SUMMER 2023 CALIFORNIA-MEXICO DREAMERS STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

The CMSC’s Summer 2023 California-Mexico Dreamers’ Study Abroad Program will offer five 4-week sessions from May 2 to August 13, 2023, with each cohort composed of 35 DACA recipients, who have secured USCIS Advance Parole travel authorization for educational purposes through our program.

During each 4-week travel-study experience, the participating Dreamers will be immersed in a comprehensive language and cultural, educational program organized by the CMSC in collaboration with Colegio de la Frontera Norte (COLEF) and hosted by the Centro Internacional de Lenguas, Arte y Cultura Paulo Freire (CILAC Freire), our 20-year partner institution in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico. This month-long educational program will consist of historical, cultural, linguistic, and academic lectures (cátedras) on social movements, the Mexican educational, economic and political systems, various museum and archeological visits, with a leadership development focus.

Moreover, selected participants will have the opportunity to participate in seminars on Chicano Studies and the Mexican Diaspora, Public Policy Planning and Collaboration between California and Mexico and Los Angeles and Mexico City; and the evolving U.S.-Mexico relationship under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) under the Joe Biden/Kamala Harris administration.

Program participants will also have a unique opportunity to conduct independent travel and ethnographic research on their family origins, which will allow Dreamers to visit their birthplace for 2-3 weeks. In addition, they will be required to produce a 10-page ethnographic research paper based on their findings. A selection of these research papers will be published by the CMSC and provide human stories to script narratives for documentaries and academic presentations.

Dreamers living anywhere in the U.S. are welcome to apply. Moreover, we encourage Dreamers from other countries to apply, as long as they are fluent Spanish-speakers, given that the entire program will be taught in Spanish.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES:

• To research, develop, promote, and establish policies and programs between higher educational institutions and cultural organizations that will enhance the teaching, mobility, and exchange of faculty, students, and professionals between California and the U.S. with Mexico and other nations in the Western Hemisphere.

• Establish the administrative framework for a replicable educational program model for Dreamers’ Study Abroad Programs at other colleges and universities through the DACA-Advance Parole process that U.S. institution of Higher Education can produce;

• Prepare participating Dreamers as ambassadors of the model for them to replicate similar programs at their colleges and universities, based on their personal experience;

• Continue and expand video and photo documentation of Dreamers’ human stories;

• Allow Dreamers to conduct independent travel-study family ethnographic research in their communities of origin with their family and relatives, and to discover their roots in Mexico independently.

PROGRAM COST FOR Summer 2023 Programs 1 to 5:

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CMSC is taking extra measures to ensure participants’ health and safety during our program abroad.

Selected participants will be required to pay a Program fee totaling $5,000 to the CMSC and their Advance Parole application fee to USCIS in the amount of $575 in the following manner:

After your interview you will receive an email notifying you of our selection decision. If you are accepted to the Summer 2023 program, you will have 3 days to accept and submit your $5,000 program fee payment in the following manner:

• Option one: Pay the one-time full amount and receive an immediate $500 discount. This means the participant will only pay $4,500, within 3 days of being accepted and before scheduling their Advance Parole application appointment.

• Option two: The participant will make two payment installments, with the first installment being due within 3 days of acceptance in the amount of $3,000 and a 2nd installment payment of $2,000 will be due 3 weeks later from the first payment, or by no later than December 2, 2022; whichever comes first.

Lastly, you will then need to schedule your Advance Parole appointment with one of the CMSC advisors and you will need to have a money order in the amount of $575 to pay for the Advance Parole Travel Permit fee: to be paid to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security by the participant at the time of sending in the I-131 application to USCIS.

