Massive News For Students Planning On Travelling To The US On A J1 Visa

There are some changes in store. Last month, we brought you the news that certain changes were coming with regards to the structure of the J1 visa. It had been proposed by the US government that Irish students who planned on travelling to the US would need to have a job lined up before they went. Now though, there’s some bad news for Irish students as this proposal has been confirmed, meaning that Irish students will have to find a job before they hit the US. On top of that, J1 visa holders will also only be able to work in a job that they have been sponsored to do by their employer – in other words, they will only be able to have one job throughout their trip to the US. The new plan also states that students will have to work in “official locations of their designated sponsor” which many worry may restrict plans to see other parts of the country. “I am concerned that meeting the requirements of the new rules may prove challenging for many students and this may in turn, impact on the numbers of students participating in the programme,” said Minister for Foreign affairs and Trade Charlie Flanagan TD according to UTV. “I raised the matter with very senior members of the US Administration during my visit to the US last month and I have in recent days also written to Secretary of State Kerry outlining my concerns. “My Department and our Embassy in Washington will closely monitor the impact of these changes and will remain in close contact with the US State Department and with the relevant agencies and bodies in the coming months.” A statement from the US Embassy today stated: "For the coming year, we are aware that some independent U.S. sponsoring agencies have announced the introduction of a global pre-placement policy for all J1 Summer Work and Travel (SWT) participants. "These independent U.S. sponsoring agencies serve as authorities that vet and sponsor J1 participants worldwide and provide them with the documentation necessary to obtain a J1 visa from the U.S. State Department. "The global pre-placement policy announced by these sponsoring agencies will require prospective Irish J1 participants to provide evidence of a pre-arranged job in the U.S. as part of their J1 applications, prior to their travel to the U.S," it continued. "Local Irish SWT program sponsors are already advising students via their websites on these changes and the path to application and we encourage students to be proactive." "Preplacement procedures for J1 SWT students are already in effect and enjoying success in nearly every country in the world.  The preplacement requirement is designed to ensure greater safety and security of participants, greater compliance, and a more rewarding cultural experience in the United States. "The State Department, including the U.S. Embassy in Ireland, is fully committed to working with the Irish government; independent U.S. and Irish implementing institutions; and Irish young people and their parents to ensure that Irish students continue to have full opportunity to benefit from the J-1 SWT Program for many years to come," it concluded.