As the Program Administrator and on behalf of the Walsh Visa Program team, welcome to the Walsh Visa.net website and thank you for your interest in the Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program, also known as the Walsh Visa Program.

The Walsh Visa Program has two main goals:

• Allowing young people from Northern Ireland and the border counties of the Republic of Ireland an opportunity to develop job skills and conflict resolution abilities in a diverse, cooperative, peaceful, and prosperous environment;
• Promoting the economic regeneration of Northern Ireland and the border counties of the Republic of Ireland in support of the Irish peace process.

Legislation to amend and extend the Program passed the U.S. Congress in December 2004. New participants arriving in 2005 and 2006 are allowed to live and work in the U.S. for up to 24 months.

At present, the Walsh Visa Program continues to support over 70 participants who are eligible to live and work in the U.S.. Since its inception in 2000, over 1,300 individuals have participated in the Walsh Visa Program.

Walsh Visa participants are young people from areas of Northern Ireland and the border counties of the Republic of Ireland seeking employment and training opportunities for which strong future growth is anticipated in the participants’ home regions.

Walsh Visa employers offer participants employment in or near designated hub cities. The participants will have completed a Pre-Departure Training Program (PDT) and are job-ready upon arrival. Participants receive soft landing support from Walsh Visa staff upon arrival and a Walsh Visa hub Point of Contact serves as a Program liaison for the employer and the participant for the duration of their participation in the Program.

As a Walsh Visa employer, your company will not only be making a valuable contribution in support of the Irish peace process but will be providing young people with an opportunity to develop new skills and enhance their career prospects at home.

Feel free to contact any of our team members who are available to answer any questions you may have. We hope your company will consider joining the growing family of Walsh Visa employers.

For more information on becoming a Walsh Visa employer, please contact your nearest Walsh Visa hub office, or send an e-mail to walshvisa@ngc.com.

Sincerely,

Frederick R. Welch
Program Manager
Northrop Grumman