Your Summer Work Travel Program Details

You become a Summer Work Travel Program participant after:

• you applied for the Summer Work Travel Program
• you met the eligibility requirements to participate
• you provided all required documents to USUF partner in your country
• you paid all Program fees
• you found your U.S. employer (host company) with or without assistance of USUF
• you have a signed agreement with your host company
• you received the DS-2019 with dates during which you can stay and work in the U.S.
• you paid the SEVIS fee and received I-797 receipt
• you have been issued a J-1 visa by the U.S. Embassy or Consulate
• you visited one of the orientation session in your country
• you are insured for the period of program participation and received your insurance policy summary
• you legally entered the United States
• you registered with SEVIS through the arrival check-in section of this website

 Your Summer Work Travel Program includes:

1. the DS-2019 form (which proves your exchange visitor status and allows you to work up to 4 months in the U.S.)
2. the SEVIS fee
3. Insurance for the duration of the program
4. orientation
5. USUF Summer Work Travel Brochure
6. Program administration and supervision
7. 24-hour emergency assistance
8. Job placement (optional with additional fee)

Your Summer Work Travel Program does NOT include:

1. the visa application fees at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate
2. Round trip airfare to the U.S.
3. Airport transfers
4. Transportation expenses
5. Any daily living expenses including rent, utilities, furnishings, meals, etc.

Home-country physical presence requirement

Participants are not required to stay in their home-country for two years after completion of the program.

Program Duration

Upon job placement and confirmation, USUF will issue your DS-2019 form. ("Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status" from the U.S. government). This Certificate officially identifies USUF as your program sponsor, describes the purpose of the program, and lists the exact dates during which you are allowed to work.

You are eligible to work for a maximum of 4 months with a 30-day post-program option to travel (Grace Period).

Note that you can enroll in the program during the period that coincides with your official summer vacation in your home country. However, your stay in the U.S. during the program duration or the grace period must not violate the rules of the school in your home country for the beginning of the academic year or affect your studies. You must return back to your home country and start your studies on time.

Grace Period allows you to travel within the United States 30 days after completing your program. The last date of your program is the last day you can legally work in the U.S. as stated in box 3 of your DS-2019 form. The grace period allows participants to travel domestically and/or to prepare for and depart from the United States. Once you leave the U.S. you will not be able to re-enter. The 30-day Grace Period is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
 
If you overstay your visa, you are subject to arrest and deportation. Furthermore, violation of immigration regulations may jeopardize the possibility of obtaining a U.S. visa in the future.

SEVIS

Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is an Internet-based system that provides tracking and monitoring, with access to accurate and current information, on nonimmigrant students (F and M visa), exchange visitors (J visa) and their dependents (F-2, M-2, or J-2).

You cannot become a participant of the Summer Work Travel Program or receive a J-1 visa without registration in SEVIS. Therefore, you need to register with SEVIS and pay the SEVIS fee prior your J-1 visa interview in the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Once the SEVIS fee is paid, the official paper receipt, I-797, is generated. This document must be presented at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate with all the other necessary documents in order to get the J-1 visa.

You should also register with SEVIS through the arrival check-in section of this website after you arrive to the U.S. Failure to complete arrival check-in will result in your dismissal from the Summer Work Travel program.

Orientation

We hope that you will thoroughly prepare yourself for participation in the Summer Work Travel program. To have a successful exchange experience in the U.S. you need to receive comprehensive background information about the program and life in the United States prior to your arrival. This is what we will bring you during our orientation session in your country. You will learn useful information which will help you to be fully prepared for every challenge during your stay in the U.S., including employment, governmental paper work, taxes, housing, transportation, travel tips, cultural issues, and much more. Be sure that you listen to the speaker very carefully and take notes. You will also find a brief overview of the above mentioned issues in your USUF Summer Work Travel brochure. Attendance at the program orientation is mandatory.

Employment

You are eligible to work in the United States during the period stated in your DS-2019 form. This period should never exceed 4 months.  Once you enter the U.S., you are required to go to your pre-assigned job. You MUST go to the job that you originally accepted. You cannot change your employer without USUF permission and you may not work as a camp counselor, nanny, au pair, housekeeper or helper in a private home, in a hospital or in the medical field, with airlines, or in adult entertainment during the Summer Work Travel Program. You also cannot work at a place that requires you to invest you own money for the purpose of door-to-door sales. If you violate any of these requirements your program may be terminated and this may jeopardize the possibility of obtaining a U.S. visa in the future.

Program Extension

Unfortunately, we cannot extend your program over the dates on your DS-2019 form. Therefore try to fill the time you spend with our Summer Work Travel program with the most interesting and useful activities.

Returning Back Home

Once you complete the program dates stated in box 3 of your DS-2019 form, you have 30 days to travel within the United States (Grace Period) and return home. Note that you must return to your home country. If you overstay your visa, you are subject to arrest and deportation. Furthermore, violation of immigration regulations may jeopardize the possibility of obtaining a U.S. visa in the future.