Sinn Féin spokesperson on the Diaspora, Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh, has stressed the need for students to acquaint themselves with recent changes in the J1 application process, meaning students will have to secure work prior to travelling to the US.
Senator Ó Clochartaigh said that the J-1 Summer Work and Travel programme has been a very important milestone for many third level students for over forty years. It is a hugely popular initiative and allows students an opportunity to live, travel and work in the United States and share their culture and ideas.
“Recently, significant changes in the application process have been made. I met officials from the US Embassy recently and I raised my concerns over these changes with them. Students must now have a job vetted and approved prior to travelling to the U.S.
“It is vital that students familiarise themselves with changes in the scheme which will be implemented next year. This means that Irish students must receive an offer of employment prior to receiving a Certificate of Eligibility, which will allow them entry to the United States,” he said.
“As many students will be making summer plans in advance of the New Year, they must aware of these new measures. I would advise interested students to be proactive and plan as early as possible to ensure successful placement.
“For further information on the pre-placement service, as well as self-placement, I advise that students contact one of the U.S. program sponsors or their Irish partner agencies. I would also encourage students to visit the Dublin US Embassy website for more information. The J-1 is a wonderful opportunity for Irish students and I would hope that as many students as possible could avail of this experience,” he concluded.
