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J-1 Visa Summer Work Travel Program

work and travel visa usa

  • At-a-Glance

College and University students enrolled full time and pursuing studies at post-secondary accredited academic institutions located outside the United States come to the United States to share their culture and ideas with people of the United States through temporary work and travel opportunities.

The Summer Work Travel program provides foreign students with an opportunity to live and work in the United States during their summer vacation from college or university to experience and to be exposed to the people and way of life in the United States.

Program Length

Eligibility and application overview.

  • Sufficiently proficient in English to successfully interact in an English speaking environment;
  • Post-secondary school students enrolled in and actively pursuing a degree or other full-time course of study at an accredited classroom based, post-secondary educational institution outside the United States;
  • Have successfully completed at least one semester or equivalent of post-secondary academic study; and
  • Pre-placed in a job prior to entry unless from a visa waiver country.

Participants must first find a  Summer Work Travel Designated Sponsor .

Visit the   J1Visa website  for information on how to apply.  

Program Profile

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Working in the United States

Many noncitizens want to come to the United States to work. This page provides a summary of employment-based nonimmigrant and immigrant visa classifications and other categories of noncitizens who are eligible for employment authorization. Each classification provides a link to more detailed information on its requirements.

A common way to work temporarily in the United States as a nonimmigrant is for a prospective employer to file a petition with USCIS on your behalf. The Temporary (Nonimmigrant) Workers webpage describes the main nonimmigrant temporary worker classifications.

If you have the right combination of skills, education, and/or work experience, you may be able to live and work permanently in the United States by seeking an employment-based immigrant visa. The Permanent Workers webpage describes the five employment-based immigrant visa preferences (also called categories).

If you live outside the United States and want to work here, you generally must apply for a visa from the U.S. Department of State (DOS), unless a visa is not required for people from your country of nationality. You may visit DOS’ Travel Without a Visa page for more information.

In many cases, USCIS must approve your petition before you are eligible to apply to DOS for a visa or seek admission at a port of entry. Before entering the United States, you must present yourself to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer and receive permission to enter the United States and engage in your proposed activity.

If you are in the United States in a lawful nonimmigrant status that does not provide employment authorization, you generally may apply for:

  • A change of status to a nonimmigrant classification that provides employment authorization; or
  • An adjustment of status to become a lawful permanent resident. This may be a concurrent filing with an immigrant visa petition or, depending on the circumstances, may require an applicant to obtain an approved immigrant visa before applying for an adjustment of status to become a lawful permanent resident.

Depending on the classification you seek, your change or adjustment of status application might require a U.S. employer or other qualified requestor to file an application or petition on your behalf to establish your eligibility before we approve your application. However, if you apply based on certain classifications (for example, an alien with extraordinary ability or as a nonimmigrant E-1 or E-2 principal treaty trader or investor), you may be eligible to self-petition, which means filing an application on your own behalf.

Additionally, if you are in the United States, including if you are an applicant for permanent residence or a certain family member of an alien who has lawful nonimmigrant status, you may file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization , to request employment authorization and an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). You may also apply for an EAD that shows such authorization if your immigration status authorizes you to work in the United States without restrictions.

The conditions you must meet and how long you can work in the United States depend on the type of immigration status the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grants. You must comply with all conditions of your employment authorization and the terms of your admission to this country. If you violate any of the conditions, you could be removed from or denied re-entry into the United States.

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Temporary (Nonimmigrant) Worker

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Permanent (Immigrant) Worker

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Students and Exchange Visitors

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Temporary Visitors for Business

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Visa Resources

The type of visa you must obtain is defined by U.S. immigration law, and relates to the purpose of your travel. Please visit our  Visa Wizard   to find out what visa type is appropriate for you. You can also visit our  Frequently Asked Questions   or find out about the  Visa Waiver Program .

Other useful links:   Visa Categories   |   Find a U.S. Embassy or Consulate   |   Glossary

Nonimmigrant Visas

Nonimmigrant visas allow people to visit the United States for short periods and for specific purposes. If you want to move here permanently, please see the information below on  immigrant visas .

Tourism & Visit A foreign national traveling to the United States for tourism needs a visitor visa (B-2) unless qualifying for entry under the Visa Waiver Program. Tourism is a short visit for vacation, for visiting family and friends, or for medical treatment.

Study & Exchange The United States supports international education and welcomes foreign students and exchange visitors. Before applying for a visa, students and exchange visitors must be accepted by their schools or program sponsors.

Business A foreign national traveling to the United States to conduct temporary business needs a visitor visa (B-1) unless qualifying for entry under the Visa Waiver Program.

Employment To work in the United States temporarily as a lawful nonimmigrant, temporary workers must qualify for the available visa category based on the planned employment purpose.

Other Visa Categories In addition to tourism, visits, business, employment, study and exchange, and immigration, there are other reasons for traveling to the United States, which also generally require a visa.

Immigrant Visas

Do you want to immigrate to the United States, meaning you want to move here permanently? Do you want to sponsor someone to immigrate? Immigrant visas are based on family ties, employment, and the diversity visa. If you want to visit for a short period for a specific purpose, please learn about  nonimmigrant visas  above.

Family Based For certain family members of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders).

Employment For permanent employment or investment by entrepreneurs.

Diversity Visa Annual program making a limited number of  visas available to persons who meet strict eligibility requirements.

Additional U.S. Government Resources

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Administers the nation’s lawful immigration system, grants Green Cards, and naturalizes citizens.

Citizenship Resource Center Green Card Humanitarian Relief

Department of Homeland Security

Provides resources to help you plan your trip, manage your arrival, and, if needed, extend your stay.

Visit the United States Cross U.S. borders Locate a port of entry

Creates and organizes timely, needed government information and services.

Immigration and Citizenship Visas and Visiting the U.S. Recreation and Travel Within the U.S.

U.S. Department of State

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  • For Work Exchange
  • Work & Travel USA

Let's Get Started

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How To Apply For Work And Travel

Ready to begin your American adventure? Let us help you find a job in the United States – just as we do for more than 15,000 international students each year. 

The first step is to connect with the CIEE international representative closest to you. If you can’t find a CIEE representative in your country, you can apply directly to CIEE. Send us  an email  to learn more.

Find a Representative by Country

EBLA Educational Business Links Albania     +355 67 20 77 990   [email protected]    blink-al.com

Integral Albania    [email protected]    integral.al

Kouzon    00355695417369   00355695417385   [email protected]    kouzon.mk

Tandek Exchange your mind    +355682060277   [email protected]     tandek.al

WEUSA    +(5411) 4773-7327   [email protected]    www.weusa.com.ar/

BUNAC    +61 3 9119 5252   infobunac.org    bunac.org

Work and Travel Group     066/375-888   [email protected]    workandtravelgroup.com

Kouzon Work and Travel BiH    387 66 533 030   [email protected]    kouzon.com.mk

Integral    359 28050600   [email protected]    wat.integral.bg

Usit Colours    359 29811900, ext 306   [email protected]    gotousa.bg

WEUSA    (+56) 2 2378 7083   [email protected]    www.weusa.cl

Raising Culture    +8618610165402   [email protected]    raisingculture.com

SunnySky Intl Cultural Exchange    +8602981707357   [email protected]     sunnyskyicec.cn

Servicio Educativo Internacional    +57 (1) 2745798   [email protected]    servicioeducativo.com

Smaller Earth Colombia    smallerearth.com/us/

SEP Costa Rica    +506 2253 4007   [email protected]    sepworkandtravelcr.com

Integral    385 1 4683 381   [email protected]    integraledu.hr

Work and Travel Group    097 720-12-56   [email protected]    workandtravelgroup.com

Applimates Educational Consultancy Service    +357-22669757 and +90-548- 853-9714   [email protected]    applimates.com

WYSE TRAVEL    +35725345273    [email protected]    www.workandtravel.cy

Czech-us    +420 773 960 963   [email protected]    www.czech-us.cz

Smaller Earth Czech Republic    +420 702 060 336   [email protected]    smallerearth.com/cz

Student Agency Czech Republic    +1800 100 300   [email protected]    studentagency.cz

The North-West Passage    +16199720555   [email protected]    thenorth-westpassage.com

ODTE    +1 809 686 3333   [email protected]    odte.org/

OFIT    +1 809 535 4881   [email protected]     ofit.com.do

APEX… tu camino    +593 (2) 2460484   [email protected]    apextucamino.com

Ordex    +201093699639   [email protected]     exegypt.org

EX Egypt    +201030117310   [email protected]     exegypt.org

Star Travel Georgia    +99532 2967799   [email protected]     workandtravel.ge

Work and Travel Group    +30 210 822 0015 [email protected]    workandtravelgroup.com

Student and Youth Travel Organization    +233 (0) 302 769157   [email protected]    sytoghana.org

Smaller Earth Hungary    (36) 20-662-5938   [email protected]    smallerearth.com/hu/

Work and Travel Group     +36 70 270 2211   [email protected]    workandtravelgroup.com

Speedwing Training (Asia) Pte Ltd    +65 62567555   [email protected]    www.speedwing.org

Global Insight    +1 (876) 9788098   [email protected]    globalinsightexchanges.com

International Recruiting Staffing Solutions    +1 (876) 7541836   [email protected]    irssworktravel.com

International Travel and Cultural Exchange    +1 (876) 3783876   [email protected]    goitce.com

Divan Student Travel    +96265511950   [email protected]    divanintl.org/a>

Travel Gates    962 79 691 5148   [email protected]    travelgatesjo.com

AirTravel International    +87(17)262-5745    [email protected]    airtravel.kz

Kazakhstan Council for Educational Travel (KCET)    +7 727 2723722,   +7 747 2507777,   +7 705 249 7337   [email protected]    kcet.kz

