Summer Work Travel Employer Frequently Asked Questions

Summer Work Travel is an exciting hiring and cultural exchange program that allows international students to live and work temporarily in the United States.  

Through the BridgeUSA program – run by the U.S. Department of State – employers can take advantage of the services from a nonprofit like CIEE, which helps more students come to the U.S. for work and travel than any other sponsorship organization.

The program is especially ideal for employers who experience increased demand in certain seasons, such as the summer. Many larger organizations partner with CIEE BridgeUSA programs due to the need to hire mass quantities of operational staff during this time.

“We have almost 19 million visitors to Myrtle Beach annually, and we could not support that without BridgeUSA,” said Victoria Tobin, executive director of the Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Area Hospitality Association, at a recent CIEE event. 

The BridgeUSA Summer Work Travel program has multiple purposes:

• Increases understanding between Americans and other countries through the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (The Fulbright-Hays Act)
• Injects more than $1.2 billion annually into the U.S. economy
• Gives businesses the opportunity to continue operations during peak months through access to a large, global talent pool
• Allows international students to explore the U.S. while boosting their resume, improving their English language skills, and earning a paycheck through their seasonal job 

Employers enlist the services of CIEE’s BridgeUSA Summer Work Travel program to hire enough seasonal staff to accommodate their peak months. (The additional help is typically needed in the summer, though some employers work with an organization like CIEE for their winter and spring seasons, as well.)

These may include:  

• Amusement and theme parks
• Country clubs
• Hotels and motels
• National parks
• Recreational facilities
• Resorts
• Restaurants and food service
• Retail stores
• Tourist attractions
• Water parks

Don’t see your industry here? That’s OK! Contact CIEE to start the discussion about seasonal hiring. 

Employers benefit from BridgeUSA Summer Work Travel because the international students who want to participate in it are incredibly motivated to work in the United States for the season. Many employers return to BridgeUSA year to fill their seasonal staffing needs after year because:

• It’s a cost-effective move: It’s free to hire through  CIEE, and international participants pay their own way here.
• It’s a streamlined hiring operation: You’ll only meet candidates who’ve been prescreened and are ready to travel, and CIEE helps with the visa process.
• It solves seasonal staffing solutions: Many businesses have trouble filling all their roles with local residents for their peak seasons. International students commit to the program far in advance, with specific start and end dates – even dates that begin before or end after the typical Americans’ staff schedule.
• It brings cultural diversity to your workforce: Your staff and customers will benefit from the excitement that international team members have to be here. They’re multilingual, and they come with fresh perspectives. 

No! CIEE offers Gold Standard Service to the employers we work with. And because CIEE has so much experience with the BridgeUSA hiring process (almost 60 years!), we leave you with little to do besides actually hiring the job candidates you want! When you contact us to get the ball rolling, our team members will work with you to determine your needs and how best to reach your goals.

Yes! In fact, it’s even encouraged by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, which runs the BridgeUSA program.  

It’s possible through the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, also known as the Fulbright-Hays Act. It aims to foster connections between Americans and others around the world. 

Many businesses work with CIEE: Council on International Educational Exchange because of its:

• Gold Standard Service: Receive personalized and tailored account management with a dedicated and experienced international recruitment consultant. While CIEE has standard customer service hours from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. EST, we also have staff available 24/7 for any of your needs.
• Experience in the industry: CIEE is the largest and oldest work and travel nonprofit organization in the United States and the first to sponsor Summer Work Travel students in 1969
• No fees: There’s no cost to work with CIEE’s Summer Work and Travel program as an employer.
• Free hiring services: CIEE offers a variety of hiring services to help get you to your hiring goals, like through our road shows and our job board.
• Access to more job talent: CIEE is the largest sponsor for BridgeUSA programs (J-1 visa) through the U.S. Department of State with the most extensive network of international representatives around the world. It means you can hire as many international employees as you need to cover peak season staffing.