For the purposes of this article, the following terms shall have the following meaning unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

(a) “International student exchange visitor placement organization” or “organization” means a person, partnership, corporation, or other entity that regularly arranges the placement of international student exchange visitors for the purpose, in whole or in part, of providing the students with the opportunity to attend a school that maintains kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, in the United States.

(b) “International student exchange visitor” or “student” means any person 18 years of age or under, or up to 21 years of age if enrolled or to be enrolled in high school in this state, who enters the United States on a nonimmigrant visa and who is placed by an international student exchange visitor placement organization in an elementary or secondary school or other educational program in this state.

(c) “Nonimmigrant visa” means a visa category assigned by the federal Immigration and Naturalization Service pursuant to Section 1101 of Title 8 of the United States Code to nonresident aliens whose primary purpose for visiting the United States is to study at the elementary or secondary school level or participate in any other educational program.

(d) “USIA” means the United States Information Agency designated to administer the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. Sec. 2451; 22 C.F.R. 514.1 et seq.).

(e) “Registry” means the Registry of International Student Exchange Visitor Placement Organizations established pursuant to Section 12622.

(Added by Stats. 1994, Ch. 825, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1995.)