Travel Advice for Irish J1 Students

You must have an approved seasonal employment before you arrive in the US. It is a good idea to familiarise yourself with the US job market. US résumés are different to Irish CVs, and US employers expect applicants to present themselves in a familiar way.

Most Irish summer J1ers are sponsored by the independent US organisations IENA (International Exchange of North America), CIEE (Council for International Education Exchange) and Interexchange, who work with the Irish travel agents USIT and SAYIT. The rules of the J-1 programme requires you to have a job arranged before you travel.

We strongly urge prospective Irish J1 students to engage with the J1 programme as early as possible, to enable them to understand and meet the application requirements, so that they can have a rewarding J1 experience.

You should secure accommodation before travelling to the USA. Companies offering J1 visas will give you advice on places to stay. Just like in Ireland, you have a responsibility to look after and care for the accommodation you are living in when you are in the US.

• Do not sign a lease unless you have read and understood all of it. Get a receipt. Do not pay by cash if possible.
• Double check the amount of the deposit, rent in advance and monthly rent.
• Check the locks on doors and windows. Make sure you know who else has a key.
• Consult a trusted local on the safety of your neighbourhood. Violent crime can be a concern in parts of major US cities.
• Be a good tenant: clean up your mess and be conscious of others living with or around you. How you leave a place can determine whether local landlords will consider renting to J1 students in the years ahead.

We have received reports about a rental scam, in which students were asked to wire money for advance payment of rent to someone posing as a landlord, before they travelled to the USA. Be sure to deal with reputable companies where possible when arranging accommodation.

Every year lost, or stolen passports are a big problem for J1 students. Getting replacement travel documentation can take time and will add to your expenses so make sure you keep your passport safe at all times and try not to carry it in public.

Bring alternative photo identification with you, such as a driving licence or a passport card, and keep photocopies of the identification page of your passport in a secure place in case you have to apply for a replacement. If you do need to replace your passport, contact the nearest Irish Embassy or Consulate.

Remember that if you travel to Mexico, you will not be allowed to re-enter the US without a valid machine-readable passport. Further to this, you are not permitted to travel to the Tijuana metropolitan area in Mexico.

Falsifying or altering a passport is a criminal offence

Falsifying or altering a passport is a criminal offence and, in the USA, a federal offence, punishable by fine, imprisonment and/or refusal of future entry to America.

Make sure you have enough money to get yourself set up in the USA. Take a mixture of cash and credit/debit cards and do not keep all of your money in one place.

Work out a realistic budget before you go. The cost of living in major US cities is very high. If you are renting accommodation, you will need to pay a security deposit and some rent in advance. Many apartments and houses in the USA are rented unfurnished so you may also have the additional expense of buying furniture.

Bear in mind that it may take several weeks before you start work or so make sure you apply for your Social Security Number after your arrive and allowing five days from when you register with SEVIS. Please note, once you have applied for your Social Security card, it is legal to be paid by your Employer. If they have any questions please ask your US Sponsor and remember to bring enough money to cover yourself until your first pay cheque.

As an Irish citizen in the United States, you are bound by US law. If you are arrested you will have to go through the local justice system, which could mean fines, jail and likely deportation and exclusion, and crucially could adversely affect your chances of getting back to the US down the line.

It is really important for you to familiarise yourself with the laws that will directly affect you during your stay in the US.

Please be aware that public disorder offences, such as public drunkenness, are penalised more severely in the United States than in Ireland.

The laws surrounding the purchase and consumption of alcohol in the US differ from those in Ireland, and purchasing or supplying alcohol to persons under the age of 21 is an offence in many States. Laws on drug use vary considerably by State.

The possession or sale of narcotics can be serious offences. While our Embassies and Consulates in the USA will do what they can to ensure that you are treated fairly if you if you are arrested, they cannot get you out of jail or help you evade trial.

It is vital that you adhere to the conditions of your J1 visa, including making sure you do not overstay its duration. Failure to adhere to the conditions of your visa can result in a permanent ban from entering the US in the future.

Your visa allows you to travel to the USA and work legally for up to a four-month consecutive period. This four-month period starts from the date printed on your DS-2019, or your ‘Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status’, issued by the Department of State, which is an agency of the US Government.

You may stay in the US on tourist status for a total of 30 days after your work period. You should also note that if you travel to Canada or Mexico during this period you cannot return to the US.

Comprehensive information relating to the conditions of your J1 visa can be found on the J1 Sponsoring Agencies’ websites, in the Useful Links section below.

Make sure you take out adequate health insurance before leaving Ireland, normally provided by J-1 visa agents and be sure to read your insurance policy closely and understand what you are covered for. Healthcare in the USA is very expensive.

If your insurance is not sufficient, you can incur massive bills. If you require medical treatment, it is a good idea to check with your insurer first where you will be covered as some plans only provide coverage “in-network”.

It is also worth noting that some forms of reproductive healthcare are not available in every State, and that you may have to travel long distances to access care.

While the Irish Embassies and Consulates in the USA will do what they can to assist you if you fall ill or are injured, they cannot cover your medical expenses. It is a good idea to check out the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Travel Advice page before travelling.

All J1 students need to apply for and receive a Social Security Number by visiting their local Social Security Office when you arrive in the US and approximately fivedays from registering with SEVIS. Full details on how to apply for your Social Security number will be explained at each students J-1 pre departure orientation. Speak to either USIT or SAYIT for advice on how and when to apply.

To avoid delays it is important to register your US address with SEVIS (the Student and Exchange Visitor System) as soon as possible and do not apply for a Social Security number until two days after you register in SEVIS.

See IENA, CIEE or sevis.interexchange.org

Keep your family up to date with your whereabouts and your travel plans. Bring a mobile phone that works in the USA so that you can be reached in case of emergency or crisis. Sim cards and eSims are readily available in the US.

If you do not have an email account already, set one up. If you do not keep in touch with your loved ones or friends, it can cause them significant worry and needless anxiety.

We strongly encourage those who can to assist potential Irish J1 students in their search for jobs.

Jobs offered to J1 students must be in keeping with the cultural exchange nature of the programme. Job placements must be seasonal or temporary and must provide opportunities for participants to interact regularly with American citizens and experience American culture during work.

Employers mentioned by the sponsoring agencies include restaurants and other food service outlets, hotels and resorts and amusement parks. A description of prohibited jobs is here and includes those in construction, farming and driving.

The Government is committed to maximising Irish participation in this very important programme to ensure as many students as possible have the chance to experience life in the US, further strengthening the Irish-US relationship.

Employers in a position to offer jobs to Irish J1 Summer students can contact the US sponsoring agencies, or their Irish agents, using the contact details below.

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US Sponsor IENA International Exchange of North America

USIT website – USIT.ie or j1online.ie
Email: info@usit.ie

US Sponsor CIEE

ciee.org/hire/work/hiring-needs

US Sponsor Interexchange

interexchange.org/become-a-host

Or contact enegron@interexchange.org

Those who wish to contact SAYIT directly can do so at j1jobs@sayit.ie

SAYIT website - j1.ie

USA Summer Camp

Website: usasummercamp.com

J1 Ireland

Website: j1ireland.com

CCUSA

Website: ccusa.ie