ABC Universe Kazakhstan    +77075619621   [email protected]    www.workandtravelus.kz

Jaunimo Keliones    370 604 13172   [email protected]    jaunimokeliones.lt

Lithuanian World Center for Work Experience and Studies Abroad    +370 37 223355   [email protected]    www.lwc-wt.lt

Kouzon & Co.    389 2 3238 801   [email protected]    kouzon.com.mk

Infinity Abroad    +6012 321 0397   [email protected]    https://infinity-abroad.com/

OOTB Personal Development Sdn Bhd    60 3 2164 5407   [email protected]    outofthebox.com.my

Speedwing Malaysia S/B    +65 6526 7555   [email protected]    www.speedwing.org

International Cultural Exchange    +52 1 3312462744   [email protected]    ice.org.mx

Smaller Earth Mexico    (52) 222-211-0956   [email protected]    smallerearth.com/us/

Kouzon    0038268271671   [email protected]    kouzon.mk

Work and Travel Group    +382 20 / 675 164   [email protected]    workandtravelgroup.com

WAT Montenegro    069 450 405, 067 357 377   [email protected]    watmontenegro.com

Phi S.A.    505-8424-0314   [email protected]

BUNAC    +64 9 883 2525   infobunac.org    bunac.org

International Working Holidays    +64 9 6660192   [email protected]    iwh.co.nz

Internship New Zealand    +64 (4) 920 7646   [email protected]    internshipnz.com

Almatur    48 22 826 23 56   [email protected]    almatur.pl

The Best Way    48 61 622 95 51   [email protected]    tbw.pl

Business Travel Club    BTC - stany,pl   +48 726 020 050   [email protected]    stany.pl

Camp Leaders Poland    (48) 81-532-34-64   [email protected]    resortleaders.com/pl

GTS International Romania    +4021.313.4545   [email protected]    gotosua.ro

IntegralEdu Work & Travel    +40 737 069 011   [email protected]    worktravelusa.ro

Student Travel    40 756068541   [email protected]    studenttravel.ro

STM Acord Travel    +40784433555   [email protected]    acordtravel.ro

Global Vision    +7 812 970 06 25   [email protected]    global-vision.ru

Star Travel    +7 495 797 95 55   [email protected]    startravel.ru

Divan International    +966126676161   [email protected]    divanintl.org

Agencia Kouzon I Ko doo    381 18 523374   [email protected]    kouzon.com.mk

IUVIA NGO    00381113035788   [email protected]    gpa.rs

Work & Travel Group    00381 11 40 56 198   [email protected]    posloviamerika.com

Smaller Earth Slovakia    (421) 0918-935-622   [email protected]    smallerearth.com/sk/

Student Agency Slovakia    420 5 42 42 42 42   [email protected]    studentagency.cz

CIEE Study Center Seville    (+34) 954-412-002   [email protected]    usa-internships.org

Foreign Study League    34-917-819-910   [email protected]    fsl.es

Travelingua    34-965.12.38.12   [email protected]    travelingua.es

StudyZone (Advis Educational Counseling)    +90 (212) 3938296   [email protected]    studyzone.com.tr 

Armada Grandee Education Consulting    +90 (312) 4192121   [email protected]    armadagrandee.com

United Towers    +90 (212) 2445005   [email protected]    unitedtowers.com

Coliseum    38 (044) 239-1919   [email protected]    workandtravel.org.ua

Star Travel Ukraine    +38 0443834112   [email protected]    startravel.ua

Student Travel    (+380) 99 940 49 62, (+380) 93 271 70 20   [email protected]    studenttravel.ua

BUNAC    +44 333 014 8484   infobunac.org    bunac.org

IST Plus    44 (0) 207 788 7877   [email protected]    istplus.com

Parenthèse    33 1 43 36 37 07   [email protected]    parenthese-london.co.uk

WEUSA    +(5411) 4773-7327   [email protected]    weusa.com.ar

Speedwing Training (Asia) Pte Ltd    +65 6256 7555   [email protected]    www.speedwing.org

If you can’t find a CIEE international representative in your country, you can apply directly to CIEE. Send us an email to learn more.

trainee at desk cubicle

How Does the Program Work?

You will be welcomed as a visitor with a U.S. Department of State J-1 visa. This visa allows you to live and work in the United States for up to four months during your university summer break. It also gives you the possibility to travel for an additional 30 days after your job ends.

Visitors with J-1 visas require a sponsor. As a student in the CIEE Work & Travel USA program, CIEE is your sponsor. We’re responsible for making sure you are prepared to live in America, have access to a good job with a responsible employer, and have a meaningful cultural exchange experience. We also monitor your health, safety and well-being while you are in this country.

You will be working for one of thousands of employers located all across the United States. Your representative can tell you all you need to know about your employment options.

usa employee at amusement park

Are You Eligible?

To be eligible for the CIEE Work & Travel USA Program, you must:

  • Be at least 18 years old (check with your local representative for specific rules)
  • Be registered as a full-time university student
  • Be able to function in English, both at work and in a community
  • Have a pre-arranged job (CIEE can help)
  • Have at least $800 to support yourself upon arrival in the United States

We welcome students who wish to come back. Ask your CIEE international representative, or contact CIEE for further details to find out if you are a candidate for a second visit.

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  • American Summers

Three travelers standing on rocks with a view.

Summer Work & Travel Program

Expand your horizons — live and work in the us over your university break.

IENA’s Summer Work and Travel program provides the opportunity for university students to live, work and travel for up to 4-months in the US.

Living and working among Americans is a great opportunity to gain great insight into life and culture in the US, make friends, and improve your English skills. At the end of your program you’ll have the opportunity to travel around the US for up to 30 days. Summer Work and Travel programs last up to four months, with an opportunity for up to one month of travel after your job ends, depending upon your university schedule. IENA will be your program sponsor and provide support before and during your stay in the US.

Create lasting memories with Work & Travel!

In the US summer, you might work…

  • At the beach
  • In amusement or water parks
  • In hospitality

In the US winter, you might work…

  • At a ski resort
  • In a restaurant

Application and Fees

Application information.

To apply to the Summer, Work and Travel Program, you must be:

  • Proficient in English (oral and written)
  • Enrolled full time in a college or university course
  • Excited about experiencing American culture

What your program includes

  • High quality service and support from start to finish
  • Optional job placement
  • 24/7 emergency line
  • Visa assistance
  • Insurance for your entire stay in the US

IENA works with certified international partners around   the world.   Please e-mail us at [email protected] to connect you with one of our partners who will guide you through the process in your home country

Group of people in a field at sunrise.

Travel Information

On the move in the us.

Aim to live close to where you work. Walking and biking allows you to get to know your neighborhood and city. You will stay physically active and save on transportation costs.

For longer trips, try public transportation in your area or rideshare services like Uber and Lyft. Local taxi services offer direct service.

Pre-arrival

Participants will arrange their own transportation to and from the US, and to their housing/destination Check with your recruiter for information on flight deals.

If your employer doesn’t have a shuttle, you may be able to arrange public transportation to/from the airport to your destination. Ask IENA or your recruiter for help in identifying public transportation options.

Participant Resources

What to see in the usa.

  • Sporting events
  • Historical sites
  • Oceans, lakes, and rivers
  • National/state/local parks and recreation areas
  • Major cities/nearby cities
  • Amusement/water parks

The following SEVIS Validation Information is for Exchange Visitors who are sponsored by IENA ONLY and participating in our Summer Work and Travel Program, including Summer Camp Support Staff.

If the Sponsor listed on your DS-2019 is not IENA, please STOP and contact your sponsor.

Frequently Asked Questions

We know traveling to a new country for work can raise a lot of questions. Check out our useful FAQs or reach out with questions

You are going to hear several terms for different forms etc. during the process. Here is our IENAipedia to those forms:

The J-1 Summer Work and Travel Visa:  This J-1 Visa is a government program that allows qualified full time students to share their cultures and ideas with the people of the United States. The J-1 Summer Work and Travel Visa is for individuals approved to participate in work-and study-based exchange visitor programs. This program is run by the US Department of State .

DS-2019 Form:  This form can only be issued by a US Department of State designated visa sponsor. IENA is one of those. It certifies that you are eligible to take part in the cultural exchange program and is a vital part of the application process. In essence, it is evidence that you have a bona-fide job offer in the USA. You will need it for your embassy appointment AND you will need it when you enter into the USA. Guard it as you would guard your passport.

SEVIS Receipt (or SEVIS I-901 Receipt):  SEVIS stands for “Student Exchange Visitor Information System”. It is a system by which the US Department of State keeps track of you on the program. You will need this form when you visit the embassy for your interview

WHAT PAPERWORK WILL THE EMPLOYER REQUIRE? Social Security:  The US Government requires all employees to apply for a Social Security Number. Your employer will help you do this upon your arrival, however, you MUST validate your arrival via your IENA account BEFORE you can apply. Once done, you will need to visit the local Social Security office. You must obtain a Social Security Card. If you already have one, then that’s yours for life.

Form I-9: All employees, foreign and domestic, are required to complete this form for each employer. It is a straightforward form and you will need your passport (including J-1 Visa) and your DS-2019. Your employer will help you complete this.

Form I-94: This is your arrival and departure record. It is a good idea to print this when you get settled and keep it with you. You cannot print it until after you have arrived in the USA. It can be printed here

W-4:  This form is for tax purposes. Your employer may withhold a small amount of taxes from your salary. You ARE entitled to claim some of this back because you are not a resident of the USA. IENA partner with taxback.com to make claiming back the taxes as simple as possible DO I HAVE HEALTHCARE IN AMERICA?

