Summer Work and Travel USA - a J1 Visa Programme
Without a doubt, this is one of the greatest ways to discover the United States. As you will learn, there are so many places to see and to visit in this huge country!
What makes this experience so special is that when you go home, you'll have a lot more than great memories and some cool photos. You'll also have an international work experience that will make your CV or resume get the most attention!
Download the Work and Travel USA Brochure here
What makes this experience so special is that when you go home, you'll have a lot more than great memories and some cool photos. You'll also have an international work experience that will make your CV or resume get the most attention!
Start the application process today - click on Apply to get your application pack!
Download the Work and Travel USA Brochure hereEnter the name for this tabbed section: About Work and Travel USA
- Spend up to 5 months (4 months work max) during the summer living, working and travelling within the USA
- Support and full sponsorship in order to get the J1 visa
- Full pre-departure support - including access to our jobs database** and 24/7 support in the US from a dedicated team.** requires pre-registration - click on Online Jobs in the menu
Enter the name for this tabbed section: Eligibility
To qualify for Work and Travel you must be:
At least 18 years old and a student at a college or university
Studying on a degree or diploma course of at least 2 years’ duration
International students are also welcome to applyThere are some restrictions on applications from certain nationalities that may require pre-arranged and secured/ approved jobs before approval. Please email info@istplus.com for full information
Students in their final year at college or university are also eligible!
Enter the name for this tabbed section: What's included
Legal SponsorshipThe Legal Sponsorship and documentation required to apply for the J1 visa (this is known as the DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility)
InsuranceComprehensive medical and liability insurance for the duration of your time in the USA - for full details on this please see ciee.org/insurance
24/7 emergency supportOur teams are available for you 24 hours a day if you have an emergency. You can call them toll free from any phone in the USA
Participant information and ExtrasEvery participant gets a comprehensive handbook - as well as access to discounts and extras. See
Online OrientationEvery participant must complete an online orientation prior to their departure for the USA - this is full of useful an important information about the J1 programme, living in the USA and staying safe.
SEVIS FeesSEVIS stands for Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. It's included in your fees!
Once your application has been approved, we send you a SEVIS receipt along with your other documentation - you then take this to the embassy interview with you!
Enter the name for this tabbed section: Apply
Its simple - just download the application below. You'll see there are two downloads: One is the application YOU complete - the other is a simple PDF form you can send to your employer in the USA (if they dont have one). They just need to fill out some simple information, sign and date it, and then either scan and email or fax back to you (they can also post it, but this takes far longer)..
You can then send it through to us and we'll add it to your application!
Remember - if you have all your documents scanned as a single PDF file, you can email your application direct to info@istplus.com (files must be in total no larger than 3mb) - we'll then contact you for payment.
You can then send it through to us and we'll add it to your application!
Remember - if you have all your documents scanned as a single PDF file, you can email your application direct to info@istplus.com (files must be in total no larger than 3mb) - we'll then contact you for payment.
Citizens of certain countries (UK included) are allowed to apply for the programme without a pre-arranged job. We do not recommend this - however if you choose to do so you must complete and send an additional document with your application.
Important information about dates on your forms:
Please note that once an application has been received and the data entered, any changes in dates will be subject to a £12.50 administration charge.
Please note that once an application has been received and the data entered, any changes in dates will be subject to a £12.50 administration charge.
Enter the name for this tabbed section: Fees
Fees Breakdown
- Registration Fee: £359
- Up to 5 months J1 insurance (compulsory): £115
- SEVIS Fees: £25
Total: £499
SAVE £30 on your application if you have a previous J1 Visa - even if it wasn't with IST Plus. Pay just £469
Your Fees include:
CIEE Membership.- Access to online services.
- Processing, administration and sponsorship documents required to apply for J1 visa.
- Discounts across the USA.
- Pre-paid phone card/ sim card
Enter the name for this tabbed section: What's NOT included
What's not included
Plane TicketsTravel and tickets are the responsibility of the participant
AccommodationParticipants organise this themselves, but advice and guidance can be found here
The US Embassy Interview and Visa Processing FeeCurrently $140 (this is only payable at the time of booking your interview and must be made directly to the US Embassy using a valid credit or debit card) See here for more info on the J1 visa interview
Enter the name for this tabbed section: Online Jobs
CIEE Direct Online Job Service
There are lots of US employers looking to employ international students this summer - with the CIEE Direcvt database you can create a resume and apply direct for these. Please note there is an additional £100 fee for this service (payable only when you apply for the programme)
In order to create an account for you, we need the following information.
