     
Employer's Frequently Asked Questions: Program Information Q. How much does it cost to hire international
students? Social Security and Taxes information Q. Do Summer Work Travel participants have Social
Security cards?
Insurance Information Q. What if a participant is injured on the job?
Program Information Q. How much does it cost to hire international students? A. Nothing. There is no charge for employers who participate in the program. Students pay their own placement fees and transportation costs. Q. When are Summer Work Travel participants available? A. Students arrive between May and July and can work until September or October. Q. What is Summer Work Travel participants
profile? A. Students from 18 to 28 years old with an intermediate-advanced
level of English Q. How many hours per week can participants
work? A. Students usually work between 35 and 40 hours per week. Overtime
compensation laws apply to Summer Work Travel participants. Please
indicate the proposed schedule in the Employer and Job Profile
so that participants have a clear understanding of the job expectations. Q. Can a Summer Work Travel participant get
more than one job? A. The J-1 visa allows participants to work at more than one
job. Students can have two jobs as long as it does not conflict
with the responsibilities of their primary job and is approved
by the USUF. A. You must pay international employees the same wage that you
would pay an American employee doing the same job. Q. Do I have to provide housing? A. According to program rules students are responsible for arranging
their own housing. Employers are encouraged to assist students
with arranging their accommodation. Please pay attention to questions
about housing while completing the Employer and Job Profile. This
will help to make arrangement of housing for your future summer
employees most effective. Q. How do Summer Work Travel participants
get to their work site? A. All Summer Work Travel participants are responsible for their
own transportation costs. It would be very helpful if you could
help with picking students up from the airport or train/bus station,
especially if you hire a large group of students. Q. What laws apply to Summer Work Travel
participants? A. International participants are subject to the same laws and
regulations as their U.S. counterparts. Q. Can I employ my international students
for five months? A. No. Summer Work Travel participants are allowed to work a
maximum of 4 months. The dates on the participant's DS-2019 are
the dates s/he is eligible to work. The program can not be extended
under any circumstances. There is a 30-day period at the end of
the program during which the participants can stay in the U.S.
but this period can be only used for travel. It is illegal for
participants to work during the travel period. Q. Can I hire the same participant for the
next year? A. Yes, students are welcome to participate for a second time
during one of the next summer seasons, if they still meet the
participant eligibility requirements. Q. How I contact USUF if I have any questions
during the season? A. Please call us at (202)223-2228. USUF office hours are 9:30
a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. There is also a 24-hour emergency
assistance line for employers and program participants. Social Security and Taxes information Q. Do Summer Work Travel participants have Social Security cards? A. Yes. All Summer Work Travel program participants MUST secure
a Social Security number (SSN) in order to work legally in the
United States. Students may apply for a Social Security card at
the Social Security office nearest to their place of employment,
upon arrival in the United States. They will receive a receipt
that shows that they have applied for a Social Security card.
The card should arrive within 6 weeks. Q: Is it legal for the participants to work
without a Social Security number, while the Social Security number
application is being processed? A: Yes. The verification of application to the SSA and the DS-2019
forms are sufficient documentation to hire and pay your employees.
Please take into consideration information from the Social Security
Administration official web site under Employer Reporting Instructions
& Information http://www.socialsecurity.gov/employer/hiring.htm. Q. Are international students exempt from
paying taxes? A. Participants on a J-1 Visa are considered non-resident aliens.
All participants in the Summer Work Travel program are required
to pay federal, state and local taxes. Social Security (FICA),
Medicare or federal unemployment (FUTA) taxes SHOULD NOT BE DEDUCTED
from the students' paychecks. For more detailed tax information,
please review the IRS's Employer Tax Guide and Publication 515
at www.irs.gov. Summer Work Travel participants
must file a tax return and are often eligible for a refund at
the end of the fiscal year. Q. Do I have to provide Summer Work Travel
participants with a W-2 form? A. Yes. Ask your international employee to give you a self-addressed
envelope when they are filling out their W-4. The W-2 forms should
be mailed to participants in their home countries as soon as possible.
Insurance Information Q. Do Summer Work Travel participants have
health insurance? A. Yes. All participants are insured prior to their arrival to
the U.S. with medical benefits with a minimum of $50,000 per accident
or illness Participants pay for their own insurance. In order
file a claim, participants should contact their insurance company.
Claim instructions and contact information is listed in their
insurance brochure. Q. What if a participant is injured on the
job? A. Participants are protected by the same labor laws as U.S.
citizens. All job-related injuries are covered by Worker's Compensation.
Please refer to your Worker's Compensation insurance policy. |
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