As you may be aware, health care is not free in the USA. You must have medical insurance. We have that covered for you. There are however some terminology and procedures it is handy to know:

Co-payment:  This is like your car insurance excess. Its an amount you always have to pay when you have treatment. For non-Emergency Room Visits, the Co-pay is $50. Whenever possible. You should always call the 800 number (free call) on the back of your insurance and discuss your symptoms before visiting a doctor. They can best advise you whether to visit a doctor and if so, where the closest clinic is.

Workers Compensation:  Whilst you are at work and carrying out your duties at work, you are covered by this insurance. This means if you have an injury/illness caused by or related to your work, you are covered by this insurance which is held by your employer. Our insurance is for non-work related cases, or injuries/illnesses that occur while on days off and while you are traveling.

Emergency Room: It’s the same thing as the A & E and is for serious injury or illness that requires immediate attention.  There is no co-pay or deductible for this if the injury/illness is deemed life threatening or requires an overnight stay. In all other cases, there will be a $350 Copay, so you should go to a walk-in clinic whenever possible.

Pre-Existing Conditions:  If you have a condition that has been treated, or you take regular medication for, in the past 6 months, it will NOT be covered by this insurance.

Here you can find more details on your insurance policy .

SOCIAL MEDIA AND YOUR ONLINE PRESENCE

When it comes to social media and American culture, there are a few things you need to be aware of. Employers have withdrawn job offers to participants before they have even arrived in the USA due to things they have found on social media. Please be aware of how you portray yourself. You are going to America to be professionally employed and your public presence should reflect that. We highly recommend you make all your social media private.

Remember, even something someone else tags you in or photos someone else posts of you can have an impact on someone’s impression of you. As a general rule of thumb, think “Would I want my parents or grandparents to see this?”

Each employer will have their own set of rules with regards to social media once you arrive.

CAN I LEAVE MY EMPLOYER OR SWITCH JOBS

IENA recognizes there are several reasons why you may leave your job.

Getting Fired

Break the rules and you may be fired. This is a job just like a job at home.  As with any job you take, there are rules that need to be followed.

If you have been fired, the first thing you must do is call IENA.  (888)724-4292 . Your employer are also instructed to call us.  Our goal is:

  • For you to understand why you have been fired
  • Get your version of events
  • Ensure you are paid up to date
  • To make a plan with you as to where you will go, if we can place you elsewhere or how you will get home

Just because you have been terminated from employment does not mean you are not part of our program. We want to make sure you are safe and taken care of.

You Decide to Leave

We understand there are a few reasons why you may decide to leave. All we ask is that if you have any problems at your place of employment, you follow the following steps:

  • Please make sure you have given the job a chance – at least 2 weeks
  • Speak with your supervisor about any problems first and give him or her the chance to resolve
  • If this has not worked, call IENA who will advocate on your behalf

Remember as with any job, there are good days at work and bad days.  There are people you like working with, and people you don’t like working with.  Just as the employer has made a commitment to you via you job offer, you have made a commitment to the employer in acknowledging and agreeing to the terms of your job offer.

If you do decide to leave early, you MUST call IENA before you leave on (888) 724 4292 ext 4. We will want to help you make a plan to get home or find other employment.

CAN I GET A SECOND JOB

If you have the opportunity for a second job, please contact the IENA office and we will go through the process and contact your new employer. You  MUST  do this  BEFORE  you accept and begin working for your 2 nd  job employer.

ABOUT THE USA

The USA is a vast country.  People say that every state is almost like a country with its own culture and compare it to Europe.  Here are some handy tools to help you:

  • Time Zones and Local Times
  • US Public Holidays
  • US Customs, Habits, and Etiquette
  • Cost of Living

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Summer Work Travel Resource Page

The BridgeUSA Summer Work Travel Program enables college and university students enrolled full time and pursuing studies at post-secondary accredited academic institutions, located outside the United States to come to the United States to share their culture and ideas with people of the United States through temporary work and travel opportunities. Summer Work Travel participants are authorized to participate in the program for up to four months during the long break between academic years as determined by the Department of State. Extensions of program participation are not permitted.

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NECESSARY DOCUMENTATION

WORK & TRAVEL USA

A Student that participates in the “Summer Work and Travel USA” program gets the J-1 visa by the American Embassy which is the legal document for entering the USA. This document is issued with the obligation for the candidate to return to their motherland after the program finishes. According to the rules of the USA Government, the duration of the visa cannot be longer than four months. The student has the right to stay one more month as a tourist, after the expiration of the working part of the program i.e. 30 days that are intended exclusively for traveling. Participants of the program come to the USA Consulate in person for the purpose of the conversation.

Tax for the certification of the passport and visa is 160 USD.

Over 95% of our students who apply, get the visa!

HEALTH INSURANCE

ONLY IN WORK AND TRAVEL GROUP AGENCY PARTICIPANTS GET FIVE MONTHS OF HEALTH INSURANCE INCLUDED IN THE PROGRAM PRICE!

THE FIFTH MONTHS OF THE PROGRAM IS VERY IMPORTANT FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE INSURANCE, BECAUSE STUDENT TRAVELS AT THAT TIME AND THEY NEED FULL HEALTH PROTECTION!

After finishing the working part, there is an additional month with the purpose of traveling through the USA, in which there is a chance that student will need some kind of medical services, and, in this case, that is covered by providing the health insurance for the whole period of stay in the USA.

Health insurance is obligatory and it is included in the program price. The insurance is valid during the continuation of the program. It covers all accidental cases, but it does not cover teeth repairing, vision correction and inherited disease. Each candidate will get their own insurance card and they have to follow the instructions for the use of the insurance and inform the insurance company about the potential use of the medical services. The medicine expenses are not included in the medical insurance. Each candidate has to take care of themselves and be able to work and to be healthy to apply for the program.

Sponsor/organizational company from the USA is the only competent for the health insurance.

DS 2019 FORM

DS-2019 form is an official certificate which enables a candidate to be the part of the cultural exchange program; it contains the data about the program organizer, program duration and it specifies the point of the whole process. DS-2019 is issued by an American organization which is the organizer of the students stay in the USA after the reception into the program. At the same time, the form represents the proof that the candidate can legally work in the USA.

DS-2019 is a document on the basis of which one applies for the visa. Each student registered for the program, when entering the Embassy, has to have this form. It has to be signed and be kept during the travel and stay in the USA, the same as with visa. Your visa is not valid without this form. DS-2019 has to be carried with the passport all the time during the program duration.

If there is a difference between the date when the visa started to be valid and the date when the program starts on the DS-2019 form, (even though these dates match in the most cases) candidate is obliged to stay in the USA until the date, which is given in the form I-94 which one gets when they enter America. If the candidate loses DS-2019, they are obliged to inform the agency representative or the company itself which is the program organizer in America.

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

SSN is a social number which everyone has to have in order to legally work in the USA. This number is given after the application for it, after arrival to America. It is necessary to apply for issuing SSN in the nearest Social Security office after arrival to America.

The Candidate has to enclose:

passport, DS-2019 form, J-1 visa, I-94 form, Certificate of employment (official letter signed and certified by the employer). You get the SSN after 15 -20 days, and the card with the number after 1-3 months. Participants of the program can work with the certificate that they applied for the SSN. If the status is confirmed – student will get the social number (SSN), if the status is not confirmed, application for the social number will be sent to the State Security Department in order to check the student’s status. That slows the process of getting the social number. Only the students with the confirmed status can get their social number. Students who are not confirmed as being in the SEVIS system or they do not show up at work the first day have the “NO SHOW” status, and they will not get the SSN (these cases are rare).

Student & Exchange Visitor Information System – SEVIS is a system which serves for the purpose of record and following the participants of cultural exchange during their stay in the USA.

All the participants are registered in SEVIS. The SEVIS document (I-901) is obligatory for getting J-1 visa. You can get detailed information about SEVIS on the website: www.ice.gov

I-94 FORMULAR

I-94 form contains the information about the date of arrival and departure from the USA. Every passenger who is not the citizen of the USA is recorded on the border while entering the USA. Representatives of the Immigration Department register every student on the border electronically when entering the USA and that represents the date of entering the USA, as well as, the status of J-1 visa.

“Duration of status” is also written on the form (D/S- Duration of Status) and that date matches the date on the DS-2019 form, plus 30 additional days for the traveling. If the dates are different on I-94 and DS-2019 form, a candidate is obliged to leave the country according to the date on the I-94 form.

If the candidates stay in America after the date specified in I-94, they risk being deported and that the entrance in the USA is forbidden for them in the future.

work and travel visa usa

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Visas for U.S. citizens traveling abroad

If you are a U.S. citizen planning to travel abroad, you may need a visa to enter a foreign country. Learn how to find your destination's visa requirements.

While not all countries require visas for American travelers, many do. Look up your destination using the U.S. State Department's Learn About Your Destination search tool . On the country’s information page, you will find entry, exit, and visa requirements. You will also find travel advisories and a link to the country’s embassy.

LAST UPDATED: December 6, 2023

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Speedwing

Work & Travel USA

  • Program Overview
  • Duration of Program
  • Eligibility Requirements
  • When Is the Program Available?

The program is designed so that overseas students can become more than tourists, experiencing life in the U.S. first-hand by working alongside U.S. citizens in temporary employment. Not only does this unique opportunity allow for a genuine “U.S. experience,” it helps cover travel expenses!

For a time, the program was offered only in European and Central/South American countries and was introduced in Asia only in the 1990s to countries such as Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand. In Singapore, it officially took root in November 2000 and the program is available now in Malaysia, Australia, and Indonesia as well. A pioneer group of 30 students from Singapore embarked on this adventure in May 2001 through Speedwing and hundreds of other countries' students have participated in this program each year ever since.

Students on the program are employed in summer jobs in famous locations like amusement parks Cedar Point and Six Flags and national parks Yellowstone and Grand Canyon. Upon fulfilling their work agreement, they get to travel around the USA within a stipulated period as part of the program. In this way, they have in many seasons of the program formed meaningful friendships with people from many countries, acquired overseas work experience, and simply gained great memories.

