What Is the BridgeUSA Summer Work Travel Program (J-1 Visa) and Is It Right for Your Business?
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The BridgeUSA Summer Work Travel program is a U.S. Department of State-managed initiative that allows international students to work for American businesses and live in the United States at no expense to the American taxpayer.
This longtime cultural exchange staffing program is used by more than 4,000 Summer Work Travel employers each year. College students from around the world pay their own way to work short-term, seasonal jobs in America while they’re here on a J-1 visa (that they’ve arranged for themselves). They’ll stay in the country for up to 4 months, with the ability to travel during their downtime.
Plus, BridgeUSA programs add billions to the U.S. economy each year and extend, on average, the tourism season by up to 50 days, creating thousands of jobs for Americans.
When Does "Summer" Work Travel Actually Take Place?
Most BridgeUSA Summer Work Travel programs take place in the summer, as the name of the initiative suggests. In addition, most students who participate spend their summer working in traditional summer positions.
However, two more seasons are available for students to work: winter and spring.
Consider residents of the Southern Hemisphere, who enjoy their summer during our winter. This allows those students to work winter roles in the U.S.: Think ski slopes, winter resorts, snowshoeing trails.
And working in the spring allows many summer attractions to open to the public earlier, allowing these organizations to increase business during shoulder seasons.
Why Employers Choose the BridgeUSA Summer Work Travel Program
BridgeUSA program employers love using the short-term Summer Work Travel initiative, and many have multiple reasons for hiring international participants.
One reason is that they don’t have to go through the process alone. Working with an experienced seasonal staffing J-1 visa sponsor organization – like the nonprofit CIEE: Council on International Educational Exchange – allows you to lean on a team that can guide you through it all, 24/7.
Other reasons employers choose to host summer work travel participants may include:
- Access to pre-screened candidates and reliable seasonal workers: Your sponsor organization can take care of interviews, background checks, and English language proficiency assessments to ensure qualified candidates.
- Free recruitment services: Employers can take advantage of no-cost hiring support like:
- CIEE Road Shows: Meet and select candidates face‑to‑face around the world, ideal for employers hiring large groups.
- CIEE Virtual Road Shows: Interview pre‑screened candidates remotely, right from your office.
- CIEE Connect: Access a digital job board featuring only candidates who meet your exact job requirements.
- CIEE Hiring Services: Let CIEE interview and hire qualified candidates on your behalf.
- Flexibility for seasonal business needs: The short-term work and travel program aligns perfectly with businesses that experience seasonal peaks, such as resorts, amusement parks, restaurants, and tourism-related industries. And because participants can work up to four months during their stay, they’re often able to provide longer coverage than local students.
- Motivated and enthusiastic team members: These students are eager to experience American work culture and make the most of their time in the United States. They often bring a strong work ethic, enthusiasm, and a positive attitude that can energize workplace teams.
- Cultural exchange benefits: Employers gain the opportunity to bring international perspectives into their workplace. This cultural exchange can enhance the experience for all employees and provide value in hospitality and tourism-focused businesses.
- Support from sponsor organizations: Your sponsor organization can provide ongoing support to both participants and employers throughout the program, helping resolve issues, answer questions, and ensure compliance with regulations. This support can reduce employer burden.
- Repeat participation potential: Because many participants return year after year, employers can rehire workers who are familiar with their operations and job expectations. This reduces training time and increases productivity.
Find out how you can determine if Summer Work Travel is right for you.
What Types of Businesses Is Summer Work Travel Right For?
Because Summer Work Travel participants can stay in the United States for up to 4 months, the roles that work best for them are short term.
Best-fit Summer Work Travel employers are those that:
- Have predictable peak seasons
- Operate in tourist-driven areas
- Serve remote or hard-to-staff locations
- Seek entry-level, trainable workers
- Value cultural diversity
- Need cost-effective seasonal labor
- Range from small to large hospitality and tourism businesses
- Face domestic shortages
- Are open to working with designated sponsor organizations
- Aim to build repeat recruitment pipelines
Industries That Commonly Host Summer Work Travel Participants
Seasonal businesses that often seek out short-term help include:
- Resorts and lodging, like bed and breakfasts, extended stay properties, guest ranches, hostels, hotels and motels, lodges, resorts, ski resorts, and vacation rental properties.
- Attractions, like aquariums, boat and trolley tour companies, cultural centers, museums, national park concessions, observation decks, planetariums, sightseeing companies, tour operators, visitor centers, and zoos.
- Events and entertainment, like event venues, fairgrounds, festival operations, outdoor movie theaters, outdoor theater operations, performance venues, and summer concert venues.
- Food services, like beach snack bars, casual and fine dining restaurants, coffee shops, country clubs, food trucks, ice cream parlors, institutional food services, and resort dining facilities.
- Outdoor recreation, like beach equipment rental services, boat rental companies, campgrounds, fishing charter services, hiking tour companies, kayak rental operations, marinas, outdoor adventure companies, rafting companies, RV parks, state and national park concessions, and zip-line operations.
- Retail, like beach gear shops, boardwalk shops, candy stores, convenience stores in tourist areas, gift shops, outdoor equipment stores, resort retail outlets, seasonal retail locations, souvenir shops, specialty food stores, and tourist area boutiques.
- Sports and fitness, like beach clubs, fitness centers in resort areas, golf courses, lifeguard services, recreational sports facilities, swimming pool facilities, tennis clubs, and yacht clubs.
- Amusements, like arcade centers, bowling alleys, entertainment complexes, go-kart tracks, laser tag facilities, mini golf courses, movie theaters, theme parks, trampoline parks, and water parks.
What Roles Work Best for Summer Work Travel Participants?
Like American college students each year, international participants seek out roles they can work on their summer break.
Some of the most common positions that J-1 visa Summer Work Travel employers include:
- Front of house / front desk associate
- Restaurant server
- Concession stand worker
- Gift shop cashier
- Hotel clerk
- Ice cream shop staff
- Kitchen staff
- Lifeguard
- Ride operator
- Ticket taker
- Tour guide
And there are dozens more positions that employers post every year to attract international workers.
How to Get Involved with Summer Work Travel
If you’re looking for a reliable way to meet seasonal staffing needs while making a meaningful impact in your community, the BridgeUSA Summer Work Travel program offers what you need.
When you connect with CIEE: Council on International Educational Exchange – the largest Summer Work Travel sponsor in the country – you’ll gain a partner in compliance, timelines, and program requirements, so you can focus on running your business.
BridgeUSA isn’t just a staffing solution. It’s an opportunity to build international connections that benefit your business and even your community.
Ready to get started? Get more information on how the CIEE BridgeUSA Summer Work Travel program could benefit your business.