Rules & Regulations
Purpose of J-1 Work/Travel Program
The State Department J-1 Work Travel Program is an Exchange Visitor Program designed to achieve the educational objectives of international and cultural exchange by involving young adults in the daily life of the host country through temporary employment opportunities and to return home to share their experiences. A secondary goal of the program is to encourage Americans to participate in the educational and cultural programs in other countries through exposure to students from around the world. Today's global markets require international work experience, and the value added by working in the USA is immeasurable to students from overseas.
Federal Minimum Wage
Workers will receive the federal minimum wage set by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Federal Minimum Wage is $7.25 per hour effective July 24, 2009. Employers of "tipped employees" must pay a cash wage of at least $2.13/hr if they claim a tip credit against their minimum wage obligation. If an employee's tips combined with the employer's cash wage of at least $2.13/hr do not equal the minimum hourly wage, the employer must make up the difference. Any international workers employed will be paid the equivalent of their American counterparts.
Forbidden Jobs on J-1 Work & Travel Program
Participants may not be employed as domestic employees in U.S. households or in positions that require them to invest their own money to provide themselves with inventory for the purpose of door- to-door sales.
SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System)
SEVIS has been set up by the U.S government in an effort to keep track of all the exchange visitors on J-1 visas and international students on F or M visas. Therefore, all of the participants on J-1 Work & Travel Program MUST check-in with SEVIS within 10 days of your arrival for program validation and if there is any change of your U.S address during the program, you need to update SEVIS about the changes within 10 days of the change to maintain a good visa status. If you forget this important rule required by the U.S government, you are going to be in danger of losing your visa status. You can find more information about SEVIS in your orientation materials and participant handbook.
Please click here to check-in or update your new address with SEVIS.
Optional Travel Period
You are authorized to travel in the United States for a period of 30 days after the end date on your DS-2019 form. If you travel out of the United States during this period, you will not be able to re-enter United States. Any participants who remain after this travel period without proper legal authorization are subject to deportation and violation of immigration laws that may jeopardize your plan to enter U.S. in the future.