This program is not for students to gain practical training, apply classroom knowledge, complete compulsory work attachment/internship programs unless otherwise stated by their institutions, or seek permanent work opportunities or long-term career in the USA. At the end of the program, all students must return to the country in which they are studying.

  • Minimum employment period is 2 to 3 months. Maximum is 4 months.
  • Duration of stay in the USA can be up to 5 months (maximum 4 months of employment followed by an optional maximum 30 days of travel within the US).
  • Legal work document and visa are generally issued for only the work duration agreed between each participant and the employer. Participants cannot extend work duration when they are already in the USA.
  • Participants who are required to return to school can only remain in the USA on the program until the last day of their school vacation and must return in time to start the new semester.
  • be at least 18 and not more than 30 years of age
  • be a full-time tertiary student in your local university with official semester break OR a final year, final semester student graduating from a full-time course
  • Undergo an interview with secure job offer before you can be accepted on the program

Summer Intake

This program is offered in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

In Singapore, Speedwing usually commences recruitment in August/September and organizes a recruitment roadshow in October/November for the program in the following summer.

From 2013 onward, Singapore participants who embark on the Summer Work & Travel USA will have to follow the set date given. No employment can start earlier or end later than this range: May 01 – August 31 (not May 15, effective 2016).

For Malaysia and Indonesia, applications usually commence in October/November with the recruitment roadshow in January/February for the program in the following summer. Participating employers will interview interested candidates at recruitment roadshows (Singapore and Malaysia mostly) or online hiring via SKYPE or Zoom.

From 2013 onward, Malaysia participants who embark on the Summer Work & Travel USA will have to follow the set date given. No employment can start earlier or end later than this range: May 25 – September 15 (not May 15, effective 2016)

Winter Intake This program applies to Malaysia and Australia.

The winter recruitment begins in June/July for one to depart in November/December the same year.

From 2013 onward, Malaysia participants who embark on the Winter Work & Travel USA will have to follow the set date given. No employment can start earlier or end later than this range: November 25 – March 15 (not November 15, effective 2016).

Click here to find out the set dates given by the US Department of State for each country.

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Digital Nomad Life: Balancing Work and Travel

In the era of remote work, the digital nomad lifestyle has become increasingly attainable and attractive. The ability to explore new destinations without sacrificing your career is an appealing prospect for many. However, this lifestyle requires a delicate balance between work and travel. In this post, we’ll explore the essentials of thriving as a digital nomad.

Understanding the Digital Nomad Lifestyle

The digital nomad lifestyle represents a fusion of work and travel, leveraging the power of modern technology to create a mobile office. This lifestyle is characterized by:

Flexibility: The ability to work from anywhere with an internet connection, be it a beach in Bali or a cafe in Paris.

Freedom: Breaking free from the 9-to-5 office routine, digital nomads enjoy the liberty to set their schedules and choose their work environments.

Challenges: This lifestyle isn’t a perpetual vacation. It requires discipline, adaptability, and a knack for overcoming logistical challenges.

Digital Nomad Life

Essential Tools and Technology for Digital Nomads

To seamlessly blend work and travel, certain tools and technologies are essential:

Reliable Laptop and Accessories: A high-performing laptop is a digital nomad’s most important tool. Don’t forget necessary accessories like a portable mouse, keyboard, and noise-canceling headphones.

Portable Wi-Fi and Connectivity Solutions: Dependable internet access is crucial. Invest in a good portable Wi-Fi device and research local SIM cards for internet access.

Cloud-Based Productivity Tools: Utilize cloud services for storage and collaboration, such as Google Drive or Dropbox, and project management tools like Asana or Trello.

Finding the Right Work-Life Balance

Balancing work and exploration is key:

Set a Routine: Establish a consistent work routine to stay productive.

Create a Dedicated Workspace: Find spaces that allow you to focus, whether it’s a quiet corner in a hostel or a local co-working space.

Manage Time Zones: If working with clients or teams across different time zones, schedule your work hours accordingly to maintain communication.

Choosing the Right Destinations for Digital Nomads

Selecting the right destination is crucial for a fulfilling digital nomad experience:

Internet Reliability: Look for destinations with strong and reliable internet connectivity.

Cost of Living: Consider the affordability of the destination, including accommodation, food, and transportation.

Cultural Experience: Choose places that offer enriching cultural experiences and opportunities to explore.

Safety and Community: Prioritize safe destinations and those with an existing community of digital nomads.

Networking and Community Building

Building a network is vital for success and well-being:

Co-working Spaces: These are great for meeting fellow nomads and locals, offering a sense of community and opportunities for collaboration.

Online Platforms: Join digital nomad forums, social media groups, or platforms like Meetup to connect with peers and share experiences and tips.

Local Events and Meetups: Attend local events, workshops, or meetups to network and socialize.

Managing Finances and Cost of Living

Effectively managing finances is crucial for sustaining the digital nomad lifestyle:

Budgeting: Track your expenses and plan a budget considering the cost of living in your destination. Tools like Mint or You Need A Budget (YNAB) can be helpful.

Cost-Effective Destinations: Choose destinations with a lower cost of living. Countries in Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, or Central America often offer affordable living without compromising on the digital infrastructure.

Income Management: Diversify your income streams if possible. Alongside your primary job, consider freelance projects or passive income sources.

Navigating Legalities: Visas and Work Permits

Understanding and complying with local laws is essential for digital nomads:

Tourist Visas: Many digital nomads travel on tourist visas. However, be aware of the limitations and legalities of working in a country on a tourist visa.

Digital Nomad Visas: Some countries offer specific visas for digital nomads, allowing them to live and work legally. Examples include Estonia, Barbados, and Croatia.

Tax Obligations: Stay informed about your tax obligations in your home country and any requirements in your host country.

Health and Wellness on the Road

Maintaining health and wellness is vital for digital nomads:

Health Insurance: Invest in international health insurance to cover any medical needs while abroad.

Mental Health: The nomadic lifestyle can be isolating. Prioritize self-care and maintain connections with friends and family.

Physical Activity: Incorporate regular physical activity into your routine, whether it’s yoga, gym workouts, or outdoor activities.

Overcoming Challenges of the Nomad Lifestyle

While exciting, the nomad lifestyle comes with its own set of challenges:

Loneliness and Isolation: Combat this by staying in hostels, joining local clubs or groups, and attending community events.

Burnout: Avoid burnout by setting clear work boundaries, taking regular breaks, and ensuring you take time to enjoy your travels.

Constant Travel Logistics: The logistics of constant travel can be exhausting. Take breaks between moves and consider longer stays at each destination.

Future of Digital Nomadism

The future of digital nomadism looks bright and ever-evolving:

Increased Acceptance: With more companies embracing remote work, the digital nomad lifestyle is becoming more accessible and accepted.

Technological Advancements: Improvements in technology will continue to make working remotely more efficient and connected.

Growth of Nomad Communities: As the community grows, resources and networks for digital nomads will expand, making the lifestyle more sustainable and enriching.

The digital nomad lifestyle is a blend of freedom, adventure, and responsibility. Balancing work and travel requires discipline, flexibility, and a willingness to adapt. For those considering this lifestyle, proper planning and preparation are key.

As you embark on your digital nomad journey, navigating visa applications can be a daunting task. This is where services like GovAssist come in. They provide expert assistance in handling visa applications, making the process smoother, and helping you comply with various international regulations. With the right support and mindset, the dream of balancing work and travel can indeed become a reality.

Are you a digital nomad with insights to share, or are you considering this lifestyle? Feel free to share your experiences or ask questions in the comments below!

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TheTravel

10 Types Of Visas That Can Help Travelers Live, Work Or Study Abroad

  • Understand the types of visas available when considering moving to another country: Student Visa, Working Holiday Visa, Tourist Visa, Work Visa, Long Stay Visa, Volunteer Visa, Digital Nomad Visa, Spouse Visa, Partner Visa, Temporary Resident Visa.
  • Each visa has different requirements and limitations, such as period of validity, ability to work, and other specific requirements. Always check the visa requirements before traveling.
  • Consider your specific needs and goals when choosing a visa, whether it's studying abroad, working and traveling long-term, experiencing living in a country, or accompanying a spouse or partner.

There are many different reasons to travel abroad besides leisure. Many travelers want to delve deeper into a language or culture by staying somewhere long-term. Living abroad to work or study is a rewarding experience, but it can be challenging to organize the process of getting there. Understanding what types of visas are available to travelers that can make living abroad a reality is the first step toward living this travel dream. Here are 10 types of visas to consider when looking for ways to move to another country, either short-term or long-term.

Related: 8 Best Countries For Americans To Study Abroad

Student Visa

This type of visa is best for travelers who are hoping to learn the language in a country while living there or who are hoping to engage in higher education abroad.

A student visa is used for travelers who intend to study abroad. The visa allows them to live in the country for the duration of their studies and, in many cases, may also allow them to legally work part-time up to a certain number of hours each week.

  • Typical Period of Validity: The study period plus 90 days to one year
  • Can You Legally Work While on this Visa: Up to 20 hours a week
  • Other Requirements to Note: The duration of a study permit or visa varies drastically by country

Working Holiday Visa

This type of visa is best for travelers who are hoping to explore a country at length while making money to extend their travels.

A working holiday visa can be a good choice for travelers who want to travel long-term within a specific country. This type of visa exists because of an agreement between the travelers’ home country and their working holiday destination, allowing the visa holder to legally work and live in the country for a specific period (usually 12 to 24 months).

  • Typical Period of Validity: 12 to 24 months
  • Can You Legally Work While on this Visa: Yes
  • Other Requirements to Note: Most countries require you to have a minimum amount of money in your bank account to qualify

Tourist Visa

This type of visa is best for travelers who are hoping to experience what it’s like to live somewhere for 90 days or less and won’t need to work while visiting.

