In a late October virtual meeting with program Sponsors, the Department of Education and Cultural Affairs (ECA) announced the launch of BridgeUSA, a new brand identity of the Exchange Visitor Program. The roll out of the new branding introduced the new name, logo and motto. According to ECA, the new BridgeUSA branding is the culmination of a multi-year endeavor to re-imagine and better encompass the mission and values of the private sector Exchange Visitor Program. In her opening remarks, Secretary Royce described the re-brand as:
“BridgeUSA unifies ECA administered, private sector programs under one umbrella and brings the mission and global impact of our programs front and center in the name and creative tagline. The BridgeUSA moniker embodies ECA’s mission to build enduring bridges of friendship between people and nations. The tagline “Connecting global leaders, creating lasting impact” underscores the impact of the program: cultivating a network of global leaders that create lasting impact in their communities and our world.”
Since its establishment as part of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (The Fulbright-Hays Act), the EVP has served as a valuable and important diplomatic tool of U.S. foreign policy. Its mission – to increase mutual understanding between Americans and people of other countries – remains vital to U.S. national security and building people-to-people connections around the world.
BridgeUSA includes the following exchange programs: Professor, Research Scholar, Short-Term Scholar, Trainee, Intern, College and University Student, Teacher, Secondary School Student, Specialist, Alien Physician, Camp Counselor, Au Pair, and Summer Work Travel. Intrax is a U.S. designated visa Sponsor for the Au Pair, Camp Counselor, High School, Trainee, Intern and Work Travel programs. Intrax looks forward to embracing the unified BridgeUSA brand identity.
Visit the BridgeUSA website at bridgeusa.state.gov to view the brand changes. To learn more about the new brand identity, view the This is BridgeUSA video below.