BREAKDOWN OF STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM DATES: 

GROUP 1: Travel dates from May 2- June 4, 2023

• Independent Travel and Ethnographic Research: May 2 to May 27, 2023

• Academic program: May 28 to June 4, 2023

• Return to US: June 4, 2023

 GROUP 2: Travel dates from May 2-June 18, 2023

• Independent Travel and Ethnographic Research: May 2- June 10, 2023

• Academic Program: June 11 to June 18, 2023

• Return to the US: June 18, 2023

GROUP 3: Travel dates from May 2-July 9, 2023

• Independent Travel and Ethnographic Research: May 2- July 1, 2023

• Academic Program: July 2 to July 9, 2023

• Return to the US: July 9, 2023

GROUP 4: Travel dates from May 2- July 23, 2023

• Independent Travel and Ethnographic Research: May 2- July 15, 2023

• Academic Program: July 16 to July 23, 2023

• Return to the US: July 23, 2023

GROUP 5: Travel dates from May 2-August 13, 2023

• Independent Travel and Ethnographic Research: May 2- August 5, 2023

• Academic Program: August 6 to Aug 13, 2023

• Return to the US: August 13, 2023

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

To be eligible for consideration to our program, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Be 21 years old or older at the time of travel.

• Speak fluent Spanish.

• Have an active DACA status with an expiration date after September 30, 2023.

• Have a valid passport from their respective country of origin. Passport must be active through December 30, 2023 or have an appointment for a passport by 10/30/2022.

• If the applicant is Mexican-born, they must commit to applying and attaining the Instituto Nacional Electoral’s (INE) Credencial para Votar en el Extranjero before traveling to Mexico. Click here to follow the instructions to apply for an INE Card.

• Must have no criminal or immigration record.

• Must participate in ALL PROGRAM activities.

• Applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and have a Covid-19 booster within 3 months before departure. Must provide the CMSC with proof of vaccination and booster in order to apply and be considered for any/all Summer 2023 programs. One booster is required in order to depart to Mexico. No exceptions or exemptions. (Note: it is a felony to falsify COVID tests and/or COVID vaccine cards).

• Must test negative for COVID-19:

  • 2 days prior to departure to Mexico (participant pays for the test.)

  • 2 days prior to arriving at Hacienda Cocoyoc for the academic program (participant pays for the test.)

  • 1 day prior to returning to the U.S. (the CMSC will provide the last test in order for all participants to return as a group.)

  • Must pay the $5,000 program fees and the USCIS $575 Advance Parole permit travel fee.

  • Must pay for all airfare from the U.S. to Mexico, during independent travel and group return flight to LAX airport.

  • IMPORTANT NOTE: These timeframes for prior negative tests are subject to change without notice and may depend upon points-of-origin and travel destinations. 

INCLUDED IN THE $5,000 PROGRAM FEE:

• Advance Parole application preparation, attorney consultation (as needed on a case by case basis), and filing assistance.

• Spanish and Mexican culture instruction by CILAC Freire Institute and Chicano Studies and Mexican Diaspora Catedras by CMSC Lecturers.

• All housing in individual rooms, meals, field trips during the academic program.

• Medical services, emergency and travel insurance during each program session.

• Due to the COVID pandemic, the CMSC will provide a private doctor’s care and/or medical referral assistance throughout the program, including during the participants’ independent travel throughout Mexico.

• Local transportation to and from field trips.

• Lawful CBP re-entry into the U.S. at LAX, arranged by the CMSC.

• A chance for Dreamers to visit their birthplace, conduct family ethnographic research, and discover Mexico independently.

• Psychological counseling and group therapy sessions before, during, and after the program.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:

To be considered for acceptance into our program, applicants must complete a three-step application process which requires the following:

• STEP 1: Complete and submit the online application form, and one letter of recommendation by no later than: October 31th, 2022.

• STEP 2: Send a Letter of Recommendation (LOR) as soon as possible. You must email us one letter of recommendation from any of the following references: an employer or a professional reference, a professor, academic advisor/counselor, dean, department chair, church, or community leader OR upload your LOR in the application if you already have it. If you are re-applying, please submit a new LOR. Any previous LOR will not be accepted. No LOR’s will be accepted after October 31st, 2022.

• STEP 3: Once the CMSC has received your LOR you will be contacted to attend a Zoom interview as scheduled by CMSC Staff after you submit your application and letter of recommendation. Please note, you will not be considered for an interview until your LOR is submitted which will slow down the selection process, and we do have limited spaces available. We highly encourage you to submit your LOR ASAP to better your chances of acceptance.