Tourist visas may be sufficient for travelers who want to experience living in a country in the short term. In some cases, American travelers can travel and live (but not work) in a destination for up to 90 days without applying for any additional visa.

  • Typical Period of Validity: Varies by destination
  • Can You Legally Work While on this Visa: No
  • Other Requirements to Note: You may need to apply for a tourist visa, or it may be free upon arrival

Not all tourist visas are valid for 90 days. Many free tourist visas are only valid for 10 days or less. Always check visa requirements before traveling.

A work visa is best for travelers who are relocating to another country to take on a new job (already secured at the time of the move) or who are being sent by their current company to work abroad

A work visa or work permit is a legal document that allows a traveler to accept a job abroad. In most cases, they must secure the job in order to apply for the visa, with the company backing the application.

  • Typical Period of Validity: 1-2 years
  • Other Requirements to Note: Usually, must have a job offer from an employer requiring your special knowledge or skills

Long Stay Visa ( Residence Visa)

A residence visa is best for travelers hoping to live in a new country long-term without becoming a citizen at the present time.

A residence visa allows a person to legally reside in a country long-term without being a citizen. It grants various rights and privileges, such as access to healthcare and education, but doesn't entail full political participation, like voting in elections.

  • Typical Period of Validity: 1-5 years with re-entry allowed
  • Other Requirements to Note: This visa must be renewed regularly

Related: 10 Things To Know About Visas & Being A Digital Nomad In Japan

Volunteer Visa

A volunteer visa is best for travelers hoping to live in a country for an extended period and engage in meaningful community work.

A volunteer visa can allow a traveler to stay in a country longer than they would on a tourism visa while engaging in genuine volunteer work for a community organization. This cannot be a replacement for an otherwise paid role.

  • Typical Period of Validity: Varies
  • Can You Legally Work While on this Visa: Not for pay
  • Other Requirements to Note: The role must be a community organization and not in a role that is normally paid

Digital Nomad Visa

A digital nomad visa is best for travelers who work online and want to live abroad in a specific country long term.

A digital nomad visa is ideal for remote workers who can do their jobs online from anywhere in the world and want to travel while doing so. Digital nomad visas issued in some countries give travelers the ability to stay in a destination long-term while continuing to work for an organization abroad. Travelers can look at Spain's digital nomad visa program , Portugal's digital nomad visa , and many countries with digital nomad visas in the Caribbean .

  • Typical Period of Validity: 6 to 12 months
  • Can You Legally Work While on this Visa: You can work remotely, not as an employee of a local company.
  • Other Requirements to Note: Must be working for an employer outside of that country and able to perform the job from anywhere in the world

Related: Tips For Getting Visas, Extending Visas, and Overstaying Around The World

Spouse Visa

A spouse visa is best for travelers whose legal husband or wife is moving abroad for work or study, and they want to accompany them.

A spouse visa applies to people who are legally married. These types of visas can help the spouse of a traveler go to the destination with them when they are studying or working long-term abroad.

  • Typical Period of Validity: 2 years (renewable for longer after this period)
  • Can You Legally Work While on this Visa: Usually, yes
  • Other Requirements to Note: Must apply for their own work permit

Partner Visa

A partner visa is best for travelers whose common-law partner is moving abroad for work or study, and they want to accompany them.

A partner visa is another way for a traveler to sponsor their partner to travel with them even if they are not legally married. To be considered a “partner,” most countries require the couple to have been in a committed relationship for at least three years.

  • Typical Period of Validity: Six months

Temporary Resident Visa

A temporary resident visa is best for travelers who don’t yet qualify for permanent residency or another type of permit they are seeking but want to remain in the country.

If someone is seeking a permanent resident visa or other status in a country but doesn’t currently meet the requirements, they may be able to secure a temporary resident visa that allows them to stay in the interim.

  • Typical Period of Validity: 1-3 years
  • Can You Legally Work While on this Visa: Must not work or study without a work or study permit
  • Other Requirements to Note: Usually, one must leave the country at the end of this period unless other arrangements are made.

10 Types Of Visas That Can Help Travelers Live, Work Or Study Abroad

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Updated travel information for Mexican citizens coming to Canada

From: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

News release

Canada and Mexico have maintained a deep, positive and constructive diplomatic partnership over the past 80 years. We have worked to ensure North America is the world’s most competitive economic region and maintain strong bilateral, regional and multilateral cooperation. To support travel and people-to-people connections between Canada and Mexico, while also preserving the integrity of our immigration system, the Government of Canada is adjusting its travel requirements for Mexican citizens.

February 29, 2024, 8:30 a.m. – Ottawa – Canada and Mexico have maintained a deep, positive and constructive diplomatic partnership over the past 80 years. We have worked to ensure North America is the world’s most competitive economic region and maintain strong bilateral, regional and multilateral cooperation. To support travel and people-to-people connections between Canada and Mexico, while also preserving the integrity of our immigration system, the Government of Canada is adjusting its travel requirements for Mexican citizens.

As of February 29, 2024, at 11:30 p.m. Eastern time, Mexican citizens who hold a valid US non-immigrant visa or have held a Canadian visa in the past 10 years and are travelling by air on a Mexican passport will be able to apply for an electronic travel authorization (eTA). With the high number of Mexican citizens currently holding US visas, the majority will continue to enjoy visa-free travel to Canada. Those who do not meet these conditions will need to apply for a Canadian visitor visa. This responds to an increase in asylum claims made by Mexican citizens that are refused, withdrawn or abandoned. It is an important step to preserve mobility for hundreds of thousands of Mexican citizens, while also ensuring the sound management of our immigration and asylum systems.

The application process for Mexican citizens seeking a work or study permit will not change. Mexican citizens who want to work in Canada will continue to have access to a wide number of existing labour pathways, including the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and the International Mobility Program.

Canada supports ongoing travel, tourism and business with Mexico. We will continue to work with the Government of Mexico to strengthen our regular pathways to immigration, and with our provincial and territorial counterparts to support a system of managed migration as well as to support those in need of protection. Canada is expanding its network of visa application centres in Mexico to better serve these clients. Today’s action will relieve pressure on Canada’s borders, immigration system, housing and social services, while preserving mobility for Mexican citizens who want to come to Canada.

The Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) is a vital example of the mutually beneficial migration that we seek to promote regionally and globally. Canada is ready to work with Mexico to build on this program, through the modernization of a new SAWP bilateral agreement, to offer Mexican workers new opportunities, through the incorporation of year-round primary agriculture and seasonal fish, seafood and primary food processing into the program. This will benefit workers and businesses on both sides of the Canada–Mexico relationship.

Canada is continuously monitoring the impacts of its visa policies for both visa-exempt and visa-required countries, as well as asylum claim trends. These challenges are not limited to one country. Any adjustment to Canada’s travel requirements are made to preserve the integrity and sustainability of our asylum and immigration systems.

More information about these changes, including for people in transit or with upcoming flights, is available on IRCC’s website .

“Mexico is an important partner to Canada. We will continue to welcome Mexican temporary workers, students, visitors and immigrants who bring diverse skills and important contributions to our economy and communities. We strive for balance between the movement of people between our two great countries, and the need to relieve pressure on our immigration system so we can provide protection to those who need it the most.” – The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Quick facts

Asylum claims made by Mexican citizens reached a record high in 2023 at a time when Canada’s asylum system, housing and social services were already under significant pressure. The majority of these claims (approximately 60%) were either rejected by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, or withdrawn or abandoned by the applicant.

In 2023 alone, asylum claims from Mexican citizens accounted for 17% of all claims made that year from all nationalities around the world. The country’s asylum claim rate has risen significantly since the visa was first lifted in 2016 (from 260 claims in 2016 to 23,995 claims in 2023). 

All eTAs issued to Mexican passports before 11:30 p.m. Eastern time on February 29, 2024, will no longer be valid—except for eTAs linked to Mexican passports with a valid Canadian work or study permit. Mexican citizens travelling to Canada without a valid work or study permit will need to apply for a visitor visa or reapply for a new eTA —if they are eligible.

Mexican citizens holding a valid work or study permit can still travel by air to Canada with their existing eTA as long as it remains valid, and they can continue to study or work in Canada based on the validity and conditions of their permit. Mexican visitors who are already in Canada on an eTA can stay for as long as they are authorized (up to six months from the date they arrive in Canada). However, if they plan to leave Canada and wish to return, they must have the proper travel documents (visa or new eTA). 

Most approved visa applicants receive multiple-entry visas, which allow them to visit Canada as many times as they want, for up to 10 years, or until their passport expires.

The eTA is a digital travel document that most visa-exempt travellers need in order to travel to or transit through Canada by air. IRCC first began expanding its eTA program to eligible citizens from visa-required countries in 2017. Mexico will now be among 15 countries whose citizens can to fly to Canada on an eTA, instead of a visa, if they meet certain requirements .

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  • Link to News Release in Spanish

Contacts for media only:

Bahoz Dara Aziz Press Secretary Minister’s Office Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada [email protected]

Media Relations Communications Branch Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada 613-952-1650 [email protected]

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Customs Duty Information

What is a customs duty.

Customs Duty is a tariff or tax imposed on goods when transported across international borders. The purpose of Customs Duty is to protect each country's economy, residents, jobs, environment, etc., by controlling the flow of goods, especially restrictive and prohibited goods, into and out of the country.

Dutiable refers to articles on which Customs Duty may have to be paid. Each article has a specific duty rate, which is determined by a number of factors, including where you acquired the article, where it was made, and what it is made of. Also, anything you bring back that you did not have when you left the United States must be "declared." For example, you would declare alterations made in a foreign country to a suit you already owned, and any gifts you acquired outside the United States. American Goods Returned (AGR) do not have to be declared, but you must be prepared to prove to U.S. Customs and Border Protection the articles are AGR or pay Customs duty.

