Timeline for Cooperators

A. Determining Student Eligibility and Program Suitability

To participate in the Work & Travel USA program, students must:

• Be between 18 and 28 years old at the time of the interview.
• At the time of application, be enrolled in and attending an accredited institution of tertiary (university) education as a full-time student. You are responsible for confirming student status before the home country interview. If you have questions about what “tertiary” education or “full-time” means, please contact InterExchange before the interviews.
• Have good English speaking and comprehension skills or a demonstrated motivation and ability to improve and communicate without the assistance of translation resources. We will not accept students with poor English skills who are not able to care for themselves during their program or understand their rights.
• Have sufficient accident & sickness insurance coverage, arranged through InterExchange.
• Be able to work for at least three months.
• Have a genuine interest in meeting American people and experiencing U.S. culture.

NOTE: You are responsible for obtaining specific up-to-date Summer Work Travel guidelines from the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where students will apply and must be familiar with U.S. Department of State Regulations; please see www.usembassy.gov

B. The Application Process

ICs will invite participants to complete online applications and upload application documents through the web.

Students must create international web-based email addresses and include them on their applications for their employers and InterExchange to contact them. Students must check their email regularly for messages from InterExchange. We recommend Gmail as the preferred email client. A student will not be able to participate in the program without a valid email address successfully.

When filling out the application form, students must:

• Ensure that all information is clear for input into our database. All names should be spelled and printed exactly as they are in the students’ passports. DS-2019 Forms are printed directly from the data sent by the participant. For any required reprints of DS-2019 Forms due to mistakes in the data provided, you are responsible for paying fees for both the reprints and shipping.
• Complete their own applications! Sometimes, students ask a friend with better English skills to complete their applications. However, it is important that each application conveys a sense of the student as an individual.
• Answer all questions completely.
• Write about work or volunteer experience (if they have none, they can write about work around the home, or describe their enthusiasm and willingness to work hard).
• State clearly their city and date of birth. We will need this information when we complete the DS-2019 Form.
• Write the date in U.S. format MM/DD/YYYY, (e.g., July 5, 2010 is 07/05/2010).
• Digitally sign the participant agreement.

Reasons for rejecting a Job Placement application:

• The student has poor English skills.
• The student is not committing to working for three months (special situations will be considered on a case-by-case basis).
• Job and/or location choices do not reflect an understanding of the program.
• The Work Experience field of the application is empty.

International Cooperators must:

• Agree to adhere to Sponsor guidelines for screening and training of all employees and representatives engaged in promoting the program in the home country.
• Agree that it will not allow anyone who has a criminal background or who has violated the immigration laws of the USA to be involved with the selection and screening of Participants or handling of visa documents. Furthermore, no such person with a known background of criminality or abuse of American immigration laws will be allowed to apply to the program.
• Agree to thoroughly screen potential Participants and document interviews that are conducted in person. Only accept applicants into the program who comply with regulations and guidelines, and who have a realistic chance of success in meeting the objectives and aims of an enriching and rewarding cultural exchange experience.
• Assist Participants with the application process by clearly explaining the requirements of the program and the distinctions between the different types of programs offered (Self-Placement, Job Placement, Direct Hire, etc.).
• Agree that it will not recruit Participants in areas where it does not have a legitimate local business presence.
• Agree to advise Participants about the jobs they should not do while in the United States. Examples: Pedicabs, adult entertainment, etc.
• Agree to advise Participants about the importance of returning home on or before the date specified on their DS Form.
• Agree to advise Participants about ways to afford the program, steering them away from high-interest loans and borrowing money from organized crime.
• Advise Participant to respect the agreement made with the Host Employer as concerns start date, schedule, dress code, etc.
• Inform Participants that they are invited Ambassadors of their country and that being granted a J-1 Visa to come to the United States on the SWT program is a distinguished honor they should not abuse. Their conduct during the entire program should make their country and their parents proud, as any negative impression will ruin the reputation of their fellow countrymen and could have lasting implications for future students wishing to participate in the program. Further, they understand that any Participant who fails to comply with the laws of the US and who violates Program rules and regulations may face expulsion from the program up to deportation from the USA. In the event that a Participant is arrested, they understand the Sponsor is not responsible for legal fees or representation.

