The new $150 unaccompanied minor fee levied by United Airlines on J-1 exchange students (age 15), hinders participation by students who otherwise might afford the yearlong cultural exchange experience on the J-1 visa.  Simply put, it is a deal breaker for many of these students. CSIET and its J-1 program sponsors are writing on behalf of the nearly 25,000 J-1 students that come to US high schools every year to request that United Airlines waive the $150 unaccompanied minor fee ($300 round trip) and the unaccompanied minor procedures for these student ambassadors.  Whereas the policy prior to December of 2015 was to allow students over age 12 to travel unaccompanied, we request that the same courtesy be extended to J-1 high school exchange students upon presentation of their J-1 visa documentation.  This simple measure would allow thousands of J-1 high school exchange students the opportunity to engage with US host families, secondary schools and students for the purpose of cultural diplomacy, a program sponsored by the US Department of State. Note: CSIET requests that this waiver also be extended to US exchange students (age 15) travelling outbound on year-long/semester exchange programs. CSIET represents the high school youth exchange community, a community that brings roughly 25,000 students to the US on an annual basis through the J-1 youth exchange program operated by the US Dept. of State.  The goal of the J-1 high school program is long term (1 year/1 semester) cultural exchange. The high school students that arrive in the US on a J-1 visa are here to serve as cultural ambassadors to/for their countries.  They carry out a crucial mission on behalf of their own cultures, as well as the US Dept. of State, with regard to public diplomacy.  Without their participation in the US secondary school experience, our public diplomacy efforts are diminished and high school age students, as well as their families and schools, are less apt to experience other cultures and to learn the tools necessary to communicate with youth from other countries.  The program is the foundation of our future relations with other sovereign nations.