The Customs Duty Rate is a percentage. This percentage is determined by the total purchased value of the article(s) paid at a foreign country and not based on factors such as quality, size, or weight. The Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) provides duty rates for virtually every existing item. CBP uses the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States Annotated (HTSUS), which is a reference manual that the provides the applicable tariff rates and statistical categories for all merchandise imported into the U.S.

Duty-Free Shop articles sold in a Customs duty-free shop are free only for the country in which that shop is located. Therefore, if your acquired articles exceed your personal exemption/allowance, the articles you purchased in Customs duty-free shop, whether in the United States or abroad, will be subject to Customs duty upon entering your destination country. Articles purchased in a American Customs duty-free shop are also subject to U.S. Customs duty if you bring them into the United States. For example, if you buy alcoholic beverages in a Customs duty-free shop in New York before entering Canada and then bring them back into the United States, they will be subject to Customs duty and Internal Revenue Service tax (IRT).

Determining Customs Duty

The flat duty rate will apply to articles that are dutiable but that cannot be included in your personal exemption, even if you have not exceeded the exemption. For example, alcoholic beverages. If you return from Europe with $200 worth of purchases, including two liters of liquor, one liter will be duty-free under your returning resident personal allowance/exemption. The other will be dutiable at 3 percent, plus any Internal Revenue Tax (IRT) that is due.

A joint declaration is a Customs declaration that can be made by family members who live in the same household and return to the United States together. These travelers can combine their purchases to take advantage of a combined flat duty rate, no matter which family member owns a given item. The combined value of merchandise subject to a flat duty rate for a family of four traveling together would be $4,000. Purchase totals must be rounded to the nearest dollar amount.

Tobacco Products

Returning resident travelers may import tobacco products only in quantities not exceeding the amounts specified in the personal exemptions for which the traveler qualifies (not more than 200 cigarettes and 100 cigars if arriving from other than a beneficiary country and insular possession). Any quantities of tobacco products not permitted by a personal exemption are subject to detention, seizure, penalties, abandonment, and destruction. Tobacco products are typically purchased in duty-free stores, on sea carriers operating internationally or in foreign stores. These products are usually marked "Tax Exempt. For Use Outside the United States," or "U.S. Tax Exempt For Use Outside the United States."

For example, a returning resident is eligible for the $800 duty-free personal exemption every 31 days, having remained for no less than 48 hours beyond the territorial limits of the United States except U.S. Virgin Islands, in a contiguous country which maintains free zone or free port, has remained beyond the territorial limits of the United States not to exceed 24 hours. This exemption includes not more than 200 cigarettes and 100 cigars:

  • If the resident declares 400 previously exported cigarettes and proves American Goods Returning (AGR) , the resident would be permitted or allowed to bring back his AGR exempt from Customs duty.
  • If the resident declares 400 cigarettes, of which 200 are proven AGR or previously exported and 200 not AGR or not previously exported, the resident would be permitted to bring back his 200 previously exported cigarettes tax and Internal Revenue Tax (IRT) free under his exemption.
  • The tobacco exemption is available to each adult 21 years of age or over.

In December 2014, President Obama announced his intention to re-establish diplomatic relations with Cuba. The President did not lift the embargo against Cuba. Absent a democratic or transitional government in Cuba, lifting the embargo requires a legislative statutory change. Since the announcement, however, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has amended the Cuba Assets Control Regulations (CACR), effective January 16, 2015, to authorize travel within certain categories to and from Cuba and to allow certain imports from and exports to Cuba.

All travelers, including those from Cuba, must comply with all applicable laws and regulations. This includes the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (“HTSUS”) (2016) limitations on personal exemptions and rules of duty extended to non-residents and returning U.S. residents.

Persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction are authorized to engage in all transactions, including payments necessary to import certain goods and services produced by independent Cuban entrepreneurs as determined by the State Department and set forth in the State Department’s Section 515.582 list located at FACT SHEET: U.S. Department of State Section 515.582 List . On October 17, 2016, the Office of Foreign Asset Control relaxed restrictions so authorized travelers, arriving direct from Cuba, are now able to bring Cuban merchandise for personal use back to the United States and qualify for the U.S. Resident exemption (HTSUS 9804.00.65, which allows up to $800 total in goods, and adults 21 and older may include 1 liter of alcohol, 200 cigarettes, and 100 cigars). This exemption also applies to travelers, arriving from any country in the world, with declared Cuban merchandise.

Declared amounts in excess of the exemption are subject to a flat 4% rate of duty, and any applicable IRS taxes, pursuant to HTSUS 9816.00.20 and 19 CFR 148.101, which impose a duty rate of 4% of the fair retail value on goods from a Column 2 country.

Regarding goods: The Department of State will, in accordance with the State Department’s Section 515.582, issue a list of prohibited goods. Placement on the list means that any listed good falls within certain Sections and Chapters of the HTSUS which do not qualify for this exception.

Regarding entrepreneurs : The Cuban entity must be a private business, such as a self-employed entrepreneur or other private entity, not owned or controlled by the Government of Cuba. Travelers engaging in these transactions are required to obtain evidence that demonstrates the goods purchased were obtained from a Cuban entrepreneur, as described above, and should be prepared to furnish evidence of such to U.S. Government authorities upon request. Evidence may include a copy of the entrepreneur’s license and/or an invoice and/or purchase order demonstrating the goods were purchased from a specific Cuban entrepreneur. Whether a traveler presents adequate evidence that a good qualifies from importation and that it was bought from a licensed independent Cuban entrepreneur shall be determined on a case-by-case basis by the inspecting CBP officer.

Imports under Section 515.582 (i.e., imports from licensed independent entrepreneurs not on the Department of State’s prohibited list) must comply with all current U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) formal and informal entry requirements, as applicable. This means that, while there is no value cap on the amount of goods that may be imported under this provision, the applicable duties in the HTSUS must be considered.

In particular, HTSUS 9804.00.65 allows for the duty-free importation of personal-use articles from a Column 2 country when the fair retail value of such goods is under $800. Also see 19 C.F.R. 148.33. HTSUS 9816.00.20 establishes a duty rate of 4% of the fair retail value for personal-use articles under $1,000 imported from a Column 2 country. Thus, any articles imported under this section for personal use with a value of under $800 can be imported duty free, and any articles imported for personal use with a value between $800 and $1800, will be subject to a flat 4% duty rate. Any articles valued over $1800, regardless of whether for personal use, will be subject to entry and should be classified, appraised, and assessed duty appropriately under the specific HTSUS Column 2 rates. Also see 19 C.F.R. 148.101 and 148.102. Any commercial importation, i.e., not for personal use, is subject to entry requirements and payment of applicable duties, fees, and taxes.

While these revised regulations may facilitate certain travel and trade with Cuba, all other laws and regulations applicable to international travel and the importation/exportation of goods remain in full effect. This means that all United States agency requirements applicable to a particular importation must be met and fully complied with, such as the regulations of the Food and Drug Administration, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

Alcoholic Beverages

One American liter (33.8 fl. oz.) of alcoholic beverages may be included in your returning resident personal exemption if:

  • You are at least 21 years old.
  • It is intended exclusively for your personal use and not for sale.
  • It does not violate the laws of the state in which you arrive.

Federal and state regulations allow you to bring back one liter of an alcoholic beverage for personal use duty-free. However, states may allow you to bring back more than one liter, but you will have to pay any applicable Customs duty and IRT.

While federal regulations do not specify a limit on the amount of alcohol you may bring back beyond the personal exemption amount, unusual quantities may raise suspicions that you are importing the alcohol for other purposes, such as for resale. CBP officers enforce the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) laws, rules, and regulations and are authorized to make on-the-spot determinations that an importation is for commercial purposes. If such determination is made, it may require you to obtain a permit and file a formal entry to import the alcohol before the alcohol is released. If you intend to bring back a substantial quantity of alcohol for your personal use, you should contact the U.S. Port of Entry (POE) through which you will be re-entering and make prior arrangements for the importation.

Also, state laws might limit the amount of alcohol you can bring in without a license. If you arrive in a state that has limitations on the amount of alcohol you may bring in without a license, that state's law will be enforced by CBP, even though it may be more restrictive than federal regulations. We recommend that you check with the state government about their limitations on quantities allowed for personal importation and additional state taxes that may apply. Ideally, this information should be obtained before traveling.

In brief, for both alcohol and cigarettes, the quantities eligible for duty-free treatment may be included in your $800 or $1,600 returning resident personal exemption, just as any other purchase should be. But unlike other kinds of merchandise, amounts beyond those discussed here as being duty-free are taxed, even if you have not exceeded, or even met, your personal exemption. For example, your exemption is $800 and you bring back three liters of wine and nothing else, two of those liters will be dutiable and IR taxed. Federal law prohibits business-to-private consumer shipping of alcoholic beverages by mail within the United States.

How to Pay Customs Duty

If you owe Customs duty, you must pay it before the conclusion of your CBP processing. You may pay it in any of the following ways:

  • U.S. currency only.
  • Personal check in the exact amount, drawn on a U.S. bank, made payable to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. You must present identification, such as a passport or U.S. driver's license. CBP does not accept checks bearing second-party endorsement.
  • Government check, money order or traveler's check if the amount does not exceed the duty owed by more than $50.

In some locations/POEs, you may pay duty with either MasterCard or VISA credit cards.

Increased Duty Rates

Items from certain countries.

Under what is known as its "301" authority, the United States may impose a much higher than normal duty rate on products from certain countries. Currently, the United States has imposed a 100 percent rate of duty on certain products of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, The Federal Republic of Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the Ukraine. If you should bring more of any of these products back with you than fall within your exemption or flat rate of duty, (see below) you will pay as much in duty as you paid for the product or products.

