Non-Immigrant Visas
Summer Work and Travel Program
Dates and Deadlines
Program Participants
Who can participate?
How can you participate?
How to apply for a visa?
How to report your arrival?
Coordinating Agencies
Who can participate?
How to apply for a visa?
Documents required for submission three working days before the interview
Documents to bring for an interview
DS-2019 Policy
How to report participants’ arrival?
Summer Work and Travel 2010
The purpose of the Summer Work/Travel program is to provide bona fide foreign university students an opportunity to become directly involved in the daily life of the people of the United States through travel and temporary work for a period up to four months during their summer vacation.
Department regulations prohibit the placement of program participants as domestic help in U.S. households or in positions requiring them to invest their own money for inventory, such as door-to-door sales. Most participants typically work in non-skilled service positions at resorts, hotels, restaurants, and amusement parks.
Dates and Deadlines
• September 6, 2010 - the end date on your DS-2019. The last day when you can work in the USA on Summer Work and Travel 2010
• October 1, 2010 – deadline for participants to leave the USA
• October 31, 2010 – the last day when the coordinating agency can submit a report to the Consular Section
Program Participants
Who can participate?
You are eligible to participate in the Summer Work and Travel Program if you can answer "YES" to the following questions:
- Are you enrolled in a full-time course of university study?
Yes No
- Will you get a degree after graduation?
Yes No
- Do you possess sufficient proficiency in the English language?
Yes No
If you answered “NO” to any of the questions above, you cannot participate in the SWT program.
How can you participate?
The Department of State designates U.S. organizations to administer exchange programs. These organizations are known as sponsors. A list of the designated sponsors in the category of Summer Work/Travel can be found on http://exchanges.state.gov/education/
jexchanges/catalog.htm. The majority of these sponsors have partners or agents (coordinating agency) located worldwide to assist you.
While choosing a coordinating agency to help you with application procedure please make sure that the agency is aware of the requirements for the current season, including deadlines, scheduling and list of documents. Check this information yourself on our web-site and on the web-site of U.S. Department of State
How to apply for a visa?
To participate in the SWT program you need to secure a J1 Exchange Visitor Visa. The Form DS-2019, needed to apply for a J visa, can only be issued by a DoS-designated sponsor. Every year the Consular Section specifies the period the form has to cover (for SWT 2010 this period is from June 1, 2010 to September 6, 2010).
If your form doesn’t meet this requirement, you will not be admitted for an interview.
As a rule the Consular Section schedules special appointments for SWT participants from February to May.
The coordinating agency that helps with the application procedure will arrange an appointment for you and inform you about the documents to bring for an interview.
On the appointed day you will pay the consular fee, submit any additional documents and have an interview with a Consular Officer. If you are found qualified for visa issuance, your coordinator will pick up your passport the next working day.
Don’t bring any electronic devices (cell phones, flash cards, I-pods etc.) to the Consular Section.
How to report your arrival?
Before departure to the USA the Coordinator will provide you with green handouts. On return to Kazakhstan you must report your return to the Coordinating agency.
Coordinating Agencies
Who can participate?
Agencies that wish to participate in the SWT program must be able to provide students with Department of State authorized DS-2019 forms. If your agency did not attend training for coordinators and participate in 2009, and wishes to participate in 2010, please contact the Consular Section at: USAKZ@state.gov
Please, make sure that the recruited participants meet the definition of a student as it is specified for the SWT program. Students of vocational schools, non degree-granting Kazakhstani colleges, language classes, and distance learning courses are not eligible for participation in the SWT program.
Citizens of other countries can apply in Almaty or Astana provided that they study in Kazakhstani universities. For non-Kazakhstani students the document requirements can differ from those for Kazakhstani citizens. To avoid delays please, check the Reciprocity Schedule
How to apply for a visa?
In February, the Consular Section places the preliminary schedule for the SWT interviews on our web-site. Agencies may book dates for the interviews by sending e-mails to USAKZ@state.gov. After considering the request on a first come, first served basis the Consular Section sends the agency a specific schedule for the upcoming season. However, final appointment confirmation is only made upon receipt of the documents, RDS file and an Excel list of participants (at least three working days in advance of the appointed interview).
Documents required for submission three working days before the interview
- Completed application Form DS-156
- One color photo (size 5cm x 5cm) stapled to Form DS-156. The photo must be on a white background. No head coverings or glasses.
- Form DS-157 for male applicants
- Form DS-158
- Confirmation from university about current student status
- Copy of passport
- Original Form DS-2019
- SEVIS fee confirmation
Note: The documents should be packed in the above order
Documents to bring for an interview
- Consular fee (Receipt from ATF Bank)
- Passport
- Original Transcript (Зачетная книжка)
- Job Offer (if available)
Passports with printed visas can be picked up by Coordinators on the next working day after the interview.
DS-2019 Policy
Please, be advised that according to the regulations to issue a J1 visa Consular officer must receive a completed original Form DS-2019 with no data missing or misspelled. Responsible officers must sign the Form DS-2019 in order for the form to be valid for use.
Every year the Consular Section specifies the period the form has to cover (for SWT 2010 this period is from June 1, 2010 to September 6, 2010).
Students should have their interview before the start date of the program. If they cannot meet this deadline, it will be necessary to get a new form DS-2019 with the corrected start date.
Note: Copies of DS-2019 and forms with dates beyond those specified by the Consular Section are not accepted.
How to report participants’ arrival?
While picking up the participants’ passports with printed visas, Coordinators get green handouts to distribute to the students. On return to Kazakhstan you must report your return to the coordinating agency. By the reporting deadline the Coordinators must provide the Consular Section with lists indicating whether or not each participant has returned from the USA.