'Lifeblood' of Cape Cod summer workforce: Was there a problem with Provincetown J-1 visas?

U.S. Rep. William Keating, D-Massachusetts, blamed miscommunication for the troubling emails some international students received who applied for J-1 visas. They included a rejection notice, notices about applications being on hold, and a suggestion to apply to businesses other than those in Provincetown.

“Provincetown has not been blacklisted for J-1 visas,” Keating said in an Monday phone call.

Keating had a briefing with the State Department Monday after business owners and town officials reached out to him with concerns. Last year more than 340 J-1 visa holders were employed in Provincetown businesses.

The J-1 non-immigrant visa category is for individuals approved to participate in work- and study-based exchange visitor programs, according to the State Department.

“This is the lifeblood for our businesses,” Keating said. “It’s so important for Provincetown and the entire Cape and Islands.”

Keating said it was not unusual for a student’s application to be put on hold if the application was not fully completed. He said Provincetown is on track to get more J-1 visa holders than last year. The State Department said it would expedite processing of those applicants who are on hold.

He said rejection notices are not entirely unusual.

Summer would be a disaster, a businessman said

Frank Vasselo, owner of Relish, was concerned when a previous J-1 visa employee said his application had been rejected and another was put on hold. Most of his workforce is made up of J-1 visa students. Without them, summer would be a disaster, he said.

Keating's office looks into J-1 visa issue in Provincetown

Keating said his office and the State Department were able to quickly identify the problem and rectify it. He downplayed the Provincetown comment, blaming it on miscommunication or possibly misguided advice.

Vasello and some business owners thought the issue had to do with J-1 students working as pedicab riders, a prohibited position for J-1 students.

“We didn’t come across that as an issue,” Keating said.

Denise Coffey writes about business, tourism and issues impacting the Cape’s residents and visitors. Contact her at dcoffey@capecodonline.com .

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Keating: Provincetown not blacklisted for international summer workers