The J1 industry has been hit as hard as any industry during Covid-19. Summer 2021 is offering hope of better times, though it’s fast approaching us now. The one thing is clear, there is a definite hunger from US Businesses, Summer Camps, Visa Sponsors and International agencies to re-open the doors to allow J1 participants to work in America. So, how are J1 Visas and Coronavirus affecting summer 2021?
The J1 visa application is simple. Your visa sponsor will issue you with the necessary paperwork. The current hold up in any J1 visa application lies with the US Embassies. In order to receive your visa you need to attend a face to face interview at the US Embassy or consulate in your country. With your paperwork and application, your J1 visa is then issued and stamped to your passport. However, these Embassies or Consulates are not beginning to allocate interview appointments yet. The priorities lie with US nationals and emergency applications and in many cases the social distancing rules mean that the buildings are unable to house as many participants as they did previously. The same goes with staffing.
We’re working on it. All stakeholders are working tirelessly to make this available as soon as possible. It does seem like a race against time. For a J1 visa for summer camps, many start dates are in June and we know camps may be receptive to take participants later, if they had to.
The one thing we do know is that we won’t stop trying until we have to. Employers, and US Summer Camps want the excellent J1 international staff. Participants wish to work and travel and international staffing agencies with to get jobs and process participants. All we can ask participants on the USA Summer Camp program, or our USA Summer Jobs summer work and travel program is to be patient, be ready and when appointments are available at the US Embassy, to act fast to secure yours.
After the year we’ve had with coronavirus, there is light at the end of the tunnel. We can do it.
