How to apply for Work and Travel: your step-by-step 2027 guide

Applying for Work and Travel starts with a free consultation and ends the day you fly to America. In between come enrollment, document prep, employer interviews, the DS-2019, the SEVIS payment and your visa interview. That may sound like a lot, but every step has a clear order, and you never take any of them alone.

For applicants from Türkiye, the golden rule is: job offer first, then the DS-2019, then the visa. You need an approved job offer from a U.S. employer before your visa appointment. So starting early means more job options and a more relaxed timeline. Before you begin, we recommend checking the requirements. You'll find the big picture on our Work and Travel 2027 page and month-by-month dates in our application timeline.

This is the most exciting step of all. Sponsors connect employers and students through online matching platforms, video interviews and in-person or virtual job fairs. The employer reviews your profile, your English level and your introduction video if you have one, then holds a short interview with you.

What do they ask in a Work and Travel job interview?

Usually you'll be asked to introduce yourself and explain why you want the position, then talk about your customer service experience, how you work in a team and which dates you're available. Before the interview, we rehearse with you in English so your answers come across as natural and confident.

What to look for in a job offer

A job offer lists the position, hourly wage, estimated weekly hours, start date and housing details. Before you accept, we read it through with you and factor in transportation and living costs. For the types of positions available, see our Work and Travel jobs and states page.

Once your sponsor approves your job offer, it issues your DS-2019, the Certificate of Eligibility for your program. This form is the foundation of your visa application and shows your program dates and sponsor details.

Next, you pay the SEVIS fee online ($35 for Work and Travel, as of September 2026, subject to change) and fill out the DS-160 visa application form. On the DS-160, your information must match your documents exactly, and all your social media accounts must be listed; we check the form with you. Every visa step is explained in detail in our J-1 visa guide.

After paying the visa application fee ($185, as of September 2026, subject to change), you book an appointment at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara or the U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul. The interview is short and in English; the officer usually asks why you're joining the program and about your school, your job and your plans to return to Türkiye.

Before the interview, we run one-on-one practice sessions and put your documents in order. The visa decision rests with the consulate; we make sure you're fully prepared for the day. For sample questions and tips, read our article on J-1 visa interview questions.

Once your visa is approved, you book your flight and join our pre-departure orientation. Together we cover travel day, your first-week plan, housing, workplace culture and who to contact if you need help.

• When you can enter: you can enter the U.S. up to 30 days before the program start date on your DS-2019, but you can't start work before that date.
• Sponsor check-in: when you arrive, you notify your sponsor and activate your program record.
• SSN application: a few business days after your record is activated, you apply for your Social Security Number; you can start working while you wait for the card.

For pay, banking and housing details, see our earnings and housing guide.

Good news: every one of these is easy to avoid with early planning.

• Starting late: job options shrink as the season goes on. Fall is the most relaxed time to enroll, and it's when the first job interviews begin.
• Not checking break dates: confirm your finals, make-up exams and first day of classes right from the start.
• Accepting a job offer without reading it: review the hourly wage, weekly hours, housing and transportation together.
• Leaving your passport to the last minute: check its validity when you enroll.
• Inconsistent DS-160 details: make sure the information on the form matches your documents exactly.
• Walking into the interview unprepared: practice so you can talk about yourself, your school and your job with ease.

When you apply with Bridge USA Türkiye, we keep track of these checks with you. Your advisor reviews your documents before every step, reminds you of upcoming dates in good time and lets you know when you're ready for the next step. That way, you can focus on the fun part: planning your summer in America.