THE J-1 Summer Work Travel (SWT) programme is an incredible opportunity for students and recent graduates to explore a new culture, gain work experience, and earn money to fund their education in Jamaica. SWT participants work at US summer camps, theme parks, restaurants, hotels, and more.

The US Embassy in Kingston issued more than 7,500 J-1 visas in 2023 for SWT participants, ranking Jamaica third among all participating countries in the world.

Q: Who is eligible for the J-1 SWT Visa?

You must be currently enrolled as a full-time student at an accredited, post-secondary, classroom-based academic institution to qualify for SWT. First-year students must have completed at least one semester prior to the programme’s start date. Final-year students may also be eligible to participate in SWT if they apply prior to graduation and their graduation is within one year before the SWT programme’s start date.

Q: How do I find an SWT programme?

The embassy cannot help you find an SWT programme for you. To find a programme that may interest you, we recommend you visit https://j1visa.state.gov/programs/ and https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study/exchange.html. In Jamaica, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security maintains a list of approved overseas employment agencies which can be accessed at https://www.mlss.gov.jm/departments/employment-agency-unit/.

Q: What do I need for my SWT visa application?

All applicants must fill out the DS-160 visa application at https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/, pay the application fee and the SEVIS fee, and schedule a visa appointment at https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-jm/niv. Please make sure to bring the following required documentation to the interview:

Valid passport

Form DS-160 (confirmation page)

Two passport-size photos (taken less than 6 months ago and against a white background)

Completed and signed form DS-2019

SEVIS fee payment receipt.

The consular officer may also request proof of an applicant’s full-time student status so it is strongly recommended that SWT applicants bring registration documents, transcripts, and/or status letters.

Q: Do I have to appear for an interview to participate in SWT?

Starting this year, if you have previously been issued a J-1 SWT visa you may qualify to submit your renewal application without an in-person interview. The scheduling website will prompt applicants who are qualified for the interview waiver to submit their required documentation and passport through our courier service; all others should schedule an interview at the earliest convenience. Even renewals may be called in for interview; the embassy will advise individual applicants directly if this is needed.

Q: When should I submit my application?

We encourage applicants in all visa classes to apply as early as possible in advance of their intended travel. The typical wait time for a nonimmigrant visa interview is less than a month for all visa classes and less than one week for J-1 visa applicants. To secure a time slot in advance of your programme start date, please schedule your appointment as soon as possible, once you have your required documents.

You can find more information about how to travel to the United States on our website https://jm.usembassy.gov/ and the website of our authorised service provider at https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-jm/niv. Keep on top of embassy news on our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/pages/US-Embassy-Jamaica and by following @USEmbassyJA on Twitter and Instagram. We also answer general visa questions on our Facebook and Twitter pages.