• Be a citizen of Australia or New Zealand;
• Be a full time post secondary school student or a recent graduate (within the last 12 months);
• Be between the ages of 18-28;
• Show proof of access to at least $2,000 USD before departure;
• Complete the Visa First Application;

Your visa is a J1 visa however unlike the traditional J1 visa it is a 1 year working holiday visa for the US.

You can take whatever jobs you choose. Some candidates choose to work in resorts, hotels, restaurants, amusement parks and national parks while others are more interested in city living and head straight for the city to find a city job.  Jobs in the medical fields or work with children are not allowed.

Once your DS-2019 has expired you have 30 days from the expiration date to travel within the US.

For the first few nights at your US arrival destination, you may need short-term accommodation before settling in to your longer-term housing. Most people arrive at one of the main gateway cities. You should make a reservation before you arrive at your final destination to ensure a bed or room upon arrival.

If you need any assistance with this just let the team at Visa First know.

Yes, if you plan on travelling outside of the US during your program, you must first notify our US partner, Interexchange, and request permission to travel. This involves our partner, Interexchange, signing your DS-2019 form, and issuing you a letter of "Good Standing" that indicates that you are still a current participant and that you will be returning to the US to continue on with your program.

Please follow these steps for successfully travelling in and out of the country.

1. Make sure you are travelling WITHIN the dates on your DS-2019 form. Travel outside of these dates is prohibited, and will prevent you from re-entering the US!

2. Send your DS-2019 form to Interexchange at least two weeks prior to your trip using mail that can be tracked (i.e. - Fed Ex).  Include a note stating your travel plans, US address, and phone number.

3. INCLUDE a self addressed, PREPAID, TRACKABLE envelope (i.e. Fed Ex).  Interexchange will use this to send your signed DS form and a letter of "Good Standing."
If you want to visit the Interexchange office in order to get the DS-2019 signed in person, please call the Interexchange Customer Service Center beforehand to let them know when to expect you.  They are reachable at 1-800-621-1202

Please also note that your DS-2019, J-1 visa, and passport must be valid in order to re-enter the U.S. Lastly, make sure it states "M" under "Entries" on your J-1 visa. If it states "S" or "1," you will not be able to re-enter the U.S. to finish the Work & Travel USA Program.

Complete the application form attached and return to our Auckland office (if you are in New Zealand) or to our Sydney office (if you are in Australia). We will then issue you with a DS 2019. You will need to bring your passport down to the US embassy. There the immigration officer will stamp it and leave it in your passport. This should remain in your passport and not be removed.

NB!! Make copies of both your passport and this form and keep it saved somewhere safe as they prove that you are eligible to work in the US.

You must have the copy of the DS-2019 form for the visa to be valid. If this is lost, Interexchange will replace the form. A good safeguard is to always keep the copy of the DS-2019 form in the passport and have copies put elsewhere in a safe place. If you lose your passport, please contact your nearest Embassy or Consulate as soon as possible so that they can assist you in obtaining new documentation.

You can go on the Work USA 12 month visa at any time of the year for up to 12 months.

No. You can secure your job after your arrival in the US. You can work in any position which is not restricted. Interexchange is also available for assistance while you are in the US.

Work in the following areas are prohibited:

• Au pairs, maids or any other domestic work such as baby-sitting or housekeeping
• Camp counsellors;
• Medical interns or anything involving hands-on therapy, counselling, administering treatment or making diagnoses of medical, psychiatric or psychological patients or animals;
• Pilots or crewmembers on ships or airplanes;
• Teachers or educational instructors;
• Adult entertainment industry jobs;
• Sales jobs involving purchasing sales merchandise to resell (e.g. door-to-door sales).

Yes.

No.

Participants are required to contact Interexchange and report their current address and employment status within 10 days of their arrival. If you have not secured a position Interexchange must be notified.

Your full application must be submitted to Visa First in Auckland (for New Zealanders) or Sydney (for Australians) a minimum of 8 weeks before your departure date.

Complete the Application form and Questionary and return them to us with payment.

Under US Government program regulations, you must have an approved level of insurance coverage. Our custom insurance plans meet this requirement. Our insurance covers you for emergency and accidents including hospital cover - but only while you are on the program. You can apply for this from with our team too.

Your program fee covers Interexchange services and support whilst in the US including sponsorship of your visa.

No, applicants are only permitted to apply for the visa once.

No

As your US authorised sponsor for this program, Interexchange is responsible for ensuring that you arrive in the US with sufficient funds to support yourself before you start earning your own money. You will need to declare that you have access to a minimum of US$2000. You may also be asked by Immigration for evidence of these funds when entering the US and when applying for your visa at the US Consulate serving your state.

Non-placement option - 955AUD
Placement option - 1155AUD