡的是美國國務院教育暨文化事務局(ECA)所屬的民間部門交流辦公室(Office of Private Sector Exchange)。本辦公室負責管理「交流訪問者計畫」(Exchange Visitor Program),該計畫由教育暨文化事務局主管民間部門交流事務的副助理國務卿(DAS)督導。「交流訪問者計畫」是為前往美國參與國際教育及文化交流活動的外國國民所設。

The Secondary School Student Program is part of the Department of State’s Exchange Visitor Program. The program is designed to give foreign secondary school students the opportunity to complete up to one year of academic study at an accredited public or private secondary school in the United States. In addition, these students are given the opportunity to live with an American host family and participate directly in the home life of the family. Some students may also attend and reside at accredited U.S. boarding schools. Students attend school as full time students and may attend for not less than one academic semester (or its quarter equivalent) or more than a full academic year.

「中學學生計畫」(Secondary School Student Program)是美國國務院「交流訪問者計畫」的一部分。該計畫旨在讓外國中學生有機會前往美國,在經認可的公立或私立中學進行最長一年的學習。此外,這些學生也有機會與美國接待家庭同住,直接參與該家庭的日常生活。部分學生亦可就讀並住宿於經認可的美國寄宿學校。學生須以全日制學生身分就讀,就讀時間不得少於一個學期(或相當的一學季),也不得超過一個完整學年。

Eligible foreign participants must be between the age of 15 and 18-and-a-half years by the first day of school or have not completed more than 11 years of primary and secondary school education excluding kindergarten. Students who have previously participated in an exchange program utilizing the J-1 or F-1 student visa may not participate. Students may not be placed in the homes of relatives.

符合資格的外國參與者,在開學第一天時,年齡須介於15歲至18歲半之間,或接受初等及中等教育的年數不得超過11年,幼稚園不計入。過去曾使用J-1或F-1學生簽證參加交流計畫的學生,不得參加。學生不得被安排寄宿於親屬家中。

To participate in the Secondary School Student Exchange Visitor Program, students must be sponsored by one of the Department of State's designated sponsor organizations. Sponsors are responsible for screening and selecting eligible U.S. host families and matching them with students. The sponsor is also responsible for monitoring the students and host families throughout the exchange program. Students accepted into the Secondary School Student exchange visitor program must apply for a J-1 visa in their home country using the Form DS-2019 issued by the designated sponsor.

欲參加「中學學生交流訪問者計畫」,學生必須由美國國務院指定的主辦機構承辦。指定主辦機構負責審查及遴選符合資格的美國接待家庭,並將學生與接待家庭進行配對;在整個交流計畫期間,也負責持續追蹤學生及接待家庭的情況。獲准參加「中學學生交流訪問者計畫」的學生,必須持指定主辦機構核發的DS-2019表格,在其本國申請J-1簽證。