USA
Work and Travel Visa

To be eligible for the US Work and Travel Visa you must:

• Be a citizen of Australia or New Zealand;
• Be a full-time post secondary school student or a recent graduate (within the last 12 months);
• Be aged between 18 and 28 years old;
• Be able to provide proof of access to at least US$2,000 before departure;

To apply, complete the US working holiday visa application form and return it to our Sydney office (if you are in Australia). We will then issue you with a DS-2019. You will need to bring your passport down to the US embassy. There the immigration officer will stamp it and leave it in your passport. This should remain in your passport and not be removed.

NB: Make copies of both your passport and this form and keep it saved somewhere safe as they prove that you are eligible to work in the US.

Your full application must be submitted to Visa First in Sydney (for Australians) a minimum of 8 weeks before your departure date.

You can go on the Work USA 12-Month Visa at any time of the year for up to 12 months.

No. You can get a job after you arrive in the US. You can work in any position which is not restricted. Interexchange is also available for assistance while you are in the US.

As your US authorised sponsor for this program, Interexchange is responsible for ensuring that you arrive in the US with sufficient funds to support yourself before you start earning your own money. You will need to declare that you have access to a minimum of US$2000. You may also be asked by Immigration for evidence of these funds when you enter the US and when applying for your visa at the US Consulate serving your state.

Under US Government program regulations, you must have an approved level of insurance cover to go on the US work and holiday program. Our custom insurance plans meet this requirement. Our insurance covers you for emergency and accidents including hospital cover - but only while you are on the program. You can apply for this with our team when you apply for your US Visa.

Participants are required to contact Interexchange and report their current address and employment status within 10 days of their arrival. If you have not secured a position Interexchange must be notified.

No.

Yes.

There are some restrictions on the type of work you can do in the US on your US Work and Travel Visa. Working in the following areas is prohibited:

• Au Pairs, maids or any other domestic work such as baby-sitting or housekeeping
• Camp counsellors;
• Medical interns or anything involving hands-on therapy, counselling, administering treatment or making diagnoses of medical, psychiatric or psychological patients or animals;
• Pilots or crewmembers on ships or airplanes;
• Teachers or educational instructors;
• Adult entertainment industry jobs;
• Sales jobs involving purchasing sales merchandise to resell (e.g. door-to-door sales).

There are lots of different opportunities for work on the US Work and Holiday Program. Some candidates choose to work in resorts, hotels, restaurants, amusement parks and national parks while others are more interested in city living and head straight for the city to find a job. There are some restrictions on the type of work you can do.

For the first few nights in the US you may need short-term accommodation before settling in to your longer-term housing. Most people arrive at one of the main gateway cities. You should make a reservation before you arrive at your final destination to ensure a bed or room upon arrival.

If you need any assistance with this just let the team at Visa First know.

Your US Visa will be a J1 Visa but unlike the traditional J1 Visa it is valid for a one-year working holiday in the US.

Yes, but only for up to 30 days. Once your DS-2019 has expired you have 30 days from the expiration date to travel within the US.

You must have the copy of your DS-2019 Form for your US Visa to be valid. If this is lost, Interexchange will replace the form. A good safeguard is to always keep the copy of your DS-2019 Form in your passport and have copies put elsewhere in a safe place. If you lose your passport, please contact your nearest Embassy or Consulate as soon as possible so that they can assist you in obtaining new documentation.

Yes. But if you plan on travelling outside of the US during your program, you must first notify our US partner Interexchange and request permission to travel. Interexchange will need to sign your DS-2019 Form and issue you a letter of "Good Standing" that indicates that you are still a current participant and that you will be returning to the US to continue on with your program.

Please follow these steps for successfully travelling in and out of the country.

1. Make sure you are travelling WITHIN the dates on your DS-2019 Form. Travel outside of these dates is prohibited, and will prevent you from re-entering the US.

2. Send your DS-2019 Form to Interexchange at least two weeks prior to your trip using mail that can be tracked (i.e. - Fed Ex).  Include a note stating your travel plans, US address, and phone number.

3. INCLUDE a self addressed, PREPAID, TRACKABLE envelope (i.e. Fed Ex).  Interexchange will use this to send your signed DS Form and a letter of "Good Standing."

If you want to visit the Interexchange office in order to get your DS-2019 signed in person, please call the Interexchange Customer Service Center on 1-800-621-1202 to let them know when to expect you.  

Please also note that your DS-2019, J-1 visa, and passport must be valid in order to re-enter the US. You need to also make sure it states "M" under "Entries" on your J-1 visa. If it states "S" or "1," you will not be able to re-enter the US to finish your Work and Travel USA Program.

No, the US Working Holiday Visa does not entitle you to study in the US.

The fees for this US Visa (including all embassy fees) are:

Non-placement option – AU$955
Placement option – AU$1155

Your program fee covers your Interexchange services and support whilst in the US including the sponsorship of your US visa.

No, applicants are only permitted to apply for the US working holiday visa once.

Thousands of customers choose Visa First to organise their working holiday visas every year because:

• We make getting the visa you need fast and hassle-free.
• We are the only company with an online visa status engine which allows you to check the status of your visa 24/7. Check your status now.
• We’re visa experts and have organised over 130,000 visas for people like you.
• Our visa guarantee means no visa – no fee!*
• We don’t just do visas, we sort out everything you’ll need overseas – from accommodation, bank accounts, airport pick up, jobs and much more.