FAQ's:

Employers are not required to pay any program or service fees to participate in the program. The only expense required of you is the salary paid directly to the Participants.

The J-1 Visa is issued to oversea visitors for educational and cultural exchange purposes. The J-1 Visa category was established by the U.S. government through the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 in order to promote the foreign policy objectives of the U.S. and to increase mutual understanding between the people of the U.S. and other countries through educational and cultural activities.

In general, they are University students 18 to 28 years old, with an intermediate to advanced level of English.

Participants arrive during their University vacations and are employed for periods between 2 and 4 months.

Our Participants come from all over the world – and we continue to add countries each season! The majority of our students come from countries in Eastern Europe, South America, and Asia. (The season you participate in determines what countries your Participants are from.)

You must pay international employees the same wage you would pay an American employee doing the same job. Participants expect to work an average of 30-40 hours a week and are allowed to work overtime.

AmerEx asks that Employers assist as much as possible in locating and securing housing for Participants. Familiarity with your local area and the accessibility to your worksite aids in selecting the most suitable housing arrangement for the Participants. You are not required to pay for their accommodations or provide free housing, as they are responsible for paying their own rent.

AmerEx accepts Employer Applications on a rolling basis. There is no set deadline. Contact us today to find out if there are still Participants available for the coming season!

Work and Travel Participants are recruited year-round to arrive during one of three designated program seasons: Spring, Summer, and Winter. Participants begin applying for a given season 6-9 months in advance (they go though a vigorous screening process to ensure you get the most qualified Participants).

In order to make sure AmerEx meets your needs, we recommend contacting your Employer Relations Coordinator at least 2-3 months in advance.

Employers must:

1. Have an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
2. Have Worker's Compensation Insurance
3. Complete the required AmerEx documentation

Yes. All Work and Travel program Participants MUST obtain a Social Security Number (SSN) in order to work legally in the United States. Students may apply for a Social Security card at the Social Security office nearest to their place of employment, upon arrival in the United States. They will receive a receipt showing they have applied for a Social Security card, allowing them to work legally in the U.S. until their card arrives. The card should arrive within 3-6 weeks.

Participants on a J-1 Visa are considered non-resident aliens. All Participants on the Work & Travel program are required to pay federal, state and local taxes. Social Security (FICA), Medicare or federal unemployment (FUTA) taxes SHOULD NOT BE DEDUCTED from the students' paychecks. Contact AmerEx should you have any questions regarding taxes.

Yes. All Participants are insured with emergency medical and travel insurance upon their arrival to the U.S.

Our Participants undergo English-language testing throughout their application process and have intermediate-to-advanced levels of English skills. Note that there may be language barriers while the Participant acclimates to the United States, which is likely to include slang and employer/industry specific jargon.

Yes, students are welcome to participate again during one of the next seasons, provided they still meet program eligibility requirements.

Participants are subject to the same laws and regulations as their U.S. counterparts.

Yes. AmerEx offers on-going support for employers and Participants alike. Our Employer Relations Team, Program Administration Team, and 24-hour emergency service ensure every problem is resolved efficiently and professionally. Employers also benefit from the dedicated support provided by their own Employer Relations Coordinator who is knowledgeable about the details and needs of your specific company and is specifically assigned to assist you from beginning to end.