WINTER 2024 CALIFORNIA-MEXICO DREAMERS STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

The CMSC’s Winter 2024 Dreamers’ Study Abroad Program (DSAP) will offer 3 winter sessions with each cohort composed of 30-35 DACA recipients, returning after independent travel and a week-long Academic Program during January 2024. All participants will have secured USCIS Advance Parole travel authorization for educational purposes through our program from November 15, 2023, to January 27, 2024.

During each group’s travel-study experience, the participating Dreamers will be immersed in a comprehensive language, cultural, educational program organized by the CMSC in collaboration with Mexico’s National Autonomous University (UNAM), the Metropolitan Autonomous University (UAM) ,  Mexico City Autonomous University (UACM) and hosted by the Centro Internacional de Lenguas, Arte y Cultura Paulo Freire (CILAC Freire), our 25-year partner institution in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico. This 9-year educational program model consists 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 in the era of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) now 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 them to visit their birthplace for several weeks. Most importantly, they will be required to produce a 10-page ethnographic research paper based on their travel-study experience. 

A selection of these essays will be published by the CMSC, in a subsequent publication to our first journal Anthology of Dreams from an Impossible Dream, a 380-page bilingual book with 38 selected essays from 215 participants in our Summer 2021 DSAP, published in January 2023 and offered free to educators, students and policy-makers as exemplary human stories by Dreamers and worthy as 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 DSAP Academic 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 offer to their students; 

• • Prepare participating Dreamers as ambassadors of the model for them to replicate similar programs at public and private 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, as an integral part of the CMSC’s Mexican Diaspora Studies initiative;

• • Provide Dreamers the opportunity to independently discover their cultural roots in Mexico and reaffirm or define their identity.

Program cost for the CMSC’s Winter 2024 DSAP:

Dreamers applying: 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 CMSC’s DSAP 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 that will be due 2 weeks later from the first payment, or by no later than April 30th, whichever comes first. After April 30th all payment arrangements are made on a case-by-case basis. 

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 November 15, 2023, to January 13th, 2024

• Independent Travel and Ethnographic Research: Anytime between November 15, 2023, to January 6th, 2024.

• Academic program: January 7th to January 13th, 2024
• Return to the US: January 13th, 2024.

GROUP 2: Travel dates from November 15, 2023 – January 20th, 2024

• Independent Travel and Ethnographic Research: Anytime between November 15, 2023 to January 13th, 2024
• Academic Program: January 14th to January 20th, 2024
• Return to the US: January 20th, 2024.

GROUP 3: Travel dates from November 15, 2023 to January 27th, 2024

• Independent Travel and Ethnographic Research: Anytime between November 15, 2023 to January 20th, 2024

• Academic Program: January 21st to January 27th, 2024
• Return to the US: January 27th, 2024.

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 February 29, 2024.

• • Have a valid passport from their respective country of origin. Passport must be active through February 29, 2024 or have an appointment for a passport by April 30, 2023.

• • 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 with deportable offenses or pending cases that may be deportable offenses.

• • Must commit to 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 DSAP programs. One booster is required in order to depart to Mexico. No exceptions or exemptions unless otherwise approved by our medical director. (Note: it is a felony to falsify COVID tests and/or COVID vaccine cards and to do so will lead to immediate termination and forfeiture of all program fees).

• • Must test negative for COVID-19:
    

     

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

    
    

    • • 2 days prior to arriving at our Hotel in Mexico City 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.)

    
    

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

• • Must test 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 and during independent travel on their own, and the group return flight to LAX from Mexico City’s airport must be purchased through the CMSC’s designated travel agent.

INCLUDED IN THE $5,000 PROGRAM FEE:

• • DSAP program acceptance fees, Advance Parole application preparation, attorney consultation (as needed on a case-by-case basis), and USCIS filing assistance.

• • Spanish and Mexican history and culture lecture by CILAC Freire Institute and Catedras or sessions on Migration, Chicano and Mexican Diaspora Studies and writing workshops provided by CMSC Lecturers.

• • All housing in double-occupancy hotel rooms, meals, field trips and local transportation during the academic program. 

• • 24/7 Medical services provided remotely by the CMSC Medical Team and/or medical referral assistance during independent travel, and travel insurance policy coverage while in Mexico during each program session. 

• • During the week-long academic program, the CMSC will provide in-person, medical services.

• • Local transportation to and from field trips.  

• • Lawful CBP re-entry into the U.S. at LAX airport as a group, 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 1 day before the end of each session of 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: April 30, 2023.

• • 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 were previously declined admission into the DSAP and are re-applying, please submit a new LOR. Any previous LOR will not be accepted. No LOR’s will be accepted after April 30, 2023.

• • STEP 3: Once the CMSC has received your LOR you will be contacted to attend a Zoom interview with 2 advisors, 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 promptly to improve your chances of acceptance. 

Label your LOR in this manner:  FirstName_MiddleInital_LastNames_LOR. Email your letter of recommendation to records@calmexcenter.org as soon as possible, and no later than April 30, 2023.  If your letter of reference provider is sending it directly to us, have them follow the same labeling and email guidelines. 

DO NOT WAIT until the last minute as we will not schedule you for an interview until we receive your LOR (DSAP alumni are exception from LOR requirement.) Once we reach capacity, we will close the application.

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

1. 1. Elaborate on one or more of the following “pay-it-forward” projects and as an Alumni of the DSAP that you would be interested to work on before, during or upon your return. Here are some examples:

• • 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 defend DACA, promote Advance Parole and the CMSC’s Dreamers 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. Please prepare your statement before you start the application to expedite completion.

Important note: Please take into consideration that the Advance Parole application approval process time can vary from 2 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 in each cohort 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 WINTER 2024 DSAP PROGRAM:

MARCH 20-APRIL 14,2023	Online applications period.
MARCH 27-APRIL 21,2023	Schedule Interviews with applicants who submitted the online application and LOR before April 7, 2023 to determine their eligibility, select and extend acceptance into the program.
MARCH 27-APRIL 30,2023	Selected participants must decide to accept or decline and pay the $4,500 program fee in full OR first of two payments, which is $3,000 due 3 days after acceptance to the program and $2,000 remaining balance by 2 weeks after 1st payment. No payment installment options will be considered after April 30, 2023.
APRIL 17 – May 1, 2023	CMSC staff schedules Advance Parole application appointments with all selected participants to review I-131 application and support documents. Moving deadline for selected participants to send their completed Advance Parole application with the $575 application fee to USCIS by no later than May 1st, 2023.

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 basis. 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 Winter 2024 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 the 3 required COVID-19 tests and all participants are required to submit results to the CMSC Medical Team to participate in the DSAP 2024 Winter program, in the following manner:  

Tests #1 and #2: within 2 days prior to departure from the U.S., and within 2 days prior to arrival at the Mexico City Hotel hosting the DSAP academic program. Participants must also take a third and final COVID-19 test, 1 day prior to returning to the U.S. All participants must always strictly follow 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, UNLESS APPROVED BY THE CMSC’S MEDICAL TEAM.

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