Work and Travel USA 2027: your American summer starts here

Work and Travel USA is a J-1 exchange program that lets university students work a seasonal job in the U.S. for up to 4 months during their summer break, then travel for up to 30 days. The process runs through an eligibility check, sponsor enrollment, an employer interview and job offer, the DS-2019, the visa interview and your flight. Bridge USA Türkiye guides you through every one of these steps.

Full-time students at a classroom-based university who have completed at least one semester and can communicate in English are eligible. The program's general rules set no fixed age limit; most sponsors accept students aged 18 and over, and some also set an upper limit. We can confirm your situation together in a free initial consultation.

You can work for up to 4 months, within your university's summer break. Students from Türkiye usually fly out in June after final exams and finish work in September. They can then travel for up to 30 days and head home before classes start. We plan your exact dates together around your academic calendar.

No. Applicants from Türkiye need an approved job offer before applying for the visa. Your sponsor reviews the employer and the job offer, then issues your DS-2019, and only then does the visa process begin. That's why job interviews are the heart of the process, and starting early gives you more options.

Yes. You're paid by the hour, at no less than the minimum wage where you work, and overtime and tips in service jobs can add to your income. You can use your earnings for your life in the U.S. and your end-of-summer travels. Since pay varies by state, job and hours, we work out your budget together based on your actual job offer.

The main costs are the program (sponsor) fee, the SEVIS fee, the visa application fee, your flight and pocket money for your first weeks in the U.S. As of September 2026, the SEVIS fee is $35 and the visa application fee is $185; amounts may change. Because program fees vary by sponsor and package, we prepare a personal, itemized quote for you.

Yes. The second job must also fit the program and be approved by your sponsor, and you can't start working there until the approval comes through. Many students look for an extra job once the hours at their main job are settled. We help you keep track of suitable options and the approval process while you're in the U.S.

Yes, that's possible. You can attend the same employer's interviews together and apply for positions in the same area. Since each employer has a limited number of openings, applying early as a group is a big advantage. Each student interviews individually, and every job offer is personal. Come to your consultation with your group, and we'll look at the options together.

Work and Travel is a cultural exchange experience, and at the end of the summer you return to your studies. After your job ends, you can travel in the U.S. for up to 30 days, though you can't work during that time. Then you head back to Türkiye and carry on with school. If you still meet the requirements next summer, you can join again and spend a new summer in a different corner of America.