Once we have received this we will send you the details you need to log into the system, as well as instructions on putting together your online resume.
Once we have received this we will send you the details you need to log into the system, as well as instructions on putting together your online resume.
Enter the name for this tabbed section: Embassy Interviews
The J1 Visa Embassy Interview
Once you have received your DS-2019 and other documents from IST Plus, you are able to call the US Embassy to book your face to face interview for your J1 visa.
To do this you need to call the EMBASSY BOOKING LINE on 09042 450 100. Calls are charged to this line at £1.20/min from BT landlines; some mobile and network providers may charge more. In addition, some callers outside the UK and some network providers can not access this number.
This service is available at the following times:
* Monday - Friday: 8:00 am until 9:00 pm
* Saturdays: 9:00 am until 4:00 pm
IST Plus is not responsible for external content. This video and the information provided within are the property of the US Department of State
The DS-160 online form
All applicants now need to complete the DS-160 online form prior to attending their face to face interview.
Please go to https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/ for more information and to complete the form.
You will need to have a suitable photo on your computer to upload to the form - please see here for photo requirements.
Make sure you have the following information to hand when you call, or you may not be allowed to book an interview:
DS-2019 number: this normally starts with an “N000” and can be found on your welcome documentation, insurance confirmation, and at the top right hand side of the DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility (easily recognised by the vertical “bar code” on the top right of the page).
Program Number: The following Codes apply:
- Summer Work and Travel: P-3-04320
Legal Sponsor: This is CIEE (unless you are going on a Camp USA Programme, in which case the legal sponsor is INTEREXCHANGE).
Passport number
Email address
***You may well be asked if you need to pay the SEVIS fee. This has already been paid on your behalf and a receipt is in your pack with your documentation. It will either be a print out from The Department of Homeland Security (I-901) or a watermarked certificate (I-797).***
You will also need a valid debit or credit card with which to make the payment of $140 US dollars. This is the standard interview fee that any person applying for a visa to the US must pay.
Enter the name for this tabbed section: The DS-2019 and J1 Visa
DS-2019 Certificate and J1 Visa
The DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility is the document you need in order to book and attend a face to face interview at the US Embassy for a J1 Visa. It is issued by the legal sponsor (CIEE) and shows you have been approved for the programme. It is a very valuable document that you must keep safe at all times.
You will be issued with this once we have been able to approve your programme.
When you attend your face to face interview at the embassy, they will take this from you - along with your passport. They will send it back to you with you passport once your visa has been processed. Your J1 visa will be printed inside your passport.
You will be issued with this once we have been able to approve your programme.
When you attend your face to face interview at the embassy, they will take this from you - along with your passport. They will send it back to you with you passport once your visa has been processed. Your J1 visa will be printed inside your passport.
The DS-2019
The J1 Visa
Enter the name for this tabbed section: Videos
Some Work and Travel Participants telling it in their own words!
Enter the name for this tabbed section: How long does it take to get my visa?
For Summer Work and Travel it normally takes about 2-3 weeks to get the legal documentation (DS-2019 Certificate) needed to apply for the J1 visa..
Here's how it works:
• You complete the application forms and submit to IST Plus
• We check them and get in touch with you if there is anything missing or we feel they need revising
• If complete we start the process of getting the sponsorship
• Our partners in the USA check the applications and look to approve the application
• Once approval has been given, your legal documentation is authorised and printed in the USA
• Your legal documentation is sent to our offices in the UK
• We send these to you via 1st class post unless otherwise requested
• You are then free to book your face to face visa interview at the US Embassy
• After your interview, you can expect to wait 3-5 working days before your visa is returned to you by the embassy secure courier service
• Once you have received your visa and DS-2019 back form the embassy you are free to go to the US on or after the date you gave us as your departure date!
Here's how it works:
• You complete the application forms and submit to IST Plus
• We check them and get in touch with you if there is anything missing or we feel they need revising
• If complete we start the process of getting the sponsorship
• Our partners in the USA check the applications and look to approve the application
• Once approval has been given, your legal documentation is authorised and printed in the USA
• Your legal documentation is sent to our offices in the UK
• We send these to you via 1st class post unless otherwise requested
• You are then free to book your face to face visa interview at the US Embassy
• After your interview, you can expect to wait 3-5 working days before your visa is returned to you by the embassy secure courier service
• Once you have received your visa and DS-2019 back form the embassy you are free to go to the US on or after the date you gave us as your departure date!
Enter the name for this tabbed section: Contact Us
Can't find what you're looking for or need some more help?
Use this form to send a message to our team and one of us will get back to you as soon as we can.