Hire BridgeUSA Seasonal Staff
Meet the international students who power your peak season
Build Your Team with CIEE BridgeUSA
Streamline your seasonal staffing with motivated international college students – at no cost to your organization.
CIEE: Council on International Educational Exchange keeps it simple. Through the CIEE BridgeUSA Summer Work Travel program, you’ll get capable candidates, efficient processing, and reliable support from recruitment through the end of your season.
What is BridgeUSA Summer Work Travel?
Regulated by the U.S. Department of State, Summer Work Travel is the most popular of the BridgeUSA J-1 visa programs. University students from around the world come to the U.S. on their summer break for up to 4 months to work and live the American lifestyle, and then they have up to 30 days to travel the country.
Over 100,000 international students participate each year. They pay their own way to come to America for work and travel opportunities – so there’s no cost to U.S. taxpayers.
Programs like BridgeUSA Summer Work Travel offer benefits like:
- Boosting the U.S. economy by billions each year
- Adding, on average, 50 days to your tourism season
- And creating a positive impact on local communities
Review the CIEE BridgeUSA Summer Work Travel decision guide to determine if the program would be a good fit for your business.
Benefits for Employers
Hiring students from all around the world through CIEE BridgeUSA has its perks. As the largest and oldest J-1 visa sponsor, CIEE has access to more applicants than any other organization. You’ll get to:
- Recruit the high-quality candidates
- Simplify and save time throughout a variety of hiring services based on your needs
- Bring cultural exchange and diversity to your workplace and community
- Provide students with a life-changing experience
- Build and enrich your seasonal team
BridgeUSA makes America safer, stronger, and more prosperous – with dependable seasonal staffing, global connections, and a positive economic impact.
Gold Standard Service: Support That Never Sleeps
With more than seven decades of experience, CIEE understands the unique needs of busy seasonal employers like you. Since 1947, we've refined our services to offer unparalleled support that keeps your operations running smoothly 24/7.
By partnering with CIEE for your seasonal staffing needs, you'll experience the peace of mind that comes from working with an industry leader dedicated to your success.
Need Help Hiring for Your Upcoming Season?
That’s what CIEE is here for! We offer several free hiring services to get you started.
What CIEE BridgeUSA Host Parents are Saying
"I’ve always had a really great partnership with CIEE from communication to logistics to the candidates. There's a lot of communication and a lot of support from their side, helping all the HR professionals get our students what they needed."
– Rikayla Wright, HR manager, Aramark Pike’s Peak
"Our BridgeUSA students are instrumental to the success of our business. We rely on BridgeUSA students to help get our operation up and running for the season."
– Todd Reutter, recruiting manager, Valleyfair Amusement Park
"If we no longer had access to BridgeUSA programs, we would have to shorten our operating season. We would have to cut back on the services we offer our guests."
– Tania Hamaneyeva, HR and recruiting manager, Morey’s Piers
Trusted by Employers Around the Country
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Frequently Asked Questions
The BridgeUSA J-1 program is a non-immigrant visa initiative that allows students and young professionals to engage in educational and cultural exchange, through the U.S. Department of State.
The State Department began issuing J-1 Summer Work Travel exchange visitor visas in 1961. The J-1 program promotes cultural exchange and goodwill, enriching the students as well as the businesses and communities that welcome them.
And sponsor organizations – like CIEE – ensure a successful experience by providing support, adhering to regulations, and prioritizing participant well-being.
Not at all! In fact, sponsors like CIEE are on hand to ease the process. CIEE was one of the first organizations chosen by the Department of State to administer the BridgeUSA program.
Today, CIEE is the largest J-1 visa sponsor. Great employers across the United States work with more than 25,000 international students through CIEE, providing a positive cultural exchange experience for their students.
Whether you’re new to work exchange or have a longstanding relationship with CIEE, you'll get the help you need to find, hire, and support eager student employees who are sure to make your next season a success.
Your dedicated CIEE account managers – helpful, knowledgeable professionals who know your individual business – make the whole process easier for you. They’re part of our collaborative team of expert staffing consultants, recruiters, and support staff.
Now! No matter how large or small your business is, CIEE can help you get started up to 10 months in advance of your season.
Have other questions? Head to our Seasonal Staff Employers FAQs page.
Making America safer, stronger, and more prosperous
Created by Congress in 1961, BridgeUSA builds bridges between nations by bringing more than 300,000 young leaders each year to live, work, and learn in the United States through transformational cultural and professional exchanges. As the largest and longest-serving BridgeUSA sponsor, CIEE helps make these experiences possible – welcoming over 30,000 participants annually who strengthen American businesses, enrich communities, and share their cultures and ideas, making America safer, stronger, and more prosperous.
Learn more about BridgeUSA
Check Out the Latest Summer Work Travel Stories
What Is the BridgeUSA Summer Work Travel Program (J-1 Visa) and Is It Right for Your Business?
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.
What 24/7 Sponsor Support Really Means for Employers
A partner. An ally. An advocate. That’s the kind of support employers deserve from a J-1 visa sponsor and their BridgeUSA program: reliable, responsive, and always in your corner.
How Long Does It Take to Hire Seasonal Staff Through CIEE? What to Expect from Recruitment to Start
Summer staffing doesn’t have to be a scramble. The BridgeUSA Summer Work Travel program delivers a ready-to-go workforce of committed, driven, and enthusiastic international college students – just in time for your peak season.