C. Publicity and Promotion

You are responsible for all costs of advertising and the distribution of information and applications to students. InterExchange applications and instructions are available in the International Cooperator Resource Center on the InterExchange website. You are expected to portray the program realistically and should not mislead students in any way.

Students should not expect the following:

• To return home with a lot of money. The program is designed for students to earn enough to cover most of their program expenses and costs when traveling around the U.S. Saving a little money is only possible if they are very frugal.
• To be on vacation. It is important that students take their contract seriously and are prepared to arrange their free time around their work schedule, not the other way around!
• To be placed in the specific location of their choice (e.g., Vail or Cape Cod), or to be guaranteed the type of job they most want (e.g., waiter or front desk).
• To work as a ski instructor in Colorado or a waiter in New York City. They will probably be a housekeeper or dishwasher in the summer and a housekeeper in the northeast in the winter.

International Cooperators:

• Agree to use its own company name, telephone number, and website in any marketing material and clearly indicate that the International Cooperator is not a subsidiary or franchise of the Sponsor, but an International Cooperator representative of the Sponsor for the purposes outlined above in the International Cooperator’s country.
• Agree to conduct business in a manner that reflects the commonly accepted standards and ethics of the International Exchange Community and international business practice. And agree to market the program in a manner that in no way misleads Participants as to the true program goals, objectives, and regulations.
• Agree to abide by the Privacy Laws of their respective countries and agree to take reasonable steps to safeguard confidential information and not sell or provide Participant information to any third party without advance written permission and notification of the Participant.
• Agree to notify the Sponsor immediately of any change in legal business status or financial solvency.
• Agree and adhere to the payment terms set forth by the Sponsor.

All International Cooperators must provide the following:

• Proof of business incorporation and current operating license
• Notarized statement from bank ensuring credit-worthiness of business
• Admission of any previous bankruptcy and all legal actions pending
• Three references from current business associates or partner organizations
• A Dun & Bradstreet number
• Outline of all previous experience conducting J-1 program activity, including names of previous and/or current Sponsors
• Outline of recruiting methods

1. Signed Contract
2. Copy of Business License/Registration
3. Three Written References that include dates worked together and the type of business/ partner relationship
4. Bankruptcy Disclosure generated by a lawyer, the bank, or any authorized official
5. Summary of Previous Experience
6. Criminal Background checks for all Work and Travel Staff, including any employee that helps administer SWT Program and/or handles Participant money or payments, has access to students’ documents, including applications and DS 2019 forms, contacts or corresponds with InterExchange regarding the SWT program, and/or communicates with the embassy or any government organization on behalf of Work and Travel.
7. Copy of Advertising Materials that may include a written statement with recruitment methods, including copies of brochures, flyers, website, and social media accounts
8. Copy of Foreign Entity Notarized Statement
9. Price List: Detailed price list marketed to the WT participants. Itemize all costs to participants (including InterExchange prices, insurance, visa fees, etc.)
10. Copy of invoice sent to students
11. Copies of Program Agreements requiring student signature
12. Copies of any training materials or orientations given to students
13. Copy of Cancellation Policy

Orientations/Interviews are conducted by the Cooperator. Use the Orientation and Interview Guidelines in the Appendix.

Complete and sign the Interview Report included in the Appendix and in the International Cooperator Resources section of the InterExchange website. You will then need to upload the interview report to the participants’ online web application.

Please do not verify whether a student has been accepted to the program until InterExchange has approved their applications and received appropriate answers to any questions.

Students who are rejected should not be directed to InterExchange to ask why.