CIEE Work & Travel USA Program
As of 2016, Irish students participating in the CIEE Work & Travel USA program will be required to have a summer job vetted and approved before traveling to the U.S.
What Change Means
ACT NOW! Irish CIEE Work & Travel USA participants now must receive an offer of employment by a U.S. employer before they will be issued the documents they need to apply for a visa.
Who Change Benefits
By securing a job in advance, students can travel to the U.S. assured they may start working immediately upon arrival, and will be able to focus on experiencing America to its fullest.
How to Find a Job
Talk to friends and family who have already been to the U.S. Many employers in the U.S. are familiar with the J-1 program and keen to hire students from Ireland.culture while sharing their own cultures.
Or, sign-up for a job fair. CIEE Ireland Exchange will offer job fairs in Ireland over the winter months. These jobs are pre-approved by CIEE and simplify the process even more.
How to Hire a CIEE Work & Travel USA Program Participant
1. Identify a Work & Travel USA participant you want to hire (If you want help finding the right student, contact CIEE)
2. Complete a job offer for that participant
3. Answer questions and provide documentation when CIEE calls to verify the offer
- Employer Identification Number (Federal Tax Identification Number)
- Business License
- Workers’ compensation information
4. Help the participant learn about U.S. culture and encourage staff to learn about the participant’s culture.
5. Once the job starts, notify CIEE of issues or emergencies during the participant’s employment
Acceptable Types of Jobs
All employers hiring CIEE Work & Travel USA participants must demonstrate a need for additional seasonal or temporary staff during the months participants are available to work.
Program requirements for employers include:
- Positions must be entry-level and unskilled, requiring minimal training
- Participants must not displace American workers
- Participants may not work for employers that have experienced layoffs in the past 120 days or have workers on lockout or on strike
Certain types of jobs are expressly prohibited. They include:
- Construction/general labor jobs
- Pedi-cab jobs and those requiring operating a motor vehicle
- Jobs requiring work hours between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.
- Jobs in a private home (childcare, cleaning, and so on)
- Jobs requiring purchasing of inventory for sale
- Jobs requiring work as an independent contractor.