Work and Travel U.S.A. – FAQs

Statue of Liberty, New York City, NY

• Second Timers
• Traveling In and Out of the U.S.
• 25-Day Travel Period
• Extending Your Stay

Second Timers

Taking into account government regulations and the demand for the program in each country, eligibility of students who have already participated in a CIEE program is determined in conjunction with the local U.S. embassies and cannot be guaranteed by CIEE.  Students wishing to come on a second Work & Travel Program should be aware that the government regulations on this issue are constantly changing.

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Traveling In and Out of the U.S.

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, CA

If you are traveling outside of the U.S. and you plan to re-enter to continue working, you will need specific documentation. The following information is also included in your Work & Travel Handbook, and is very important.  Follow these steps for successful traveling in and out of the country.

1. Make sure you are traveling 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 DS2019 form to CIEE 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
   CIEE Headquarters
   Attn: CSC
   Three Copley Place, 2nd floor
   Boston, MA 02116
   Tel: +1 888 Council (+1 888 268 6245)
   Fax: +1 617 247 2911
   E-mail: info@councilexchanges.org

3. INCLUDE a self addressed, PREPAID, TRACKABLE envelope (i.e. Fed Ex).  We will use this to send your signed DS form and a letter of "Good Standing."

If you want to come to our office in order to get the DS-2019 signed in person, please call us beforehand to let us know when to expect you. 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.

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25-Day Travel Period

Grand Canyon, Arizona

You are authorized to stay in the U.S. 25 days after the ending date of the program for the purpose of domestic travel within the U.S. The ending date of your program is found in box 3 of your DS-2019 form. You must stop working on this date, but may remain in the U.S. to travel for 25 days. If you travel out of the U.S. during this 25 day period you will not be able to re-enter, so please use this period for domestic travel only.

Participants who remain after the 25-day period without proper authorization are subject to arrest and deportation. In addition, violation of immigration regulations may seriously jeopardize the possibility of obtaining any type of U.S. visa in the future. Furthermore, your health insurance policy will expire after 25 days; it is against program regulations to be in the country without health insurance!

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Extending Your Stay

It is difficult to extend your stay in the U.S. beyond the end of the program. CIEE cannot continue to sponsor you, as the Work & Travel USA program is only authorized to operate during designated periods. CIEE has no authority to issue DS-2019 forms for sponsorship outside of the set program dates. When you join this program, you do so with the agreement that you would leave the U.S. upon its termination, and CIEE and the U.S. Government expect you to honor this agreement. Changing status is complicated and, in most cases, impossible. It does not involve CIEE and we cannot help you at all in this matter.

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