J-1 rules set to change for Irish students: No job, no visa

College students seeking J-1 visas will have to secure employment in advance of gaining entry to the USA.

The new regulation, introduced by J-1 visa sponsors CIEE and Interchange, will affect more than 7,000 Irish students every year.

The major new change to the work and travel visa programme comes into effect next summer.

The new stipulation will affect all 38 countries currently approved by the visa waiver programme which allows visa-free travel to the US for up to 90 days for eligible citizens. Ireland, however, has one of the highest J-1 visa issuance rates and will be among those most affected by the change.

“All students from all countries entering the USA on the J-1 visa programme must now have a pre-placed job, and this brings Ireland in line with other countries,” said Michael Doorley, managing director of Shandon Travel which oversees the Irish J-1 agency SAYIT.

“Students should not under any circumstances think of travelling without a J-1 visa as the penalties can be refusal at pre-clearance in Irish airports or on arrival in the US or, if found working illegally, then deportation and non-re-entry for 10 years.”

But Mr Doorley believed the change was positive, and will ensure more stability for students.

“Job pre-placement is good news for the students that travel to the USA on the J-1 work and travel visa programme. We have thousands of qualifying employers lined up with thousands of approved jobs and this takes the uncertainty for students of having to worry about sourcing a job on arrival,” he said.

“They now will arrive from their flight straight into a job and start earning money — a situation very much welcomed by parents as they won’t have to fund their student while finding a job. It also gives the students more time in advance to source accommodation.”

While the Department of Foreign Affairs has yet to comment on the issue, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said he was “not keen” on the idea of “the dramatic introduction of a requirement for pre-employment”.

Speaking in the Dáil last month, the Taoiseach said such an introduction could be “an abrupt end to the J-1 system as we know it”.