J1 SUMMER WORK AND TRAVEL USA

WWCE’s Work & Travel Program helps businesses fulfill their seasonal shortfall with qualified individuals from all over the world on the J1 summer Work & Travel visa. International university students will spend their summer break working for your business based on your seasonal and business need while getting acquainted with the USA and our culture. WWCE has developed a strong network of experienced overseas affiliates that can recruit experienced and highly motivated applicants who can add a wealth of talent, experience, and enthusiasm to your property.

+ BENEFITS OF EMPLOYING J1s

  • Diversified workplace – employers can be part of the public diplomacy movement aimed at introducing the young adults of other countries to the culture of the USA. In addition, the introduction of international employees can be a valuable supplement to ongoing workplace diversity initiatives. The experience will be beneficial to expanding all employee’s horizons in terms of cultural awareness, acceptance, and understanding.

  • The perfect candidates at the right time – our team identifies the periods when employers need help the most and will then recommend a program or a combination of programs to meet this demand. All of our participants have previous related work experience or education, so employers truly receive qualified help when they need it the most.

  • An eager, motivated and reliable workforce – our participants are both excited to work and willing to work as much time as needed by the business. This gives employers full flexibility with scheduling and workforce utilization.

  • Bi-lingual staff – while English speaking skills will vary on an individual basis, we conduct a thorough pre-screening to ensure that every participant has the ability to speak and understand English at a level suitable for the position they will be hired into. In addition, strategic hiring from countries that match the demographic of the employer’s guests and/or workers can be an innovative way to improve guest service levels. Many of our participants speak two or three languages; they can be an asset in high guest contact departments and assist in making guests from these same countries immediately feel at home.

  • Free recruitment – WWCE does not charge a fee to select the right candidates for employers. Depending on the number of participants selected for the host property, WWCE may be able to support the cost of the recruitment trip so that employers can select their own candidates. Please contact WWCE for more information.

+ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the J1 SWT program?

The State Department J-1 Work & Travel USA Program is an Exchange Visitor Program designed to achieve the educational objectives of international and cultural exchange by involving young adults in the daily life of the host country through temporary employment opportunities. It is vital that the participants return home to share their experiences and encourage Americans to participate in the educational and cultural programs in other countries. As an employer of a J1 SWT student, you will be part of the US public diplomacy initiative aimed at making the world’s youth more aware and appreciative of the American culture.

What counties are participants recruited from?

Our participants come from more than 30 countries. Summer staff comes from Northern Hemisphere countries and the winter staff comes from Southern Hemisphere countries.

What seasons does the program run?

The program runs through all four seasons – winter, spring, summer, fall. Spring staff arrives in March and April and are available to work until Beginning of June or July. Summer staff arrives between May and July and can work until September or October. Winter staff arrives in December and can work until March or April. J1 participants may only assist your staffing needs during the peak season of the business. J1s may not fulfill full year staffing needs.

How long may the participants work?

Participants are allowed to work during their university summer break for up to 4 months. The average program runs from 2.5 – 4 months.

What type of positions do participants hold?

Positions include, but are not limited to: cook, cashier, banquets set-up, dining room attendant, waiter/waitress, server, Busser, housekeeper, fast food worker, laundry attendant, hotel desk clerk, dishwasher, lifeguard, ticket taker, park service, parking attendant, game attendant, ride operator, ski lift operator, food service, etc.

What jobs parameters are there for the SWT program?

Participants may not be placed

  • In positions that could bring notoriety or disrepute to the Exchange Visitor Program;
  • In sales positions that require participants to purchase inventory that they must sell in order to support themselves;
  • In domestic help positions in private homes (e.g., child care, elder care, gardener, chauffeur);
  • As pedicab or rolling chair drivers or operators;
  • As operators or drivers of vehicles or vessels for which drivers’ licenses are required regardless of whether they carry passengers or not;
  • In positions related to clinical care that involves patient contact;
  • In any position in the adult entertainment industry (including, but not limited to jobs with escort services, adult book/video stores, and strip clubs);
  • In positions requiring work hours that fall predominantly between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am;
  • In positions declared hazardous to youth by the Secretary of Labor at Subpart E of 29 CFR part 570;
  • In positions that require sustained physical contact with other people and/or adherence to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Universal Blood and Body Fluid Precautions guidelines (e.g., body piercing, tattooing, massage, manicure);
  • In positions that are substantially commission-based and thus do not guarantee that participants will be paid minimum wage in accordance with federal and state standards;
  • In positions involved in gaming and gambling that include direct participation in wagering and/or betting;
  • In positions in chemical pest control, warehousing, catalogue/online order distribution centers;
  • In positions with traveling fairs or itinerant concessionaires;
  • In jobs that do not allow participants to work alongside U.S. citizens and interact regularly with U.S. citizens and to experience U.S. culture during the workday portion of their Summer Work Travel programs;
  • With employers that fill non-seasonal or non-temporary job openings with exchange visitors with staggered vacation schedules;
  • In positions that require licensing;
  • In positions for which there is another specific J visa category (e.g., Camp Counselor, Trainee, Intern);
  • In positions with staffing agencies, unless the placements meet the following three criteria:
    • Participants must be employees of and paid by the staffing agencies
    • Staffing agencies must provide full-time, primary, on-site supervision of the participants
    • Staffing agencies must effectively control the work sites, e.g., have hands-on management responsibility for the participants

How many hours per week can participants work? What if a participant requests overtime?

Participants are told that they should expect to work between 32 and 40 hours per week. The amount of hours worked after that is up to the employer. Overtime compensation laws differ in each state and these laws apply to our participants. We ask that employers give WWCE a clear indication of the schedule that participants can expect so we can present accurate information to them before they arrive.

Do the employers have to provide housing?

Employers do not have to provide housing, but we ask that employers at least help employees arrange affordable housing in close proximity to the job site. WWCE also offers a program in which housing is found and mandated through the program, based on the employer’s individual needs.

+ HOW CAN I EMPLOY J1s?

If you would like more information or are ready to move forward with welcoming J1s into your business, please CLICK HERE to fill out an interest form.