Frequently Asked Questions

The programme falls under the Bridge USA programme, which allows foreign students to work legally for any four-month period between May to September each year.

To be eligible for the J1 programme you must be:

• A full-time student doing at least 12 credits per semester and be enroute to graduate as per programme stipulated period.
• Pursuing a 2–4 year diploma/degree programme at an accredited tertiary-level institution.
• Must be from ages 18-30 years old
• Willing to attend physical and/or virtual orientation and interview sessions in your home country.
• A national of the country from which you are participating.

Programme participants will get to know the duration of their jobs once they have signed their job agreement form/contract and their DS 2019 form is issued to them. All participants should aim to be back in Jamaica by their programme end date stipulated on their DS 2019 form.

Yes, there is a 30 day grace period. However, it is not recommended to overstay as this can be detrimental to applicants who plan to go on the programme again. All programme participants MUST know that if their local U.S. Consulate requires that they return by a specific date to their home country, then this supersedes the Grace Period. Participants must depart within 30 days of their SEVIS end date regardless of what their visa end date may be. N.B- The summer work and travel programme begins May 5th and ends September 7th for Jamaican students each year.

• First, create an online account at our website and submit the required documents. Once documents are validated, a payment authorization code will be emailed to the applicant, which they can use to make their first deposit to us.
• Immediately after registration & programme fee deposit payment is validated, proceed to collect and upload the required documents. Applicants will also have access to job board/sponsor selection tab.

The cost of the programme is subject to change each year so we are unable to give this right now, but we will have it available before the beginning of next season.

Explore Your World and our sponsors provide students with casual, entry-level jobs in the hospitality industry such as, but not limited to:

• Housekeeping
• Amusement Park Attendant
• Hotel Maintenance

Jobs are not guaranteed in any special field, state or salary and students MUST choose from among the jobs posted on job portal.

Explore Your World and our programme sponsors will offer one job placement to each participant. We currently do not offer the self-arranged option that allows students to get their own jobs.

Yes, applicants who want to travel together can do so. However, it is not a guarantee that friends will get accepted for the same job, in the same state as all applicants must be interviewed by employers. During the interview process, applicants can let the employer know that they plan to travel as a pair or in a group, but this does not mean everyone will automatically be approved.

Once a participants programme start date begin, until it ends, they cannot stay with relatives. All participants must live at a housing provided by or recommended by their employer and approved by their US sponsor. Participants can visit family members before their programme start date or during their days off from work.

Programme participants would have attended orientation sessions with representatives from Explore Your World and with their US sponsor, before departing to the USA. These sessions are geared towards educating and advising applicants about the programme and ways to ensure their safety while they are on the programme.

Yes, J1 visas are different visas from B-1 and B-2 visas. The J-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa issued by the United States for exchange visitors participating in different programmes that promote cultural exchange.