100 Dumb US Laws (With Proof They Exist)
The Work & Travel program is the best path for university students who want to spend their break in the USA. Through this program, participants obtain a visa that allows them to work (and earn money) for up to 4 months, followed by a month reserved for travel. The entire Work and Travel USA program operates under the auspices of the U.S. Department of State.
-
Table of Contents
Basic Information About Work and Travel USA
Finding legal work in the USA isn’t as simple as it might seem. The easiest route is available to students for whom the American side has prepared the Work and Travel USA program. Officially, its purpose is to introduce students from around the world to American culture and to support cultural exchange across America. The program is designed exclusively for university students, who apply through private agencies operating in their home countries (United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand).
These agencies help participants find jobs, handle formalities, and assist with logistics like flights or accommodation if the employer doesn’t offer it directly. Jobs in the USA are paid, and the hourly wage in 2026 typically ranges between $12 and $18 depending on the location (states like California or New York have a higher minimum wage) and the specific position.
It is also possible to travel to the USA in a group with a partner or friends. Work and Travel USA is based on your academic summer break. For students from the United Kingdom and Ireland, departures are usually in May or June. For students from Australia and New Zealand, the season typically starts in November or December. You work for 2 to 4 months, after which you have up to 30 days to travel (the so-called Grace Period), which I highly recommend.
-
What Kind of Work Will You Do on Work and Travel?
You must have a job secured before leaving for the USA. You cannot fly to America planning to “find something after arrival.” You can either find a job yourself (usually a cheaper option known as Self-Arranged) or have the organizing agency secure it for you (full assistance, for which you pay extra).
The spectrum of positions is wide. Most often, these are seasonal jobs in National Parks, amusement parks, swimming pools, hotels, restaurants, or shops. You might work as a lifeguard, sales assistant, bartender, housekeeper, server, or operate games at a theme park. For applicants from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, “front-of-house” roles involving direct customer interaction are very common due to the lack of a language barrier. For Australians and New Zealanders, winter jobs in ski resorts are particularly popular.
Specific qualifications like “knows how to operate a roller coaster” or “can make beds in the English style” are generally not required. They will teach you everything on-site. Previous work experience is an advantage, but your native or fluent English is your biggest asset.
If you decide to look for a job yourself, try checking out some of these job boards:
-
Conditions for Work & Travel USA
To participate in the Work and Travel program, you must meet the following conditions set by the U.S. authorities:
🔞 Age
Generally from 18 to 30 years old. Although visa rules do not strictly state an upper limit, most agencies accept applicants up to 28–30 years of age.
🎓 Student Status
You must be enrolled as a full-time student at an accredited university or college. You typically need to have successfully completed at least one semester of study before participating.
🗣️ English Proficiency
As an applicant from an English-speaking country (United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand), this requirement is automatically met. However, you must still be prepared for an interview with the sponsor organization or employer to discuss your motivation and job details.
📅 Duration of Stay
2–4 months of work + 30 days reserved for travel.
United Kingdom & Ireland: Program dates usually align with the northern hemisphere summer (May/June to September).
Australia & New Zealand: Program dates align with the southern hemisphere summer (November/December to April).
You must return home before your university semester begins.
🛂 Visa
Participation requires obtaining a J-1 Visa (Exchange Visitor Visa) for the USA and paying all relevant government fees.
-
Cost of Work and Travel USA and When to Apply
If you decide to participate in Work & Travel, you need to budget for the initial investment. The total cost varies significantly depending on your home currency and airfare prices. However, broadly speaking, the initial costs range between $3,000 and $4,500. Naturally, you can earn a large portion, if not all, of this amount back during your work stint.
Expenses for Work and Travel USA in 2026 include:
- Agency Fees: Approx. $800 – $1,500 (Lower amount applies if you find a job yourself; higher amount includes job placement services).
- Visa Fee (MRV fee): $185 (Embassy fee).
- SEVIS Fee: $35 (Student database fee).
- Airfare: $800 – $1,200 (Return ticket; price depends heavily on departure city—London, Dublin, Sydney, or Auckland—and how far in advance you book).
- Pocket Money: It is recommended to bring at least $1,000 to cover costs before your first paycheck.
Applications for the program are generally accepted several months before departure.
United Kingdom & Ireland: Apply by January/February for a summer departure.
