Summer Work Travel
The Summer Work Travel program permits foreign nationals who are currently post secondary students or recent graduates from post secondary institutions, the opportunity to live and work in the US during their university’s summer break. ACES works with many seasonal US employers who welcome international student employees. Participants can choose to accept job placements facilitated by ACES or to secure their own seasonal employment as long as the employing company complies with regulations and can be vetted and approved as an employer.
Dates of Participation:
Students are only permitted to participate during their university ‘s official summer break within the home country’s established dates, whichever is most restrictive. SWT Program Dates.
Sponsorship:
Sponsorship is provided to students who have been vetted for eligibility and who have secured and/or accepted pre-approved employment. Students must be at least 18 years of age or over, be currently enrolled in an accredited post-secondary institution with classroom based education with at least 1 semester finished, be free of any criminal activity and be in good health. Students must also be financially able to pay all program fees and to sustain themselves while in the US before their first pay check. Employment must be vetted to insure compliance as a host employer. Employers must show seasonality needs to fill with J1 students for general labor positions and must be willing to submit a completed seasonality survey, a copy of the workers compensation policy under which the J1 students would work, submit a copy of a current business license and complete and sign a job offer for an eligible student.
Job Placement:
Most participants choose to take part in the job placement option of the program. In applying for this option, a participant is applying for visa sponsorship based on a job placement through a pre-approved employer. Employment details are supplied to the participant for approval prior to securing a match. Employers and landlords rely on our participants and our agreements, therefore once an agreement is made, the participant is committing to the employment and lodging arrangements. Visa sponsorship is based on that commitment. Should conflicts arise in the employment or lodging arrangements, participants are to contact ACES immediately. A representative will assist in resolving any conflicts. In this option, the participant pays a small “placement” fee in addition to the sponsorship fee.
Following job placement, students will complete the J1 Summer Work Sponsorship Application. Most students will enroll through a recruiting agency in their home country and the agent will provide a link for the sponsorship application. In rare cases, we permit direct applications. To apply directly for consideration Apply Here
Self-Placed Employment:
Some participants have been to the United States before or have friends who have traveled previously on the program and secure employment and housing prior to departing for the United States. In this option, the participant simply needs to have this employment and housing approved by an ACES representative prior to their departure of their home country. In this option, the participant simply pays the sponsorship fee however, the employer and housing must be vetted and approved before sponsorship can be offered.
Employment Restrictions:
Summer Work Travel Participants may not accept jobs in the following categories: camp counselors, au pairs/nannies, domestic housekeepers or caregivers, pedicab workers, drivers, fishery workers, door to door sales where you may be required to invest your own monies for inventory, adult entertainment or any other position that would look unfavorably on the program or would restrict a Participant’s ability to engage in cultural exchange. All employment must be submitted to and approved by an ACES representative. Participants are subject to the summer work travel eligibility dates as determined by their own home country.
Travel:
The program permits and encourages participants to remain in the United States and to travel for up to 30 days after the program end date. HOWEVER, participants are limited to the total amount of time officially established by the university as summer break, even if they graduated. Should a Participant enter the US prior to their contract date or travel after their contract date, they are responsible for any and all arrangements and associated costs.