While most of the products listed are not the type of goods that travelers would purchase in sufficient quantities to exceed their exemption, diamonds from the Ukraine are subject to the 100 percent duty and might easily exceed the exemption amount.

For information on countries that may become subject to a higher than normal duty rate, check the Department of Commerce Web site.

Countries With Free or Reduced Customs Duty Rates

The United States gives Customs duty preferences-that is, conditionally free or subject to reduced rates-to certain designated beneficiary developing countries under a trade program called the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). Some products that would otherwise be dutiable are not when they are wholly the growth, product, or manufacture of a beneficiary GSP country. Visit the Office of United States Trade Representative website for additional GSP information.

  • Many products from Caribbean and Andean countries are exempt from duty under the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI), Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act, Andean Trade Preference Act and the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act.
  • Many products from certain sub-Saharan African countries are exempt from duty under the African Growth and Opportunity Act.
  • Most products from Israel, Jordan, Chile and Singapore may also enter the United States either free of duty or at a reduced rate under the U.S. free trade agreements with those countries.
  • The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) went into effect in 1994. If you are returning from Canada or Mexico , your goods are eligible for free or reduced duty rates if they were grown, manufactured, or produced in Canada or Mexico, as defined by the Act.

Additional information on these special trade programs can be found on the CBP Web site.

Household Effects & Personal Effects - Customs Duty Guidance

Household effects conditionally included are duty-free. These include such items as furniture, carpets, paintings, tableware, stereos, linens, and similar household furnishings; tools of the trade, professional books, implements, and instruments.

You may import household effects you acquired abroad duty-free if:

  • You used them abroad for no less than one year.
  • They are not intended for any other person or for sale.

For Customs purposes, clothing, jewelry, photography equipment, portable radios, and vehicles are considered personal effects and cannot be brought in duty-free as household effects. However, duty is usually waived on personal effects more than one year of age. All vehicles are dutiable.

Mailing and Shipping Goods - Customs Duty Guidance

Unaccompanied purchases are goods you bought on a trip that are being mailed or shipped to you in the United States. In other words, you are not carrying the goods with you when you return. If your unaccompanied purchases are from an insular possession (IP) or a Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) country and are being imported within 30 days and sent directly from those locations to the United States, you may enter them as follows:

  • Up to $1,600 in goods will be duty-free under your personal exemption if the merchandise is from an IP.
  • Up to $800 in goods will be duty-free if it is from a CBI or Andean country.
  • Any additional amount, up to $1,000, in goods will be dutiable at a flat rate (3%).

To take advantage of the Customs duty-free exemption for unaccompanied tourist purchases (mailing/shipping) from an IP or CBI country:

Step 1. At place and time of purchase, ask your merchant to hold your item until you send him or her a copy of CBP Form 255 (Declaration of Unaccompanied Articles), which must be affixed to the package when it is shipped.

Step 2. (a) On your declaration form (CBP Form 6059B), list everything you acquired on your trip that is accompanying you. You must also complete a separate Declaration of Unaccompanied Articles form (CBP Form 255) for each package or container that will be sent to you after you arrive in the United States. This form may be available where you make your purchase. If not, you may find the form on the CBP website.

Step 3. When you return to the United States, the CBP officer will: (a) collect Customs duty and any tax due on the dutiable goods you have brought with you; (b) verify your list of unaccompanied articles with your sales receipts; (c) validate your CBP Form 255 to determine if your purchases are duty-free under your personal exemption ($1,600 or $800) or if the purchases are subject to a flat rate of duty.

Step 4. Two copies of the three-part CBP Form 255 will be returned to you. Send the yellow copy of the CBP Form 255 to the foreign shopkeeper or vendor holding your purchase, and keep the other copy for your records.

Step 5. When the merchant gets your CBP Form 255, he or she must place it in an envelope and attach the envelope securely to the outside wrapping of the package or container. The merchant must also mark each package "Unaccompanied Purchase." Please remember that each package or container must have its own CBP Form 255 attached , the most important step to follow in order to gain the benefits allowed under this procedure.

Step 6. If your package has been mailed, the U.S. Postal Service will deliver it after it clears Customs. If you owe duty, the Postal Service will collect the duty along with a postal handling fee. If a freight service transports your package, they will notify you of its arrival and you must go to their office holding the shipment and complete the CBP entry procedure. If you owe duty or tax, you will need to pay it at that time in order to secure the release of the goods. You could also hire a customs customhouse broker to do this for you. However, be aware that customhouse brokers are private businesses and are not CBP employees, and they charge fees for their services.

If freight or express packages from your trip landed in the U.S. before you return and you have not made arrangements to pick them up, CBP will authorize their placement into general order bonded warehouse or public storage after 15 days (days for perishable, flammable, explosives). This storage and all other related charges (transportation, demurrage, handling) will be at your risk and expense. If the goods are not claimed within six months, they will be sold at auction.

Per U.S. Postal Service regulations, packages sent by mail and not claimed within 30 days from the date of U.S. arrival will be returned to the sender unless the amount of duty is being protested.

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Visas for Canadian and Mexican USMCA Professional Workers

Domestic Renewal of H-1B Nonimmigrant Visas for Certain Applicants

Generally, a noncitizen who wishes to travel to the United States must first obtain a visa, either a nonimmigrant visa for temporary stay, or an immigrant visa for permanent residence. The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) created special economic and trade relationships for the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Click United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement to visit the Office of the United States Trade Representative website to learn more.

The nonimmigrant USMCA Professional (TN) visa allows eligible citizens of Canada and Mexico to work in the United States as USMCA professionals in prearranged professional level business activities for U.S. or foreign employers. Permanent residents of Canada and Mexico are not able to apply for TN visas to work as USMCA professionals. Select  TN USMCA Professionals  on the USCIS website to learn more about TN nonimmigrant status.

Eligibility for USMCA Professional (TN) Nonimmigrant Status

Canadians and Mexicans may be eligible to work in the United States as NAFTA professionals under the following conditions:

  • Applicant is a citizen of Canada or Mexico;
  • Profession is on the  USMCA list ;
  • Position in the United States requires a USMCA professional;
  • Applicant will work in a prearranged full-time or part-time job for an employer (see  Required Documentation ). Self-employment is not permitted;
  • Applicant has the apropriate qualifications for the profession, including education requirements or experience.

With some exceptions, each profession requires a baccalaureate (bachelor's) degree as an entry-level requirement. If a baccalaureate is required, experience cannot be substituted for that degree. In some professions, an alternative to a bachelor's degree may be acceptable. For some professions, experience is required in addition to the degree. For a complete list of professions with minimum education requirements and alternative credentials, see  Appendix 1603.D.1  of USMCA Chapter 16.

Note : Requirements for Canadians and Mexicans are different, as explained below.

Requirements for Canadian Citizens

A visa is not required for a Canadian citizen entering the United States as a USMCA Professional, although a visa can be issued to a qualified Canadian TN visa applicant upon application at a U.S. embassy or consulate.

A Canadian citizen can apply for TN nonimmigrant status at a U.S. port-of-entry. Learn about these requirements on the  U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)  and  U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)  websites. More information about receiving TN status without applying for a visa is also available on the  U.S. Embassy Ottawa  website.

When is a USMCA Professional (TN) visa required for a Canadian citizen?  A Canadian who lives outside Canada with a non-Canadian spouse and/or child(ren), and who plans to enter the United States as a USMCA professional with their family member(s), will need a TN visa in order for the family member(s) to be eligible to apply for derivative TD nonimmigrant visa(s).

Requirements for Mexican Citizens

Mexican citizens require TN visas to request admission to the United States as USMCA professionals.

How to Apply

There are several steps to apply for a visa. The order of these steps and how you complete them may vary by U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Please consult the instructions on the  U.S. embassy or consulate website .

Complete the Online Visa Application

  • Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application,  Form DS-160  –  Learn more  about completing the  DS-160 . You must: 1) complete the online visa application and 2) print the application form confirmation page to bring to your interview
  • Photo  –You will upload your photo while completing the online Form DS-160. Your photo must be in the format explained in the  Photograph Requirements . (A photo is not required if you are applying in Mexico.)

Schedule an Interview

Interviews are generally required for visa applicants with certain limited exceptions below. Consular officers may require an interview of any visa applicant.

You should schedule an appointment for your visa interview at the  U.S. Embassy or Consulate  in the country where you live. You may schedule your interview at another U.S. Embassy or Consulate, but be aware that it may be more difficult to demostrate you qualify for a visa outside of the country where you live. 

Wait times for interview appointments vary by location, season, and visa category, so you should apply for your visa early. Review the interview wait time for the location where you will apply.

Appointment Wait Time

Check the estimated wait time for a nonimmigrant visa interview appointment at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Note: Please check the individual Embassy or Consulate website to determine if your case is eligible for a waiver of the in-person interview.

Applicants scheduling visa appointments in a location different from their place of residence should check post websites for nonresident wait times.

Select a U.S. Embassy or Consulate:

Prepare for your interview.

  • Fees - Pay the non-refundable visa application fee , if you are required to pay it before your interview. If your visa is approved, you may also pay a visa issuance fee, if applicable to your nationality. Fee information is provided below:  

Select your nationality to see Issuance Fee

  • Review the instructions available on the website of the  embassy or consulate  where you will apply to learn more about fee payment.

