Have you ever thought, “There’s no working holiday program in the US?”
Yes, there is no formal 'working holiday visa' like in Australia or Canada, but instead there is a 'working holiday visa' for university students. Work and Travel USA There is a program.
This program is a special opportunity to work and travel in the United States during the summer vacation.
It is a popular program that attracts thousands of students from all over the world every year.
But the problem is… There are a limited number of seats and it is first-come, first-served!
Competition for participation is expected to become more intense in 2025.
If you don't prepare now, it's really You may have to wait a whole year.
In this article, we will tell you everything about the US Work and Travel Program –
Participation requirements, application method, schedule, cost, tipsI will explain each and every detail to you.
👉 At the end of the text Preparation ChecklistThere is also a section, so be sure to read it all the way through!
What is US Work and Travel?
When many people think of 'working holiday', they first think of Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.
The reason is simple: these countries target young people. Working Holiday VisaBecause we operate an official system called .
What about America then?
To conclude, There is no visa called a “working holiday” in the United States.
But this Institutions that play a very similar roleexists.
It is hosted by the U.S. State Department. J-1 Summer Work and Travel Programno see.
This program is designed to allow college students to experience American culture and life while working in the United States for a short period of time during their summer vacation.
In general Stay up to 4 monthsdo.
You can earn a certain level of income through short-term jobs (amusement parks, hotels, restaurants, resorts, etc.).
You can also travel within the United States for up to 30 days after your contract ends.
Official program for participation with a J-1 visaAnd,
U.S. Government and Approved Sponsoring AgenciesIt proceeds through .
In other words, it is not just a simple trip or part-time job, This is important because it is a formal exchange visitor visa program.
The official program outline and requirements can be found on the U.S. Department of State's official website:
https://j1visa.state.gov/programs/summer-work-travel
Who can participate?
The Work and Travel USA program is not open to all young people.
Strict eligibility requirementsIf this condition is not met, the visa issuance itself will be denied.
Here are the eligibility criteria as of 2025:
- Regular college student: Applicants must be enrolled in a regular 4-year university or vocational college in Korea or abroad at the time of application. Those who are expected to graduate are not eligible
- 18 years of age or older: Most sponsoring organizations prefer applicants under 28 years of age, but legally, applicants can apply as long as they are 18 years of age or older.
- Able to communicate in basic English: Confirm English communication skills required for the job through an interview
- Academic performance and attendance: Your integrity at university is also taken into consideration when evaluating (GPA, absence rate, etc.)
- No criminal record: Background Check is required
Additionally, participants must be approved by the U.S. government Sponsoring OrganizationIt must be done through,
You must also meet the criteria set by these organizations (English interview, document submission, fee payment, etc.).
The major sponsorship agencies in Korea are usually Between October and December We are starting to recruit participants,
Because the deadlines are fast, it is very important to prepare from the beginning of the semester.
Application Period and Procedure
Although the Work and Travel USA program is a short-term stay, the preparation process is very systematic and complex.
Program application → Sponsor assignment → Job matching → Visa interview → Departureuntil
Advance preparation is required at least 4 to 6 months in advance.
As of the summer season of 2025, Applications will begin around October 2024.It starts with most agencies.
The exact application deadline will vary depending on the sponsoring organization and job availability.
Especially popular jobs (amusement parks, resorts, etc.) can close as early as November.
The general procedure is as follows:
- Agency Consultation and Registration: Express your intention to participate, complete a preliminary English interview and register your profile
- Sponsor and Employer Matching: Interview with an approved U.S. employer
- Confirmation of participation and preparation of documents: After receiving the DS-2019 document, schedule a visa interview
- U.S. Embassy J-1 Visa Interview: Visa issued upon passing the interview
- Departure and Orientation: Book your flight and take pre-departure training
Things to note are, Passing an interview is absolutely necessary for visa issuance, and there is a possibility of rejection due to insufficient documents or lack of communication.The point is that it does.
Additionally, if the employer in the United States directly terminates the contract or the sponsor does not approve,
It is also essential to check the contract and the credibility of the institution, as this may result in the loss of visa validity.
👉 Section 4 is about the Work and Travel program. Actual costs, including participation fees, visa fees, and airfareWe will analyze it in detail.
Just scroll down a little more!
Costs and required documents
The Work and Travel USA program allows you to earn a certain amount of money through short-term employment,
Initial costs must be paid in advance by the participant. Therefore, accurate budget planning is very important.
