Summer Work Travel Program details:

Program Overview
Students Eligibility
Visa Status and Documents
Social Security and Payroll
Taxes
Insurance
Housing
Arrival and SEVIS Validation

Program Overview:

Summer Work Travel: The program provides U.S. employers with a seasonal staffing solution, while allowing international university students to visit the U.S. by working and traveling during their summer vacations.

Students: From 18 to 28 years old with an intermediate-advanced level of English.

Length of program: Up to 4 months, between mid-May to mid-October.

Types of positions: short-term (up to 4 months), entry-level, seasonal positions. Positions include, but are not limited to: Housekeeping, Ride Operators, Retail Staff, Food Servers, Wait Staff, Maintenance, Kitchen Help, Dishwashing, Cashiers, Fast Food Workers, Laundry Attendants, Hotel Desk Clerks, Lifeguards, Parking Attendants, Game Attendants, etc.

Type of visa: J-1 visa

Program cost: There is no charge for employers who participate in the program. Students pay their own placement fees and transportation costs.

Assistance and program support: USUF matches your needs with pre-screened and qualified applicants and provids support to employers and participants throughout the entire program.

The program includes: USUF prepares the employment agreement form, processes all paperwork for J-1 visa applications, holds orientation sessions, assists students in obtaining insurance coverage, and provides 24-hour emergency assistance.

Student Eligibility

Prior to becoming Summer Work Travel Program participants, all students are properly screened and selected for the Program. According to the program rules all participants are:

- Currently enrolled full time in a college or university
- 18 years of age or older
- Able to speak and understand English at a level suitable for the position they fill
- Available to work for up to 4 months

Participating students are eager to work, excited to learn about the U.S., and to make new friends. They usually fill the following positions:

- Housekeeping
- Ride Operators
- Retail Staff
- Cashiers
- Food Servers
- Wait Staff
- Maintenance
- Kitchen Help
- Dishwashing

Summer Work/Travel Exchange Visitor Program participants MAY NOT work as a camp counselor, nanny, au pair, housekeeper in a private home, in the hospital or medical field, or work with airplanes, in adult entertainment or in employment that requires the participant to invest his/her own money for the purpose of door-to-door sales.

Visa Status and Documents

DS-2019 form "Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status" is issued by USUF as a sponsoring organization, designated by the U.S. Department of State. DS-2019 form indicates the program sponsor, the purpose of the program, and specifies the duration of the program. The program dates indicated on the DS-2019 form are the authorized dates during which the participant can legally work in the United States. The DS-2019 form is not a visa; this form must be presented to the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the participant's home country to apply for the J-1 visa. The participant cannot receive the DS-2019 form or apply for the J-1 visa while in the U.S. All students must be in their home country in order to apply for the J-1 visa. The DS-2019, along with the participant's passport, must be carried at all times during the program. Please note that according to the Program Rules participants can stay 30 days longer than stated in their DS-2019 form for in order to travel in the U.S. ("Grace Period"), but they CAN NOT legally work during this period.

J-1 visa is the legal entry document into the U.S. for participants of this program. It is usually stamped in the student's passport and indicates under which status that he or she is allowed to enter the U.S.

Social Security and Payroll

All Summer Work Travel program student 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 and after registration with SEVIS through Arrival Check-in section of this website. They may locate the nearest Social Security office by looking on the Social Security Administration's web site at www.ssa.gov.

The employer is encouraged to help participants get to the Social Security Administration's office. In order to apply participant needs: 1. DS-2019 form, 2. Pasport with the J-1visa and I-94 card (attached to his/her passport), 3. "Dear Social Security Officer " letter. While filling application (s)he may use the tips from the Summer Work Travel Brochure.

Please note that it is legal for the participants to work without a Social Security number, while the Social Security number application is being processed. The verification of application to the SSA and the DS-2019 forms are sufficient documentation to hire and pay to your employees.

Please take into consideration information from Social Security Administration official web site under Employer Reporting Instructions & Information http://www.socialsecurity.gov/employer/hiring.htm.

Taxes

All participants in the Summer Work Travel program are required to pay taxes. However, because they are exchange visitors and holders of a J-1 visa, they do not need to pay all taxes.

Non-exempt taxes:
- Federal Income Tax
- State Income Tax
- City Income Tax

Exempt taxes. These taxes SHOULD NOT BE DEDUCTED from the students' paychecks:
- Social Security and Medicare Tax (FICA)
- Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)

Insurance

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.

Housing

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.

Arrival and SEVIS Validation

The U.S. Department of State has implemented a Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), which keeps a record of international students who are participating in exchange programs in the U.S.

Every student, participating in Summer Work Travel Exchange program must validate his/her visa with SEVIS through the Arrival check-in section of this website in order to work legally in the U.S. Failure to adhere to this policy will result in cancellation of the participant's J-1 visa.

IMPORTANT: IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR STUDENTS TO REGISTER WITH SEVIS BEFORE APPLYING FOR A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. PLEASE REMIND STUDENTS TO REGISTER UPON ARRIVAL AT THE JOB SITE!!