While Door County businesses have sponsored J-1 students from Eastern Bloc countries like Ukraine and Russia in the past, you likely will not see an impact this year locally.

Russia invaded Ukraine late last week and was already in the capital city of Kyiv on Sunday. The Washington Post reported on Monday that peace talks were underway between Russian and Ukrainian officials in the country of Belarus. News outlets have reported Belarus could also join Russia in their invasion efforts.

While the invasion is just days old, the unrest in the region has been going on much longer. When combined with COVID, Destination Door County Membership Director Phil Berndt says there have not been students from the Ukraine and Russia accepted into the J-1 program for nearly three years.

Even though they are not drawing students from that part of the world, Berndt says other countries have been filling in the gaps. Destination Door County is planning a virtual J-1 Visa Program seminar over Zoom on April 12th.