As of 2025, the average cost of participation is:
| item | Estimated Cost (USD) | note |
|---|---|---|
| Sponsorship Program Participation Fee | $1,000 ~ $1,500 | Varies by sponsor |
| US Embassy Visa Application Fee | $185 | J-1 Visa (as of 2025) |
| SEVIS Fee | $35 | Payment to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security |
| Airline ticket | $1,200 ~ $1,800 | Varies by season/route |
| Passport Issuance and Insurance | $100 ~ $200 | Includes required documentation and coverage |
▶ Total estimated cost: approximately $$2,500 - $$3,700 (Around 3.5 to 5 million won)
In addition, you must prepare the following documents:
- ✅ Valid passport (at least 6 months from the end date of travel)
- ✅ Certificate of attendance and transcript (issued in English)
- ✅ Bank statement (minimum $2,000 recommended)
- ✅ English Resume
- ✅ English Interview Pass Certificate
- ✅ DS-2019 form (issued by sponsor)
“Visa application fees and SEVIS fees can be checked and paid in real time on the U.S. Embassy Visa Application Portal and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security SEVIS official website, respectively.”
- DS-160 Completion Page:
https://ceac.state.gov/CEAC/ -
Check and pay your SEVIS fee:
SEVIS I-901 Fee Payment
What do you do?
The Work and Travel program is a cultural exchange program with short-term employment as the premise.
thus Professionals and office workers are excluded., most of the jobs are
Focused on simple tasks such as service industry, tourism, resorts, and amusement parksno see.
As of 2025, the most common occupations held by Korean participants are as follows:
- 🎢 Amusement park guidance and operation (Ride Operator, Game Booth Attendant)
- 🏨 Resort Front / Housekeeping / Food & Beverage Serving
- 🍔 Fast food and restaurant kitchen assistant or cashier
- 🏖️ Beachfront ice cream sales and serving
- 🧼 Housekeeping duties such as hotel cleaning, bed making, etc.
Most employers are in tourist destinations within the United States (Florida, California, Virginia, Alaska, etc.).
Hiring foreign students to meet seasonal staff needs;
So that even beginners can easily adapt Pre-training and manualThis is provided.
▶ The average hourly wage is $10 ~ $15, and some resorts may charge higher wages when tips are included.
The important thing is that the jobs are assigned in advance by the sponsor. Legal Employment Placement (Job Offer)It should be,
If you move to another job arbitrarily or break your contract, you risk having your visa invalidated.
👉 In the next section, “Why you should wait a year if you don’t prepare now”,
We'll explain in detail the US visa issuance trends and the reality of first-come, first-served deadlines.
Please read on!
Why should I prepare now?
The 2025 Work and Travel program has not yet started accepting applications, but 'Early Closing' is Already a Realityno see.
There are three main reasons for this:
① First-come, first-served basis + limited number of seats
The Work and Travel program The number of visas is not unlimited.
The U.S. Department of State informally limits the number of participants available to sponsoring organizations each year.
Employers also do not hire more than a certain number of foreigners.
In fact, in the winter of 2024, more than 5 domestic agencies Recruitment closes at the end of NovemberIt has been announced,
Follow-up applicants are not assigned sponsors. “Priority allocation reservation for next year”It was only possible.
② Increased visa waiting time
J-1 visa interview schedules at the U.S. Embassy have been scaled back due to COVID-19.
Due to the recent increase in tourism and international student demand, The waiting period for the interview is 4 to 6 weeks or more.It has become longer.
in other words, No matter how quickly you apply for a visa, there is a lot of time left from waiting for the interview → issuance → booking a flight.It can be canceled.
Especially during the peak season of May and June, air ticket prices skyrocket, and if you start preparing then, it is already too late.
③ The job you want closes quickly
Popular jobs centered around amusement parks, resorts, and tourist destinations have high interview competition rates and early closing times.
The actual Disney World (Florida), Yosemite National Park Resort, etc. Interview completed in October → DeadlineThis is repeating.
👉 Conclusion: Before October, complete sponsor selection and consultation reservation → prepare for interview in parallelHave to.
Otherwise, you may have to wait a year.
Essential checklist before participating
Finally, we've put together a list of key checklists you should make sure to review as you prepare for the U.S. Work and Travel program.
If you check the items below one by one and prepare, It can significantly reduce the risk of visa rejection and missing documents.
- ✅ Check if you are a regular college student (Not available to those expected to graduate)
- ✅ Issuance of English certificate of attendance and transcript completed
- ✅ Sponsor Agency Consultation and Registration Appointment (Recommended for September to October)
- ✅ Writing an English Resume and Preparing for an Interview (Familiarize yourself with basic job-related English expressions)
- ✅ Check your passport validity for US visa interview application
- ✅ Plan your flight advance research and insurance
- ✅ Prepare a budget including visa fees, participation fees, and airfare (at least 3.5 million won)
▶ For detailed preparation instructions, please refer to the official guide of the U.S. Department of State:
https://j1visa.state.gov/participants/how-to-apply/summer-work-travel/
If you are just starting out, Complete pre-registration and information collection before SeptemberDoing so is the best strategy.
If you miss it this year, you'll have to wait until next summer, so start preparing today!
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* Complete Guide to Applying for a Working Holiday 2025! Go see
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