To meet the basic requirements for the Work & Travel Program, you must be:

You may participate in the WISE Work and Travel program during your summer vacation. This means that if you live in the Northern Hemisphere, your program dates are in the summer season in the U.S., starting as early as May. If you live in the Southern Hemisphere, your program dates are in the winter season of the U.S., starting as early as December. Your actual dates of participation depend on your university’s official summer holiday dates. You can only participate in the program during these dates for a maximum of 4 months.

Below is a list of program dates for each of the countries eligible for participation. Please note that these dates are subject to change.

The WISE® Foundation works with Work and Travel Program overseas partners in Europe, South America, Asia, and Africa. For information on a partner in your country please contact WISE® at worktravel@wisefoundation.com

Please note that once WISE® receives your application, the process takes 4-6 weeks. Once you receive your DS-2019 form you will still need to go to the US Consulate to interview for the J1 visa. Some consulates take up to 4 weeks to issue the visa. Please plan ahead so that you can arrive on time for work in the US!

WISE® Placement

What types of jobs do students selecting WISE® Placements receive?

WISE® will arrange a basic, entry level job for you, much like one that a student in the US would have during a school break.

You will not normally be able to have a position that offers training for your future career, but you will certainly be able to learn a lot through your job if you are open to new people and experiences. The Work & Travel Program does not require that participants have special training or professional skills. We just ask that you have a positive attitude about hard work! Earn money while you get to know the country as no tourist can. Here is a sample of the types of businesses where WISE® places students in the country. These types of positions are located in many states across the US.

When WISE® receives your application through one of our overseas partners, we will review your interests and coordinate the available employers that best fit your interests and skills to arrange for an offer. Please note that not all first choices can be met, and the most popular locations and positions are filled first so applying early is very important.

WISE® Services for you include

Self Placement
Eligible students are allowed to arrange their own placement. If you elect to arrange your own placement, you will be required to collect a job offer and host employer agreement from your placement. You can get this paperwork from your local WISE® Work & Travel Overseas Partner Agency. WISE must then vet and approve this placement. This option is a great solution for 2nd timers on the program or those students who have specific preferences for their placements.

There are certain positions that WISE® does not consider acceptable for the SELF Placement program. WISE® reserves the right to reject any job offer if the position is deemed to jeopardize the applicant’s well being and/or safety or that would in the judgment of WISE® not suitably represent the cultural exchange objectives of this program. Please consult with your local WISE® Work & Travel Overseas Partner Agency prior to signing up for a job that may not be allowed.

Advice to students about Self-Placed Positions
Every year, some participants encounter problems because they did not know enough about their self-placed position. Some students arrive to discover that there is no longer a position for them, or that there is nowhere for them to live. Although WISE® calls to make sure that all job offers are acceptable, students should take the steps necessary to make sure that the position they have arranged is secure and acceptable to them.

Applications should