Summer Work and Travel – Questions and Answers

For students who are interested in the Summer Work and Travel (SWT) Program, please keep in mind the governing rules of this program:

• The US Embassy and Consulate General in HCMC have designated the dates for participation in SWT 2012 for Vietnam: June 18 to August 20, 2012.

• Rules of the SWT program prohibit students from working while their school is officially in session and this rule will supersede the above dates in cases where your school break starts later than June 18 or ends earlier than August 20.

1. Why is the Embassy limiting the time I can work in the U.S.?

Because US law only allows students to participate in the SWT program during their University’s official break period (closed for the summer holidays). We have chosen the period June 18 to August 20, 2012 because it will accommodate the largest number of Vietnamese students, whose official school breaks fall within this timeframe, and still follow US Law, which prohibits students from working while their schools are in session.

2. I heard that people are being refused because they worked too long last year. Is this true?

Yes, any applicant who violated US law, including working while their University was in session or working longer than allowed by their visa, is unlikely to be issued another J-1 visa.

3. Will I get different dates if I apply in HCMC or Hanoi? Which one is better?

No, both posts abide by US Law and use the same criteria to adjudicate all visas.

4. Can I stay and work beyond the official SWT dates if my University gives me special permission to stay longer and miss a few weeks of classes?

You are allowed to work in the US on the Summer Work and Travel Program from June 18 to August 20, 2012 only. Students whose University’s official summer break falls completely outside of the June 18- August 20 timeframe are not eligible to participate in the SWT program.

5. My school operates on a credit system and I got approval from a school official to defer my studies for one semester to participate in SWT for 4 months. Am I eligible to participate in SWT?

No, students from colleges/universities that operate on a credit system are not eligible for the SWT program.

6. I am a final year student, and will not be attending classes in the Fall. Can I work in the US longer?

Recently, rules have changed relating to the SWT program.  As of the upcoming summer work and travel season (2012), all students must follow one uniform set of dates.  Therefore, no, you may NOT work in the US longer.  You will not have a separate set of dates even if you have graduated and intend to participate during the up-coming long academic break immediately following graduation.   Only one set of dates is permitted per country. 

7. My US visa is valid for 9 weeks, and I am allowed to arrive in the US 30 days prior to the start date of my program and stay an extra 30 days after my visa expiration date for travelling purpose. Am I allowed to work during these two periods of time?

No, you are not allowed to work during these two periods of time. However, you are allowed to remain in the U.S. for travelling purpose, only if your University is in official break status during that time.

*Violation of US Law, including violation of the SWT program regulations, may have a negative impact on any future applications for a US Visa.

8. A visa service has offered to provide me with fake documents (transcripts, bank documents, labor contracts, tax receipts, etc) to help me obtain a visa.  What penalty will I incur if I submit fake documents to the officer during the interview?

If you submit fake documents to the U.S. Embassy in support of your visa application, you could be permanently ineligible for admission into the United States. This means that not only will the current application be denied, but all future applications that you file will also be denied.  Please keep this in mind when applying for a U.S. visa.