US Work and Travel Visa 2024 Application Guide
A US work and travel visa is a type of temporary visa that allows international university students to experience US culture while working unskilled seasonal or temporary jobs during their summer vacation.
The work and travel visa, also known as the American WAT, is issued within the scope of the American exchange program visa and must be accepted by an exchange sponsor organization approved by the US Department of State before application.
Work and Travel Participation Dates
According to the list announced by the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs on November 21, 2023, the date range for university students applying to participate in the US Work and Travel program has been determined as May 15 – October 1, 2024.
Eligibility Criteria for the US Work and Travel Program
Participation criteria for the US work and travel program are listed below.
- English proficiency to interact in an English-speaking environment
- Having completed high school outside the United States
- Have successfully completed at least one semester or the equivalent of post-secondary academic study
- Have a job placement prior to entering the US
- Will be returning to home country before the university start date
How to Get a US Work and Travel Visa?
If you want to go to America with Work and Travel, you must first determine a sponsoring institution approved by the US Department of State. The WAT sponsor determines an employer in America where you can work temporarily according to your characteristics and prepares an employment contract. After receiving the DS-2019 form (Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Program Status) from the sponsoring institution, you must pay the SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) fee online. After completing these procedures, you can start the American Work and Travel visa application process.
For a work and travel visa application, you must fill out the US online visa application form (DS-160), then pay the visa fee at usvisa-info.com and make an appointment at a foreign representative office. On the appointment day, you complete the work and travel visa application process by submitting your application documents, providing biometric (fingerprint) registration, and having a visa interview with a consulate officer. You will be notified at the end of the interview whether your work and travel visa is approved or not.
America Work and Travel Sponsors
For work and travel program sponsorship, the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Exchange Programs official website (https://j1visa.state.gov/) lists 38 institutions approved by the Department of State.
Once you have identified a suitable institution among the exchange sponsors approved by the US Department of State and met the requirements, you can be placed anywhere in the US under the work and travel program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to frequently asked questions about US work and travel are provided below.
What are the Required Documents for the USA Work and Travel Visa?
In addition to the standard visa application documents for the US work and travel visa, the things you need to prepare are listed below.
- Work and travel employment contract
- DS-2019 form
- SEVIS I-901 fee receipt
- Official transcript
- Current CV
- Invitation letter
- Evidence of financial sufficiency
- Document regarding military service status
How Much Are Work and Travel Fees in the USA?
The total visa application fee is $380, including the SEVIS I-901 fee of $220 and the visa application fee of $160, which you must pay before applying for a US work and travel visa.
Apart from the visa fee, the fees you will need to pay for the WAT work placement in the US and to obtain the DS-2019 form vary depending on the exchange sponsoring institution.
How Long Can I Stay in the USA with a Work and Travel Visa?
With a work and travel visa, you can stay in the United States for a maximum of 4 months. Your work and travel visa cannot be extended and you must return to your country at the end of the program to continue your education.
If you go to the United States under the work and travel program and continue to meet the required conditions, you have the right to re-apply for the following summer terms.