J-1 Visa : Summer Work/Travel

Under the J-1 visa summer work/travel category, international students have the opportunity to enter the United States for a maximum of 4 months during their university summer break and work and travel throughout the United States. For U.S. sponsors, there are two periods of time for summer work/travel – the summer and the winter. Students will enter the U.S. during one of these two seasons, depending on which country they are coming from and when their summer falls. AIPT can sponsor work and travel programs for U.S. companies who have located specific exchange visitors or can recruit the exchange visitors for open positions.

An exchange visitor on the summer work/travel visa is an international candidate who is currently enrolled as a full-time student in a foreign, post-secondary academic institution outside of the United States and has completed at least one full semester of study.

Unlike other categories of the J-1 visa, the summer work/travel category does not require a structured training program. Typically students enter the U.S. and work in non-skilled positions at hotels, resorts, restaurants and amusement parks. AIPT will also sponsor summer work/travel programs for summer internships in the U.S. where the exchange visitor is expected to gain new skills and contribute to company projects. Regardless of the type of program, the maximum length of time the exchange visitor can remain in the U.S. is four months and the visa cannot be extended beyond that time.

Per recent changes to the U.S. Department of State regulations concerning this visa category, host employers must assist the participant with securing housing and provide compensation and benefits equal to an American working in the same or similar position.