TraiNet and Visa Compliance System Support United States Agency for International Development

Support Site for USAID's TraiNet and Visa Compliance System (VCS)

Phase-out of TraiNet Desktop by June 30, 2008

USAID is no longer funding the maintenance of TraiNet Desktop. As of June 30, 2008, USAID will no longer fund, and Development InfoStructure (Devis) will no longer provide, Desktop-related Service Desk support. Also as of June 30, 2008, USAID will no longer cover any data migration costs on behalf of USAID Missions or partners. Effective September 30, 2008, current users will no longer have access to TraiNet Desktop and must use TraiNet Web exclusively.

All sites who have active programs in TraiNet Desktop, or who have recently submitted data using TraiNet Desktop have been contacted by the USAID TraiNet/VCS Service Desk. Specific instructions have been given to update and transfer data in preparation for the TraiNet Web migration. TraiNet Operators at these sites should not delay in making the necessary updates and transferring the data as per the instructions provided.

If you have any questions, please contact the Service Desk at jvisa@devis.com.

TraiNet Web Version 1.25 (released April 15, 2008)

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Web-based TraiNet is available here. This product runs from a web browser with the capability to record multiple training instances and multiple exchange visitors for U.S., third-country, in-country and regional education and exchange programs.

TraiNet Web update #25 has just been released. This release provides enhancements to reports and searches; provides the ability to enter a home address for participants involved in an activity outside their home country; enhances the ability to clone a participant who participates in multiple events; and provides added functionality to the termination and end-of-program statuses.

Here is a list of features:

Reports & Searches

  • Mission-defined reports:
    • Will now include date filters.
    • Will now contain the TraiNet Site ID for each record exported to the csv/Excel file format.
    • Will now contain a filter for the mission-defined question(s).
    • The Program and Participant searches will now generate faster results.

Home Address Feature

  • On the Manage Participant screen for U.S. and Third Country programs, users will now be able to enter a home address.

Clone Participant Feature

  • On the single and multiple participant wizard for U.S. and Third Country programs, users will be given the option to clone a previously entered participant. This creates a second record for the participant. Trainet will still look at these participants as separate beings. The following information will be copied forward:
    • Bio Data (not including address)
    • Passport information (for U.S. participants)
    • External ID generated for use in VCS

Termination/End Program Feature

  • Termination and End Reasons will now be labeled so users can understand the differences between which reasons are termination reasons and which are end reasons.
  • End Program Effective Date will now be required as part of the Terminated/End status information.
  • Terminations with a reason of Other will require remarks. These remarks will be transferred to the VCS.

If you have any questions about this update, please contact the Help Desk at:

Email: jvisa@devis.com

Phone: +1-703-527-4340

Visa Compliance System Version 2.7 - Latest Updates (release date: April 2008)

The most recent version of the Visa Compliance System was released April 2008. Enhancements include the following items listed below:

  • When a user is logged into the system and inactive for 25 minutes the system will pop up a warning message. If the user stays inactive for an additional 5 minutes they will be logged out.
  • Email notifications will be sent to Verifiers and Approvers when dependents of Exchange Visitors are sent to the VCS for the first time. Emails will not be sent for other dependent change requests.
  • Termination and End-Program updates have been made to coincide with the TraiNet enhancements mentioned above.
  • The About, Contact and Site Disclosure text has been updated.
  • If Non-USAID funding is added in TraiNet the Verifier must also enter the amount and source in the VCS. This interface has been enhanced.

If you have any questions about how to use the VCS, or any of the latest features, please contact the Service Desk at jvisa@devis.com .

Issuance of ADS 252, Visa Compliance for Exchange Visitors

This chapter provides policy directives and required procedures for foreign nationals traveling to the United States (U.S.), who are financed in whole or in part, directly or indirectly by USAID, for training, non-training, and invitational travel events. It will be available for download on USAID's website at http://www.usaid.gov/policy/ads/200/

TraiNet’s OMB Approval Extended

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, OMB has approved USAID's request to extend TraiNet through 30 November 2007.

The current version of TraiNet installed on most desktops lists an OMB expiration date of 2004. The notice received from OMB effectively extends this through November 2007. That this expiration date has passed will not change the way TraiNet functions, so please continue to use it as you have been.

CBS News Article: Bogus Passports Pose Problem

(AP) Stolen blank passports in the hundreds of thousands, along with millions of other virgin documents, allow known terrorists to breeze across borders, Interpol officials said.

Debunking the Myth of the Two Year Residency Requirement

It is common knowledge that exchange visitors who travel to the United States on a J-1 visa sponsored by USAID are subject to a two-year residence requirement at the end of their program. Many people firmly believe this means that a participant cannot leave his/her home country for two years, or cannot return to the U.S. for more training or even for pleasure. This is wrong. Yes, there are restrictions on travel to the U.S., but in fact they are quite minimal.

Read more...

For Your Information

  • Visa Compliance System Login: Verifiers and Approvers, login to the Visa Compliance System at https://vcs.usaid.gov/ and check or act on the status of exchange visitors in your queue.
  • Newsletter:Take a look at our most recent newsletter posted April 16, 2008 or
    consult our newsletter archive.
  • Mailing List: Subscribe to our TraiNet-Announce mailing list and
    we'll inform you via email about TraiNet and VCS issues.
  • Policy Documents and Forms: ADS 253, Supplementary References, and Forms
    are available here on the USAID web site.