Gather Required Documentation

Gather and prepare the following required documents before your visa interview:

  • Passport  valid for travel to the United States - Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States (unless exempt by  country-specific agreements ). Each individual who needs a visa must submit a separate application, including any family members listed in your passport.
  • Nonimmigrant Visa Application,  Form DS-160  confirmation page
  • Application fee payment receipt,  if you are required to pay before your interview
  • Photo  – You will upload your photo while completing the online Form DS-160. If the  photo upload fails , you must bring one printed photo in the format explained in the  Photograph Requirements . (A photo is not required if you are applying in Mexico.) 
  • Your purpose of entry;
  • A detailed description of your anticipated business activities or job responsibilities;
  • Your anticipated length of stay in the United States;
  • Your educational qualifications or appropriate credentials demonstrating professional status;
  • Evidence of your compliance with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulations and/or state laws; and
  • Arrangements for your pay.
  • Documentation proving that you meet the minimum education and/or work experience requirements  set forth in Appendix 1603.d.1 of NAFTA chapter 16 – Evidence of education may include degrees, diplomas, certificates, professional licenses, and /or membership in professional organizations. To demonstrate your experience, present letters from former employers. If you were self-employed, provide your business records.

Additional Documentation May Be Required

A consular officer will interview you to determine your qualifications for a TN visa. Additional documents may be requested to establish if you are qualified. For example, additional requested documents may include evidence of your intent to depart the United States after employment as a USMCA professional.

Licensure  - Proof of licensure to practice a given profession in the United States is not required to receive a TN visa, but you should consider presenting such proof along with your job offer letter and other documentation in support of your TN visa application. Upon arriving in the United States, state or non-Federal authorities may require you to present proof of licensure to practice a given profession.

Review the instructions for how to apply for a visa on the website of the embassy or consulate where you will apply.

Attend Your Visa Interview

During your visa interview, a consular officer will determine whether you are qualified to receive a visa. You will need to establish that you meet the requirements under U.S. law to receive the category of visa for which you are applying.

Ink-free, digital fingerprint scans will be taken as part of your application process. They are usually taken during your interview, but this varies based on location.

After your visa interview, your application may require further  administrative processing . You will be informed by the consular officer if further processing is necessary for your application.

When the visa is approved, you will be informed how your passport with visa will be returned to you. Review the  visa processing time , to learn how soon your passport with visa will generally be ready for pick-up or delivery by the courier.

Additional Information

  • Review  TN NAFTA Professionals  information on the USCIS website for information about employment and studying while in the United States in TD nonimmigrant status.
  • Canadian citizen spouses and children  do not need visas, but should review the  CBP  website for the port of entry requirements.
  • Spouse and children who are not Canadian citizens  must apply for TD nonimmigrant visas.
  • Mexican citizen spouse and children  must apply for TD nonimmigrant visas.
  • Spouse or children seeking to join a TN USMCA Professional in the United States  must show a valid Form I-94 from the principal TN visa holder to show that the principal TN visa holder is maintaining TN visa status.
  • We cannot guarantee that you will be issued a visa. Do not make final travel plans or buy tickets until you have a visa.
  • Unless canceled or revoked, a visa is valid until its expiration date. Therefore, a valid U.S. visa in an expired passport is still valid. If you have a valid visa in your expired passport, do not remove it from your expired passport. You may use your valid visa in your expired passport along with a new valid passport for travel and admission to the United States.

Visa Denial and Ineligibility

Review  Visa Denials  for detailed information about visa ineligibilities, denials, and waivers.

Visa Renewal

Whether you are applying for the first time or renewing your visa, you will use the same application process (please review  How to Apply , above).

I was refused a visa, under section 214(b). May I reapply?

You may reapply if you believe you have additional evidence of your qualifications for a student (F or M) visa, or you believe  your circumstances have changed. Review  Visa Denials  to learn more.

Misrepresentation or Fraud

Attempting to obtain a visa by the willful misrepresentation of a material fact, or fraud, may result in the permanent refusal of a visa or denial of entry into the United States.

Review  Ineligibilities and Waivers: Laws .

Further Questions

  • Case-Specific Questions  - Contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate handling your visa application for status information. Select  U.S. Embassy or Consulate  for contact information.
  • General Questions  - review  Contact Us .

More Information

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  1. Temporary Worker Visas

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  6. Working in the United States

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    To work in the United States temporarily as a lawful nonimmigrant, temporary workers must qualify for the available visa category based on the planned employment purpose. The steps in the process before applying for a visa vary. Review the employment groupings and categories below. Temporary Employment Visas H L O P Q

  10. Visas

    The type of visa you must obtain is defined by U.S. immigration law, and relates to the purpose of your travel. Please visit our Visa Wizard to find out what visa type is appropriate for you. ... To work in the United States temporarily as a lawful nonimmigrant, temporary workers must qualify for the available visa category based on the planned ...

  11. Work & Travel USA Participant Resources

    Work & Travel USA Participant Resources. Need more information about the Summer Work & Travel program? You've come to the right place. ... The J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa (J) non-immigrant visa category is for individuals approved to participate in work-and study-based exchange visitor programs. The visa is administered by the U.S. Department ...

  12. Work & Travel USA

    CIEE Work & Travel USA is the longest-running program of its kind, and there's a reason why we sponsor more participants than any other organization. Whether you're a visiting student or an employer, CIEE delivers unmatched support and the best international exchange experiences. Simple From Start to Finish

  13. Let's Get Started

    This visa allows you to live and work in the United States for up to four months during your university summer break. It also gives you the possibility to travel for an additional 30 days after your job ends. Visitors with J-1 visas require a sponsor. As a student in the CIEE Work & Travel USA program, CIEE is your sponsor.

  14. Summer Work & Travel Program

    The J-1 Summer Work and Travel Visa: This J-1 Visa is a government program that allows qualified full time students to share their cultures and ideas with the people of the United States. The J-1 Summer Work and Travel Visa is for individuals approved to participate in work-and study-based exchange visitor programs.

  15. Summer Work Travel Resource Page

    The BridgeUSA Summer Work Travel Program enables college and university students enrolled full time and pursuing studies at post-secondary accredited academic institutions, located outside the United States to come to the United States to share their culture and ideas with people of the United States through temporary work and travel opportunities.

  16. 10 Different Types of Work Visas for Working in the US

    A work visa is a permit proving an individual from outside the U.S. is legally eligible to work in the U.S. There are different types of visas, including temporary and permanent visas, and visas can also vary depending on the reason for your employment in the U.S.

  17. VISA

    A Student that participates in the "Summer Work and Travel USA" program gets the J-1 visa by the American Embassy which is the legal document for entering the USA. This document is issued with the obligation for the candidate to return to their motherland after the program finishes.

  18. Visas for U.S. citizens traveling abroad

    Top If you are a U.S. citizen planning to travel abroad, you may need a visa to enter a foreign country. Learn how to find your destination's visa requirements.

  19. Work & Travel USA

    Duration of stay in the USA can be up to 5 months (maximum 4 months of employment followed by an optional maximum 30 days of travel within the US). Legal work document and visa are generally issued for only the work duration agreed between each participant and the employer. Participants cannot extend work duration when they are already in the USA.

  20. Summer Work and Travel Exchange Program

    U.S. based exchange visitor sponsors will issue form DS-2019 once they accept applicants into their program. Participants are allowed to work up to four months during the period May 15 - October 01 and are generally allowed a grace period (usually 30 days) to travel in the United States after the end of the exchange program.

  21. Summer Work & Travel (SWT) and Exchange Programs (J)

    Frequently Asked Questions about the Summer Work & Travel Program. ... If you are planning to travel to the United States on a J-1 visa under a program sponsored by the United States Government and the program number in your DS-2019 starts with G-1, G-2, G-3, or G-7, you must carry out a procedure that is different from a regular visa, since ...

  22. Summer Work Travel Program

    The United States' Summer Work Travel program provides post-secondary school students the opportunity to work and travel in the United States. Every year, the program draws thousands of students from around the world, and Thailand is no exception. Many students work at hotels, beach resorts and amusement parks across the U.S.

  23. Visitor Visa

    Overview Generally, a citizen of a foreign country who wishes to enter the United States must first obtain a visa, either a nonimmigrant visa for a temporary stay, or an immigrant visa for permanent residence.

  24. Digital Nomad Life: Balancing Work and Travel

    Navigating Legalities: Visas and Work Permits . Understanding and complying with local laws is essential for digital nomads: Tourist Visas: Many digital nomads travel on tourist visas. However, be aware of the limitations and legalities of working in a country on a tourist visa.

  25. 10 Types Of Visas That Can Help Travelers Live, Work Or Study Abroad

    A work visa or work permit is a legal document that allows a traveler to accept a job abroad. In most cases, they must secure the job in order to apply for the visa, with the company backing the ...

  26. Summer Work & Travel (SWT) and Exchange Programs (J)

    PROGRAMA SUMMER WORK & TRAVEL (SWT) Propósito del Programa. Promover el intercambio cultural permitiendo a los estudiantes de carreras terciarias y/o universitarias viajar a los Estados Unidos para conocer su gente, sus costumbres, perfeccionar el idioma inglés y trabajar temporalmente durante las vacaciones de verano.

  27. Updated travel information for Mexican citizens coming to Canada

    Most approved visa applicants receive multiple-entry visas, which allow them to visit Canada as many times as they want, for up to 10 years, or until their passport expires. The eTA is a digital travel document that most visa-exempt travellers need in order to travel to or transit through Canada by air. IRCC first began expanding its eTA ...

  28. Customs Duty Information

    When you return to the United States, the CBP officer will: (a) collect Customs duty and any tax due on the dutiable goods you have brought with you; (b) verify your list of unaccompanied articles with your sales receipts; (c) validate your CBP Form 255 to determine if your purchases are duty-free under your personal exemption ($1,600 or $800 ...

  29. Visas for Canadian and Mexican USMCA Professional Workers

    Gather Required Documentation. Gather and prepare the following required documents before your visa interview: Passport valid for travel to the United States - Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States (unless exempt by country-specific agreements).Each individual who needs a visa must submit a separate application, including any family ...