work and travel usa

Applications open for 2025

Participation requirements

All participants must be students. Whether full-time or part-time, in their final year or freshmen, or postdoctoral researchers, it does not matter what year of study you are in.

Participants must have basic English language skills (assessment will be conducted orally and/or in writing). Participants must be between 18 and 30 years old.

Hold a valid passport that is valid at least until April 10, 2026.

Apply NOW

Are you going on Work and Travel USA?

What do we require from you?

resourcefulness

Work ability

Team spirit

Student status

Flexibility

Desire for adventure

Desire to work

You are between 18 and 30 years old

Program price:

$2040

PAYMENT SCHEDULE: The first installment of $290 is due after signing the contract and registering for the program. The remaining balance is to be paid upon receiving the visa.

The first and second installments of the program are to be paid in euros to the agency’s account in Croatia, according to the HNB exchange rate on the day of payment by the participant, after registering for the program. We also accept payments via PayPal. Credit and debit cards are not accepted.

PRICE INCLUDES:

Special offer until September 30, 2024

✅ Work and accommodation in the USA

✅ Health insurance

✅ Specialized preparatory course for the program

✅ Preparation of documentation, scheduling and complete preparation of participants for an interview at the US Embassy

✅ Orientation before going to the US

✅ Phone (WhatsApp) and email support throughout the application process and during your stay in the US

PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:

additional costs

❌ return flight ticket (approx. 850 USD)

❌ pocket money until first paycheck (1 200 USD)

❌rent during your stay in the US approximate 150$ per week (some employers provide free housing)

❌ cost of issuing a visa (185 USD)

❌other individual expenses

*all the above mentioned costs are indicative and subject to change

Download the Work and Travel USA guide

We have created a detailed guide with information about the program based on the experiences of more than 1,400 of our participants.

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Steps of the program

Read the steps from applying to flying to the US.

Signing contract

Applications start in September and last until the beginning of February

Payment of the first installment

Payment of $290 in Euro equivalent

Filling out documentation

Cv, information and documents required for visa, motivation letter

Preparatory course

English course and preparation for the program via ZOOM, 3 or 4 meetings, depending on the participants’ readiness.

Job interview

Meeting and interview with an employer from the USA

Visa interview

Interview for an American visa at the US Embassy in Zagreb

Buying an airline ticket

Buying a round trip flight ticket to the USA

Payment for the remainder of the program

Payment for the remainder of the program to the agency

Orientation before departure to the USA

We prepare for departure, pack and pass the remaining exams.

Traveling to the program?

Your adventure begins!

Necessary documentation

Here are listed all the documents you will need to apply and implement the program

Passport

The passport must be valid at least until April 10, 2026

College certificate

The confirmation that you are enrolled in the current academic year, a confirmation from the e-citizens system is sufficient, except in exceptional cases when the organizer requires a faculty stamp.

CV in English

Your advisor will give you a sample CV on the basis of which you can create a new CV specifically for participating in the program.

Visa

A participant in the Summer Work and Travel USA program is required to obtain a J-1 visa from the U.S. Embassy, which is a legal document for entry into the USA. This visa is issued with the obligation to return to the home country after the program ends. According to the rules of the US government, the duration of this visa cannot be longer than four months (From June 10 to October 10). During the visa period, the participant is allowed to leave and re-enter the USA with the same visa. After the J-1 visa expires, the participant is entitled to a “Grace Period,” which allows for a legal stay in the USA for up to 30 additional days. During the Grace Period, the participant must not leave the USA, as re-entry with the same visa is not possible once it has expired. The participant must also not work in the USA during the Grace Period. The program typically starts with a work period of about 90 days, after which participants travel for 10 to 30 days according to their preferences. Participants attend an interview at the U.S. Embassy in person. The visa fee is $185 and is paid in euros equivalent.

Health insurance

Health insurance is mandatory and included in the program fee for the entire stay in the USA (June 10 to October 10). The insurance covers all emergency cases but does not cover dental services, vision correction, or pre-existing conditions. Each participant will receive an insurance card and must follow the instructions for using the insurance and notify the insurance company of any potential use of health services. Medication costs are not covered by the health insurance. Each participant must take care of their own health, be fit to work, and be healthy to apply for the program. The insurance is solely managed by the sponsoring/organizing company in the USA.

DS-2019

The DS-2019 form is an official certificate that allows a participant to be part of the cultural exchange program; it contains information about the program organizer and the program’s duration. The DS-2019 is issued by the American organization coordinating the participant’s stay in the USA after the participant is accepted into the program. The form serves as proof that the participant is authorized to work in the USA. The DS-2019 document is the basis for applying for the J-1 visa. Every participant registered for the program must have this form when entering the U.S. Embassy. It must be signed and kept with the visa during travel and stay in the USA. The visa is not valid without this form. The DS-2019 must be carried with the passport at all times during the program. If there is a discrepancy between the visa start date and the program start date on the DS-2019 form (although these dates usually match), the participant is required to stay in the USA until the date specified on the I-94 form, which is received upon entry into the USA. If the participant loses the DS-2019, they must immediately notify the agency representative or directly contact the program-organizing company in the USA.

Social Security Number

The SSN (Social Security Number) is a tax number that every participant must have to work legally in the USA. This number is obtained by applying for it upon arrival in America. Participants need to apply for an SSN at the nearest Social Security office after arriving in the USA. They must present: their passport, DS-2019 form, J-1 visa, I-94 form, and SEVIS payment confirmation. The SSN is typically issued within 15-20 days, and the card with the number arrives after 1-3 months. Program participants can work with a confirmation of the SSN application submission. If the status is confirmed, the participant will receive an SSN. If the status is not confirmed, the application for the SSN will be sent to the Department of Homeland Security for status verification, which delays the process. Only participants with confirmed status can receive an SSN. Participants who are not confirmed in the SEVIS system or do not appear for work on the first day will be marked as “NO SHOW” and will not receive an SSN (though such cases are rare).

SEVIS

The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is a system used for tracking and monitoring exchange participants during their stay in the USA. All participants are registered in SEVIS. The SEVIS (I-901) fee is mandatory for obtaining a J-1 visa. The SEVIS fee is included in the program fee. Detailed information about SEVIS can be found at: www.ice.gov

I-94

The I-94 form contains information about the date of entry and exit from the USA. Every traveler who is not a U.S. citizen is recorded at the border upon entering the USA. Immigration officials electronically record each participant at the border upon entry, marking the date of entry and the status of the J-1 visa. The form also indicates the “Duration of Status” (D/S), which corresponds to the date on the DS-2019 form plus an additional 30 days allowed for travel. If the dates on the I-94 and DS-2019 forms differ, the participant must leave the country based on the dates on the I-94 form. Staying in the USA past the date on the I-94 may result in deportation and a ban on future entry into the USA.

Join now

Start your adventure in the USA

Schedule a free consultation with our advisor and learn more about the program!

SCHEDULE HERE