As much as we love this little island of ours, it’s only natural that you want to explore new horizons. There’s a whole wide world out there that’s jam-packed with opportunities for anyone willing to take them, not to mention the amazing friendships you strike up on the road.
A J1 USA Summer Work & Travel Programme Visa to the States is without doubt one of the best ways to go about it. Not only does it let you take in somewhere new, but you get to experience what life is really like on the other side by taking up some work opportunities while you’re at it.
If you’ve known anyone else to have gone on a J1, there’s a good chance that at some point they have burned the ear off you by telling you about how amazing it was. The simple reason for that is that it is an amazing way to spend a summer, and you’d be bonkers not to at least consider it while you are able to go as it’s a fantastic opportunity to explore somewhere new.
And let’s face it, we simply can’t compete with that weather. You’ll get more sunshine in one week in Chicago than you probably will all summer here, definitely add the climate into the list of pros when trying to make a final call.
Be it Chicago, Boston or San Diego, you can’t really go wrong. Each of them has its own unique vibe, but the one thing you can definitely count on is a new perspective on things that you simply wouldn’t ever get from staying in Ireland.
Think of it as a chance to really come out of your shell, experience somewhere new and make some friends that you could very well end up keeping for life. The more you think about how amazing an experience it can be, you have to wonder why every Irish student doesn’t take advantage of it while they can!
To find out more about the J1 USA Visa programme, and whether or not you’re eligible, visit the USIT website here.
Let’s get to the free stuff
There’s a lot to love about a J1, but wouldn’t it be even better again if you got to win a free voucher that covered your flights and Visa? Because that’s exactly what you could be in with a chance of winning.
Thanks to our friends over at USIT, Ireland's leading specialist in student travel, work abroad and intern/trainee programmes, you could win an amazing prize worth about €1,700. All you’ve got to do to be in with a chance of winning this amazing prize is enter the competition on social media by liking the post and telling us what USA destination you would like to visit on your J1 Visa.
A winner will then be chosen from the comments, provided that they fit the criteria of someone applying for a J1 USA Visa. So not only will they be able to look forward to a summer of more craic than you could shake a stick at, but they will have all that extra cash in their back pocket as a result of winning this competition.
After all, who doesn’t like a freebie?
New deadlines for Summer 2023
A J1 Summer Work & Travel Programme is limited to when you are in third level education, so it’s something you should strongly consider doing whenever you are eligible.
It’s now possible to get things tied up earlier than ever, as new deadlines have been announced depending on when you want to travel. The application deadline for travelling in May 2023 is at the end of January and the deadline for June travel is at the end of February, so final year students in particular would want to book sooner rather than later!
That said, it can be a little bit hard to know where to start when you’re trying to do it all on your own. One of the biggest advantages of going through a reputable work abroad specialist like USIT is peace of mind, not to mention the fact that there are now around 1,1,200 different jobs across the USA to be found on the USIT Jobs Hub.
If you’re still undecided, there is plenty of information available online to help you make a more informed decision. As well as that, USIT will be hosting a series of in-person information sessions across the country in Cork, Sligo, Dublin, Limerick and Galway to make sure students have everything they need to jet off for a summer they won’t soon forget.
USIT also hosts free online events, in case you can’t make it to any of the in-person talks. To keep up-to-date on the latest events or sign up to the next online one, head to the website here.
One-year Graduate Visa
Another option to consider, if you’re not eligible for a J1 Summer Work & Travel USA programme, is a one-year Graduate USA Visa. Ireland is in a unique position to have this programme, and it opens up some pretty amazing opportunities.
Basically, it gives recent graduates the opportunity to put their learnings to the test and build experience that will never cease to make your CV stand out. Like a J1, it lets you get to experience what life is like in the US and explore the opportunities that await you in cities such as New York, San Francisco & more .
If you’re an Irish passport holder over the age of 18 and have graduated a recognised Irish University or College (including in Northern Ireland) in the last 12 months, it’s definitely one to consider. To check your eligibility and find out more, sign up to the launch Grad USA 2023 event on the 28 February in Dublin here, or head to the USIT website here.
Featured Image Credit: USITTopics: Ireland
Shane Winckworth