FAQ

The story of the International Exchange Center began on June 27, 1989, when two recent graduates from the University of Latvia arrived in New York full of hope — and with only $8 between them. A little earlier, when they applied for their J-1 visas and mentioned they were planning to work at an American summer camp, the staff at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow were so surprised, they took a three-hour break to “consult with Washington.”

When the two finally landed at JFK, their American host couldn’t believe they had actually come — or that they were who they said they were. He even thought they might be KGB agents. During their first two weeks at the camp, they didn’t understand a word of English — despite the fact that languages were their major!

Later that fall, one of them had a wild idea: “If we managed to do this, maybe others can too.” That idea grew into what is now the International Exchange Center — with offices and partners in eleven countries, and thousands of students taking part in over twenty different programs every year. The first Russian students joined in 1990.

So feel free to explore our website, check out the programs, and maybe — just maybe — this will be the start of your own amazing story.

Actually, we just want to make sure you have enough English skills so you don’t get lost during the first few days. A conversational level is enough — about 5 to 6 on a 10-point scale.

Participants of the Work & Travel USA program work alongside American students in positions that do not require special training. These jobs are typically offered by stores, restaurants, hotels, and amusement parks in small tourist towns across the country. Students can either search for a job on their own or entrust us with the job placement.

The minimum wage in the USA is $7.25 per hour.
Upon arrival in the USA, it is recommended that participants have at least $1,000, as well as enough money to cover transportation to their workplace and initial living expenses.

It should be submitted at least three months before the desired travel date, approximately by March 1st. This deadline can be extended upon agreement with the program coordinator.

The vast majority of students in this program work in resort towns. The main streets of these towns are lined with endless shops, restaurants, and hotels. All you need to do is walk around and keep an eye out. Once you see a red sign saying “HELP WANTED,” that’s where you should go. Even if there’s no sign, it’s worth checking in anyway, because during the season these resort towns become nonstop tourist service machines — so they need lots of seasonal workers. Most of our participants work two jobs.

To get started, just give us a call or fill out the form at the bottom of the page.
After that, a program coordinator will walk you through the application steps and schedule a short interview to check your English level.

The DS-2019 is an official document issued electronically. It’s extremely important — you’ll need it to apply for your J-1 visa.
Only a small number of authorized organizations, called program sponsors, are allowed to issue this form.

The J-1 visa allows you to legally work in the U.S. during your summer break.

You’ll be traveling to your employer on your own. Most of you will arrive at JFK Airport in New York City.
After landing, go through passport control, collect your luggage, and pass through customs.
Your I-94 form (record of entry) will be attached to your international passport by the border officer.

Once you’re out of the airport, here are the main ways to get from JFK to the city:

By Subway
Take the AirTrain JFK to either Howard Beach or Jamaica Station — it costs $8.25.
Then transfer to the subway (regular fare is $2.90).
Total cost: about $11–12. Travel time: 1 to 1.5 hours.

By Taxi
Flat fare to Manhattan is $70, plus tips and possible tolls.
Expect to pay around $75–85 total. Travel time: 45–60 minutes, depending on traffic.

By Shuttle or Bus
Some private shuttle companies offer transportation for around $15–25.
Make sure to check availability in advance, as not all services run daily.

Once you reach the city, you may need to take another bus, train, or domestic flight depending on your final work location. Your employer or program coordinator will provide more detailed arrival instructions, so be sure to stay in touch with them.

Keep your money in the bank, on your personal account — and nowhere else.
There have been too many cases of theft when students kept cash at home. Don’t take the risk — a bank account is the safest option.

The easiest way is to use messaging apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and others.
They let you call and chat for free as long as you have an internet connection.

The students won’t have to pay large amounts for medical care in the U.S., as they will be reliably covered by insurance. Of course, we hope that all participants will stay perfectly healthy and won’t need to use it at all. But just in case: the total coverage amount is $150,000.

Work hard, go easy on the soda (that’s what Americans call sweet fizzy drinks like Coke and Pepsi), try biking to work when you can, don’t go overboard with all the fast food, and treat yourself to a nice home-cooked meal every now and then.