The J-1 Work & Travel program allows international university students to work temporarily in the United States during their academic breaks. The program is regulated by the U.S. Department of State and operated through designated sponsor organizations.
It is specifically designed for seasonal and temporary roles, making it ideal for employers who need reliable labor on short notice.
Medtech Migration manages the operational side of the program, acting as the workforce integrator between employers, sponsors, and participants.
Because J-1 Work & Travel participants arrive with pre-authorized work eligibility, onboarding timelines are significantly faster than traditional employment-based visas.
Medtech Migration manages:
International recruitment and screening
Job matching and offer coordination
Sponsor communication
Arrival logistics and onboarding
Ongoing compliance and reporting
Employers receive work-ready staff without immigration complexity.
J-1 Work & Travel participants can be placed in a wide range of non-skilled and semi-skilled, seasonal roles, including:
Hospitality & Tourism
Hotels & Resorts
Restaurants & Cafés
Theme Parks & Attractions
Beach, Ski, and Resort Operations
Retail & Services
Retail Stores
Convenience Stores
Customer Service Roles
Cleaning & Facilities
Housekeeping
Janitorial Services
Facility Support
Food & Beverage
Kitchen Assistants
Servers (where permitted)
Food Preparation
All roles are reviewed to ensure they meet program regulations and sponsor requirements.
Common job titles include:
Housekeeper
Front Desk Assistant
Food Service Worker
Kitchen Helper
Retail Associate
Attraction Attendant
Maintenance Helper
Roles are always temporary, seasonal, and non-professional, as required by the program.
The J-1 Work & Travel program is one of the fastest and most efficient solutions for U.S. employers facing seasonal, peak-demand, or short-term labor shortages.
Medtech Migration delivers this program through a fully managed, compliance-driven model, allowing employers to access international talent quickly, legally, and with no recruitment or placement fees.
To maximize workforce continuity and operational efficiency, Medtech Migration structures the J-1 Work & Travel program using short-term contracts of up to four (4) months.
How This Benefits Employers:
Ideal coverage for peak seasons
Reduced risk of burnout and turnover
Predictable start and end dates
Simplified workforce planning
Twice Per Year — Different Countries
Employers can access the program up to two times per year, leveraging student availability from different countries and academic calendars.
This strategy allows employers to:
Maintain near year-round seasonal coverage
Diversify workforce sources
Reduce dependency on a single labor pool
Medtech Migration does not charge employers recruitment or placement fees.
Our J-1 Work & Travel workforce model is funded through program participation and operational management fees, paid by the participants in accordance with program rules and applicable regulations.
J1 WORK AND TRAVEL
ABout j1 trainee
Few people know but there are 187 different types of American Visas. Many of these are for permanent residence. Our company has expertise in permanent residence visas, such as EB2 and EB3, and temporary work visas, such as J1.
The J1 Visa
An incredible and transformative possibility for college students or younger professionals to train with a US company for 6 to 18 months and experience the US in a way no other program can offer.
When can the J1 Trainee Arrive
We recommend projecting a 2 to 3 months length of the process. Usually, the booking for an interview at the US Consulate is quick, what can take a bit longer is the creation and approval of the training plan by the US Sponsor.
Rules for the J1 Trainee
1. The J-1 Trainee visa is not a “work visa”.
2. The main purpose of the visa is to experience American culture by living in the USA for up to 4 months and to receive a solid “on the job training” experience within a specific American employer in the candidate's professional field. To support a candidate's time in the United States, most employers pay at least minimum wage. If the employer does not want to pay at least the minimum wage, the duration of the program is limited to 6 months.
3. The candidate can train in most cases for up to 4 months, during their vacation period of their university. The candidate can return to a trainee program again, after spending a period of 2 years outside the USA, however on the condition that the candidate learns new skills during the second trainee program.
4. Candidate may begin program with US employer at ANY TIME during the year.
5. Main requirements: Age from 20 years to 30 years. Current University students or recent University graduates are eligible to apply. An intermediate to advanced level of English is required.
6. Most common areas: Hospitality, Business Management, IT, Marketing and Culinary
Professionals for j1
about the employer
Minimum requirements from the employer side
1. Host organizations must have at least FIVE permanent, full-time employees on site and must have been fully operational for more than ONE year before an intern can be placed with them.
2. US SPONSOR applies a 5:1 ratio of permanent and part-time employees full time on site for interns/trainees. In other words, for every 5 full-time employees, the company can count on 1 trainee.
3. The US employer is NOT the sponsor. There is a dedicated sponsoring organization in the US that our agency has worked with for years, which will be the candidate's sponsor and will ensure that all program rules and regulations are followed.
4. There is no immigration lawyer involved in the process. This means that the program does not cost the employer.
documents from the employer
Minimum requirements from the employer side
● Annual Gross of US$ 186,000
● Business already established for min 2 years
Information/documents to be provided by the US
employer
● Correct legal name of business
● Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) or SSN for small business
● Official business address
● Official business phone and email
● Name and title of person recruiting/authorized to sign government forms
● Year business began
● Number of full-time employees at the location of work
● Gross and net annual income
● General business description
● North American Industry Classification (NAICS) number
more about the j1 visa
1. The Training Plan (Form DS-7002) must outline the “on-the-job training” received throughout the training period. Training must occur in 4 phases for the 12-month program and 6 phases during the 18-month program.
2. Candidate may NOT change employers unless all parties agree and approve. The candidate may be fired by the American employer if absolutely necessary or for good reasons.
3. Candidate will be on the regular payroll with no restrictions (candidate will request Social Security number upon arrival). No benefits such as 401K need to be paid.
4. Spouses and children may join the candidate on a J-2 visa (visa dependent on the J-1 Trainee visa) for an additional fee that also includes their travel health insurance for the entire period.
5. The entire process takes around 3 to 4 months before the candidate can leave for the USA.
6. The applicant can arrive up to 30 days before the start date determined on their DS form to secure housing, apply for and receive a Social Security Card, open a bank account,
etc.
Program costs
1. There is no cost for the employer
2. The applicant will bear all the costs for the program.
3. Our agency will handle the entire visa application process for a fee to cover our time and expertise. Included in the fees are also the fees payable to US SPONSOR as they charge our agency for the visa papers and their time and expertise during the approval process and the duration of the program. The price includes the visa process and travel health insurance that all applicants will receive.
4. No fees need to be paid until the US sponsor approves the entire application and is ready to issue visa papers (form DS required to apply for visa at local US consulate).
5. We are available to assist you throughout the duration of the program.