Australia & New Zealand: Apply by July/August for a December departure.
Do not delay. “Early Birds” often secure the best jobs and may receive discounts on program fees if registered early. -
Experiences With Work and Travel in the USA
Adina Julinová
“If it scares you, it looks like a good thing to try.”
That sentence was in my head at the very beginning. It was early autumn when I signed the contract with the agency to go to America for the summer. Even though I initially felt huge uncertainty and fear of the unknown, the idea was incredibly tempting. I had 10 weeks of work ahead of me at a children’s camp in Pennsylvania, followed by 30 days to travel.
I traveled to places I had always wanted to see, or wherever chance and my feet took me. Working at the camp wasn’t exactly a holiday, but none of us collapsed from exhaustion. I was part of a perfect international team, enjoyed the sun, the summer, the authentic American environment, and counted down the days until the end of August.
Halfway through, when I had made real friends at the camp, our travel plans began to take shape. Our goal was the West Coast with all its beauties. I didn’t hesitate to buy a ticket, and the planning, organizing, booking motels, writing profiles on Airbnb, calling car rentals, and downloading offline maps began.
The last work day came, and with it, a big farewell. Would I ever see these people again? These amazing people with whom I spent a fabulous 10 weeks? Today I know that yes, because I am returning to the camp, but at that moment, we were all standing on an imaginary starting line, waiting for the signal.
And then we flew to all corners of the USA. It was amazing. The freedom, the liberty, over a thousand dollars in my pocket, and the whole of America at our feet. Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Los Angeles with all its districts, San Francisco, and then New York. Describing all the experiences would fill a small book.
But one thing is clear—I experienced something totally unique. For 3 months, I changed my environment and the people around me, which was all very refreshing. I gained friends from all over the world, from Australia to Hungary, and I truly appreciated the camp director’s words from our first week: “Forget about your friends from high school, your best friends are sitting in this room.”
Adam
“I’ve participated in the Work and Travel program twice, once as a lifeguard and the second time as a bellman. As for lifeguarding, I knew what I was getting into; there was nothing that could surprise me. With the second job, I had absolutely no idea what to expect—the only thing the agency told me was that I would be a ‘Bell Desk Agent’.
In the end, the job exceeded my expectations, and after this experience, I probably wouldn’t want to be a lifeguard again. The advantage of working in a resort or hotel is that you are in a team full of Americans, whereas when you work as a lifeguard, your coworkers are often other international students on Work and Travel.
Another advantage of working in a resort compared to being a lifeguard is that the guests in the resort change constantly, so you get exposed to various American accents and dialects. When you work as a lifeguard, you have your roughly 40 residents at the pool who come all summer, and you get used to them. A big bonus of hotel work is that you don’t get as bored as you might during 8 hours of watching people in a pool.
I don’t want to make it sound like being a lifeguard is a terrible job. It was a great summer, but the season in the resort was much better in all aspects. You really get to understand the nuances of American culture and service standards quickly.
If you choose a hotel job, you should find out if it involves Valet Parking. In that case, you need to arrange an International Driving Permit. Without it, you wouldn’t be able to park cars, which would be a shame, as tips bring in quite a bit of extra money.
If anyone is hesitating whether to go alone or with someone, it doesn’t matter at all, as you will find so many friends there very quickly. It might even be better to go alone because you are ‘thrown in the deep end’ and you engage more with the locals rather than relying on a friend from back home. Americans are very friendly and love talking to foreigners.
When I was reading various articles on this site, I often saw concerns about the immigration interview. Honestly, when I went the first time, I was nervous too, but in the end, it’s the smallest hurdle. The officer barely looks up, just asks ‘how long will you be there’ and ‘what will you be doing,’ and in a minute, you’re done.
What disappointed me about the USA is public transport. It’s safe to say it’s at a very poor level, unless you count the major cities. When I was a lifeguard, I lived about an hour and a half walk from the pool. So, you need to get a bike, but that’s no problem (often you can buy one cheaply at Walmart).
Otherwise, the USA is just a different world, and I definitely recommend everyone try it for at least one season. It’s a priceless experience and full of memories.”
If you have a question regarding the Work and Travel USA program or have participated yourself and want to share your experience, feel free to write to us in the comments below the article. Thanks!
Contribute with Your Question or Personal Experience