About Working Holiday Visa USA 2024

The working Holiday visa USA is also called a J1 visa. The visa is for individuals who possess a New Zealand or Australian passport. The main purpose of the J1 visa is to allow visitors to work, study, teach, intern, etc to fund their travels. There are different types of working holiday visas. However, the general age limit is between 18-30 years. Those who meet the eligibility requirements can submit the relevant documents to apply for the visa. The visa is only available for 1 year. Keep reading to learn more about the working holiday visa USA.

Visa	Working Holiday Visa USA
Cost	US$205
Validity	12 months

What is a Working Holiday Visa USA?

A working holiday visa USA is a travel permit that allows visitors to work in the country that has issued the visa. The purpose of granting the visa is to supplement the travel funds. The visas are granted after agreements between certain countries to promote tourism and cultural exchanges. The visa comes with restrictions such as age limit. Those who have received a working holiday visa do not have to seek sponsorship in advance. They can enter the country and then look for work. 

The Working Holiday Visa USA is also known as the J1 visa. The visa allows travellers to work in the United States.  There are 15 different types of working holiday visas USA. Depending on the visa category, it is available for 12 months. What makes a working holiday visa different from a temporary visa is that there is no need to secure sponsorship in advance.

Working Holiday Visa Eligibility Requirements 

The general eligibility criteria for the working holiday visa are as follows:

• The applicant must hold a valid New Zealand or Australian passport 
• Must be more than 18 years of age and must be a tertiary level student (minimum level 5) full-time, or recent graduate from full-time/campus-based tertiary level study
• Those applying as a full-time student must travel before the semester commences
• Recent graduates from full-time study will have 12 months from the final examination date to obtain and enter the US

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Types of Working Holiday Visas and Their Requirements 

There are a total of 15 categories of J1 visa types. The visa requirements vary depending on the category. Here are the main types of J1 visas:

Categories	Basic Requirements
Camp Counselor	Must be 18 years old and must know English
Au Pair and EduCare	must be between 18-26 years old, know English, and be a secondary school graduate.
Intern	Must be currently enrolled at a university or certificate-granting post-secondary academic institution outside of the US or have graduated from one of these institutions in the last 12 months. The internship is only granted for specific programs
Government Visitor	must be a professor or research scholar or have a similar background education, and experience
Physician	Must complete one of the following: Part I or Part II of the National Board of Medical Examiners Examination: The Foreign Medical Graduate ExamStep I and Step II Visa Qualifying Medical Examiners (VQE). Moreover, the applicant must have completed education and must have received relevant training
International Visitor	be selected by the United States Department of State, must take part in consultations, observation, research, training, or demonstration of special skills, and must be a recognized individual in a special field.
Short-term Scholars	must be a professor or research scholars or have a similar background education, and experience
Professor and Research Scholar	must not be a candidate for a tenure track position, you mustn’t have been a part of the professorship program in the last 24 months, and you mustn’t have participated in a J-visa program in the last 12 months
Student, college/ university	must be sponsored, and have your stay funded either by your home country via a government program, by the US, or by both governments.
Specialist	must be an expert in your field, and you must not be looking to be employed full-time in the United States
Summer Work Travel	Get a summer work visa if you are a student enrolled in a university and pursuing a degree, you must have completed at least one semester of your program
Student, Secondary	Must be at least 15 years old but you cannot be older than 18 years and six months before the program starts. You must also have less than 11 years of primary school education,
Trainee	You must have a degree or a professional certificate from a university or a similar institution. You must also have at least one year of work experience related to your occupation
Teacher	Must have the qualifications to work in a primary or secondary school, and you must have a degree equivalent to a US bachelor’s degree in education or the academic subject you intend to teach

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Working Holiday Visa USA Document Requirements 

The document requirements for a working holiday visa are as follows:

• The applicant must have a relevant passport valid for at least 6 months 
• Must submit photographs, and a nonimmigrant visa application form (DS-160 online)
• The visa fee receipt and form DS- 2019 
• Form DS- 7002.- participant in the J-1 trainee and intern categories
• J1 visa health insurance. 

Working Holiday Visa USA Application Process 

The working holiday visa application process is as follows:

• Fill out the application form and set up an interview with a consulate or an embassy. An appointment has to be made for an interview. 
• Pay the required application fees: Often visa fees have to be submitted in advance and the receipt to the visa office 
• Next, attend the visa interview. The consular officer will determine whether to grant the visa or not. After the visa is issued an issuance fee might also need to be paid
• Lastly, the visa holder can enter the United States for a specific period 

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FAQs

We hope you now understand what a Working Holiday Visa USA is, its requirements, the application process, etc. Want to apply for a Visa for your study abroad journey? Drop us a comment in the section below, or you can connect with a visa expert at Leverage Edu, and we will guide you on your dream journey!