The Self-Placement Program

Many employers arrange jobs directly with students who independently seek job placements. Often, students will contact employers over the internet, by phone, or email to secure a job offer. Even if you, as a exchange student, get a self job offer, you still need a sponsor in order to obtain a J-1 Visa. Host employers are subject to the regulations of the Summer Work Travel program and must comply with all the obligations as a host through this program.

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STEP BY STEP SELF-PLACEMENT PROCESS

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1. Host employer fills out an sponsor's Self Offer (Employment Offer and Agreement) for each participant that they plan on hiring. Job offers must include the participant's name, wage, participant's signature, employer's signature, employer's contact information (phone, email etc.), and the work dates that they have committed to working. All incomplete job offers will be rejected.

2. Host employer sends the completed Employment Offer and Agreement form to the participant.

3. Students will give this job offer to the local agency. Local agency will contact with sponsor. Sponsor will contact with host employer to approve students' application.

4. Sponsors will sends the host employer an email requesting them to upload their business license and workers' compensation documents.

5. U.S. Department of State regulations require that J-1 Visa sponsors collect the following documents from each host employer:

   • Employer Identification Number (Federal Tax Identification Number)

   • Business license

   • Workers' compensation deck sheet or policy's cover page

   • Once the host employer's documents are received, sponsor will contact the host employer by phone for a brief vetting interview to review and confirm the position, salary, hours, seasonality, housing, and available opportunities for the participants to interact with Americans and experience U.S. culture. Sponsor may ask for an Employer Seasonality Declaration form or revenue/occupancy numbers in order to demonstrate that the jobs are seasonal or temporary in nature.

6. If sponsor is unable to reach the host employer by phone on the third attempt, the job offer will be rejected.

7. Once the vetting interview has been conducted and the position has been approved, the participant will be issued their DS-2019 form via their local cooperator in their home country.

8. Participant will schedule a visa interview with the U.S. Embassy in their home country.

9. If the participant is granted a visa, they can coordinate travel plans and arrival details directly with their host employer.

10. Once the participants enter the U.S., they have 10 days to register a U.S. home address with sponsor and confirm that they have arrived at their job. 

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