ASK THE CONSUL
Summer Work and Travel
Posted: September 21, 2009
What is the Summer Work and Travel Program?
The Summer Work and Travel Program (SW&T) is designed for foreign post-secondary students to enter the United States on a Nonimmigrant visa to work and travel for a maximum of four months during their summer vacations.
When is the SW&T season for Peru?
Interviews begin at the US Embassy Lima September 14, 2009 and run through mid-December 2009. The SW&T Program dates in the US are from December 1, 2010 to March 31, 2010.
Who is eligible to participate in the SW&T Program?
The Summer Work/Travel program was designed for foreign post-secondary students to enter the United States to work and travel for a maximum of four months during their summer vacations. Students eligible for this program will apply through their sponsors—agencies that work with universities and institutes in Peru. Please note that individuals seeking a visa to participate in the SW&T should be able to demonstrate command of the English language appropiate for the type of employment or activity they propose to do.
How can I participate?
A list of universities, institutes and agencies (sponsors) participating in this program this year is listed below. Program regulations permit participants to repeat the program more than once.
What does a sponsor do?
Sponsors must ensure that participants entering the United States without prearranged employment have sufficient financial resources to support themselves during their search for employment. In addition, sponsors must provide such participants with information on how to seek employment and secure lodging in the United States before they depart their home countries. Finally, sponsors must undertake reasonable efforts to secure suitable employment for participants unable to find jobs on their own after one week.
What kind of work can I do during SW&T?
Most participants typically work in non-skilled service positions at resorts, hotels, restaurants, and amusement parks. Summer internships in US businesses and other organizations (i.e., architecture, science research, graphic art/publishing and other media communication, advertising, computer software and electronics, and legal offices, etc.) are allowed. However, the term of the internship may not exceed the four-month program duration, and must be completed during the student's summer vacation. Also, U.S. State Department regulations prohibit the placement of program participants as domestic help in U.S. households or in positions requiring them to invest their own money for inventory, such as door-to-door sales.
Please refer to the regulations [22 CFR 62.32] for details and to the US Department of State Frequently Asked Questions website for more information by clicking here.
Issued a SW&T visa?
If you were issued a SW&T visa, please visit the following link for additional information as well as the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act.
Please click here to find the 2009 list of SW&T approved Universities, Institutes and Agencies.
Did you find this article useful? Are there any specific topics you would like the Consul to discuss? Please send your comments to the Visa Section Contact Form; subject: Other; comments: Ask the Consul
Updated: September 30, 2009
