More information about "WT" program

More information about "Work and Travel USA" program

During the most popular vacation / tourism period in USA (May-October, and especially till the beginning of September) a lot of seasonal work vacancies (especially in seasonal resorts) emerge in US hotels, casinos, shops, cafes, ice-cream, confectionary sales, souvenir shops, moving companies, amusement parks, etc. US employers with pleasure hire foreign students for seasonal work. It is great that WT program candidate can get a job offer from USA employer so easily (often students secure job offers by just an email message to employer). You are choosing WT program work period according to the date you can end your spring exam session at your university / college and the date your university and US Embassy request you to come back to autumn semester in your university. Most of WT participants are choosing a 3-month to 4-month work period in USA. Seasonal US employers are also interested in such work period.

Salary in USA is usually on an hourly rate (paid per actual hours worked) and WT participants must be paid not less than the USA official minimum hourly rate. Some US companies are paying even 10 and more USD/hour. For overtime (for work hours more than 40 hours per week) some companies are paying 1.5 times bigger salary. In work positions, where employee is getting tips (e.g., waitress), hourly salary rate is less (it may be just some 3 – 4 USD/hour), but the tips usually compensate and even exceed the difference.

WT participant is responsible to pay for his/her food and accommodation expenses in US from his/her salary. Often accommodation is provided by employer, sometimes employers help to find the accommodation, some participants find accommodation on his/her own. Workers who work in cafes, fast food companies usually get some discounts for meals, sometimes even get some food for free during work-shifts. Salary in USA usually is paid every two weeks or every week.

WT participant must bring to USA not less than the minimum of money to support him/her until first paycheck received from employer. Sponsor strongly recommends a minimum of some 500 USD. Program sponsor provides insurance (included into program fee) for 4 - 5 months to all WT participants. Sponsor provides for WT participants a toll-free telephone line (business hours) to contact sponsor on all actual questions during the entire program duration. Sponsor also provides for WT participants an emergency telephone line (24 hours, 7 days a week) to contact sponsor in emergency case.

WT program participant’s status allows student a possibility to work in 2 or even more companies at the same period of year. WT program participants from Lithuania usually work in 2 or 3 jobs in USA at the same period. You are able to find a second job when you are in USA, while already working for your major (No. 1) employer (pre-approved by program sponsor, usually before getting visa). If you see the note “Hiring” or “Help Wanted” on the company premises, you are welcome to come-in and express your interest for employment. If you want to work in 2 or more jobs you need to get permission from your major employer or program sponsor. If in your major job you get many overtime hours, there may be no need to look for a second job.

If WT participant has some trouble with his/her employer in US, s/he must inform program sponsor. If WT participant wants to change his/her major (approved by sponsor usually before visa / coming to USA) employer, s/he must in advance discus this opportunity with program sponsor and await for a permission. It is usually harder to change the job provided by program sponsor – important justifying circumstances are due in order such change to be approved.

Usually after work period WT participants travel in the USA some days or week/s: airplane, bus/coach, train, car. Sometimes students are buying one week bus ticket/pass (e.g., of a large US coach/bus company Greyhound) which allows to choose the route and time of travel (you can get out in some stop and continue your travel the next day/s). Some students during their WT program visit even neighboring countries (Canada, Mexico), but for that is needed: A) entry visa / permit, B) program sponsor’s written permit for travel abroad, C) to return back to US from abroad within your J-1 visa validity dates.

So, the „Work and Travel USA“ program is indeed a very exciting program worth to participate!!

Why is it worth to participate in Work and Travel USA program NOW?

USA is a country worth to visit!! There are many places worth to see in USA!

Even quite short tourist trip to USA costs 8.000-12.000 Litas and more. Furthermore, as to get a US tourist visa you should have in your bank acount much more money than the tour to USA costs. For this reason students should work (in good job / own business) in Europe at least a few years after graduating university as to have good chances to see USA on the tourist visa.

On WT program students can visit USA after 1-3 year/s in university / college in Lithuania. Students can work legally in USA during their university summer holiday. Students as a standard earn more money than they spend for their WT program and tickets to USA. WT participants communicate with Americans and have a much better (than tourists) opportunity to improve their English skills and to know US culture (including work ethics) “from inside”.

US Embassy in Vilnius has a very positive attitude to "Work and Travel USA" program possibilities provided for Lithuanian students. We are thankful to US Embassy for the positive attitude and attention to WT program. Nearly 100 % WT program applicants (Lithuanian citizens) from LW Center get their J-1 visa for WT program - for summers 2004, 2005 and 2006, the percentage of getting WT visa by LW Center WT applicants (Lithuanian citizens) was 99,3%, for summer 2007 – 99,9%!!

Citizens of Lithuania or other countries “new” European Union (EU) members (even non-students) can work legally in some West European countries now. Year/s later after graduating university there should be even more West European countries with work markets open. We suggest EU citizens rather plan working in Western Europe AFTER graduating university. Whilst you are a student – do NOT miss the opportunity of "Work and Travel USA" program!!

May be some citizens of Lithuania or other countries - “new” EU members are thinking about possibilities to come to USA without a visa (Visa Waiver Program status)… Please do NOT forget that a possibility to come to USA without a visa does NOT itself allow to WORK legally in USA!! (For many years till May of 2004 Lithuanian citizens were able to come to Great Britain / UK without visa. But many “tourists” were not even allowed to enter UK if they caused doubts for UK Immigration they intend to work illegally in UK. Many were deported from UK if they worked illegally.) Do you want the same situation to happen in USA for you? Purchasing a flight ticket to US and being sent back home from the US entry airport? Until you have not earned good income at your home country (as to be able to spend in USA some 100 USD per night in a hotel during a few months of expected stay in USA), you will have the risk being not allowed to enter USA. Persons working illegally in USA face the risk to be arrested and deported from USA (with further risk of being not allowed to enter USA for many years).

After the first "Work and Travel USA" summer many students want to come to USA at least one more time. Second summer in USA for students usually is even more successful than the first WT summer – they earn more money and they travel in USA much more than the first time. You can participate in WT program for a second and third time!

So while you are a student, Work and Travel in USA the very next summer!!