Please email your letter of recommendation to records@calmexcenter.org as soon as possible OR upload it to the application before submission no later than October 31st, 2022. Label your file in the following format:

FirstName_MiddleInital_LastNames_LOR. If your reference is sending it directly to us, have them follow the same guidelines. 

Applications missing LORs, or late LORs will not be considered.

Personal Statement of Purpose: As you complete the application form, you will be required to provide a statement addressing the following two questions:

1. Explain why you are interested in participating in our program, and

2. Elaborate on one or more of the following “pay-it-forward” projects that you would be interested to work on before, or upon your return:

• Create a similar California-Mexico Study Abroad program at your college or university;

• Develop a project to assist other Dreamers at your campus or community (ex: establish a Dreamers’ Resource Center, undocumented students organization/club, etc.)

• Prepare a photo presentation of your experience and organize 2-3 gatherings in your area, on your campus, or affiliated with an organization where you can share your experience, and promote Advance Parole and the CMSC’s Dreamer Study Abroad program to prospective DACA recipients.

• Work or volunteer at a community-based organization to provide immigration services. (Ex: DACA and Advance Parole assistance, U.S. citizenship and voter registration, etc.)

• Take leadership in your community to advocate for a path to citizenship and legalization of all undocumented immigrants.

• Or, propose a project that will benefit undocumented immigrants which you would like to develop and implement after the travel-study experience.

These statements should be a minimum of 200+ words, which will be completed at the time you fill out the form.

Important note: Please take into consideration that the Advance Parole application approval process time can vary from 1 to 6 months, thus, we will give preference to those applicants who are quick to submit their completed online application and letter of recommendation. There are only 30 spaces available and applicants will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis. Therefore once all 30 candidates are selected we will close the selection process. Thus, we highly encourage you to apply and submit your letter of recommendation as soon as possible.

Please do not wait until the last minute as once we reach capacity, we will close the application.

APPLICATION FORM:

Before you apply: The CMSC requires that ALL APPLICANTS call the U.S. Immigration Court Automated Hotline to verify that you don’t have an immigration record that might jeopardize your safe return to the U.S. For instructions on how to call the automated hotline please click here.

To apply to the program fill out the following form or click on this link that takes you to the online application.

Also, make sure to check out our Frequently Asked Questions Page in case you have any questions prior to applying.

DEADLINES AND IMPORTANT DATES for Summer 2023 PROGRAM:

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

If you have any questions or need assistance with the application process, visit the Frequently Asked Questions page or call our CMSC Office: (562) 430-5541, or email us at: records@calmexcenter.org 

DISCLAIMERS:

Disclaimer for cancellation of the program:

The CMSC reserves the right and final decision to cancel the program activities in Mexico at any time, due to circumstances that are at no fault of the participant and/ or the CMSC. Such circumstances are, but not limited to: immigration policy changes regarding DACA and Advance Parole and surges of cases of the Covid-19 virus and health recommendations of the CDC. All other reasons must be unforeseen scenarios, and will be evaluated on a case by case scenario. The CMSC will refund the program fee of all approved cases, if the program is canceled by the CMSC. Please note, the CMSC will refund all but $1,000 of the program fee to cover program selection and pre-departure costs.

COVID-19 testing and preventive behavior requirements:

All applicants must provide the CMSC proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to complete the application form and to be considered for the Summer 2023 program. All applicants must provide the CMSC proof of having one booster shot 3 months before departure date, or you will not be able to go to Mexico. All participants must agree to pay for the first 2 of 3 of the COVID-19 tests and are required to submit results to the CMSC medical team to participate in the summer program in the following manner:  Test one: within 2 days prior to departure from the U.S., and within 2 days prior to arrival at Hacienda Cocoyoc for the academic program. Participants must also take a third and final COVID-19 test 1 day prior to returning to the U.S. which is a requirement for the return flight. All participants must always follow strictly the preventive best practices for protection from the COVID-19 virus. This includes but is not limited to frequent washing of the hands, regular use of hand sanitizer, protective face mask, social distancing and avoiding large gatherings and events, physical contact and long periods of time in enclosed areas even with only a few people.

NO EXCEPTIONS OR EXEMPTIONS WILL BE MADE FOR ANY COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS.

 

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