Latest news with #J1Visa
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
J-1 student workers essential for summer hiring
Jun. 1—There were murmurings of different languages amongst stacks of suitcases at the Xanterra office in Columbia Falls. It was a cool, rainy day, and J-1 student workers from around the world were getting their first impression of Montana. Assistant Director of Human Resources Christine Wright said it's an exciting time of year as they welcome the student workers into the fold. "I love it when they arrive and it's all new to them. They're so excited and they've done tons of research. "But they get here, and it's still just like, 'Wow, all the pictures and information I looked up still doesn't tell the whole story," she said. The J-1 visa, also known as the Exchange Visitor Visa or J student visa, is for anyone outside of the U.S. who wishes to take part in study and work-related exchange programs. The program aims to foster global understanding through educational and cultural exchanges, according to BridgeUSA, the agency which oversees J-1 visas for the U.S. Department of State. Companies in Northwest Montana see bringing in J1 student workers as a win-win: students from abroad get a taste of American culture and a chance to work in beautiful scenery, while companies fill necessary positions before the hustle and bustle of summertime. To participate in the Exchange Visitor Program, foreign nationals must be sponsored by one of the State Department-designated sponsors, according to BridgeUSA. Sponsors are responsible for screening and selecting those eligible for participation in their designated exchange visitor program, as well as supporting and monitoring exchange visitors during their stay here. Once someone obtains a DS-2019 form from a sponsor, they can apply for a J-1 visa at their nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. According to BridgeUSA, Montana had more than 2,700 J-1 workers in 2023, the latest available data. While Montana boasts many job opportunities in tourism, states like California and New York saw around 27,000 J-1 workers that same year. The agency reports that J-1 visa participants come to the U.S. from more than 200 countries and that 54% of them are female. Director of Human Resources Victoria Nix said Xanterra works with companies that operate in student's home countries, which collaborate with American sponsor agencies to advertise the Visitor Exchange Program abroad. "We don't talk directly to the universities or to the students at first, those in-country agencies are working with our sponsor to do all of that first recruiting and talk about the program. Then there's almost like a job board, where we create profiles and share information about our jobs, and they can select us as a host employer from those lists," she said. Xanterra is hiring 240 student workers for the upcoming summer season in Glacier National Park. Nix said these employees cover a critical time during the shoulder seasons, when college students haven't arrived yet in May and when they leave in August to return to school. There is a big effort to hire domestically too, as that's where they hire the majority of their employees. But, having J-1s to cover the beginning and end of the season is critical. "I don't think that we would be able to remain open without our BridgeUSA students. We have about 750 seasonal employees, so we're still hiring about 600 domestic employees every summer, but those students supplement all of our operations," she said. Whitefish Mountain Resort has been hiring J-1 workers since 2005, according to Public Relations Manager Chad Sokol. He said part of the process of hiring J-1s is showing the State Department that the company has tried to hire domestically. "There's a variety of factors, including application patterns from current and past seasons, so we know which departments tend to have the biggest staffing needs. We're very often in need of housekeepers, for instance," Sokol said. He said the program helps fill positions that would otherwise go unfilled. It's why Whitefish Mountain Resort Human Resource Director Kristi Hanchett wrote a letter to congressional representatives earlier this month asking them for continued support of the program. She wrote that without a doubt, if the resort wasn't able to hire J-1 visa holding employees in the future, the needs of guests would not be met. She referenced the summer of 2021 when the resort only hired eight J-1 employees and had to close on Tuesdays and Wednesdays due to lack of staff. "It's been an incredibly rewarding program for us, our business and the visiting students, many of whom choose to return for multiple seasons. They are valued members of the Whitefish Mountain Resort team, and we appreciate the wealth of experiences they bring to the mountain," Sokol said. The Trump administration's crackdown on immigration has brought up questions about the future for the Exchange Visitor Visa program. While Xanterra is watching the issue closely, Nix said there hasn't been an increase in visa denials, just the occasional question from applicants. Sokol said the resort hasn't had any hiring issues either. "I think our students coming in are still really excited ... but I definitely think this is an important year to continue advocacy for the program," she said. Working with CIEE, Whitefish Mountain Resort hired 40 J-1 visa holders from Jamaica, Spain and Romania for the summer season. Typically, the resort hosts about 75 visa holders each winter and has begun the hiring process for the 2025-26 ski season, Sokol notes. The country that sends the most students to work for Xanterra in Glacier National Park is Thailand, according to Nix. She said that's because the dates available best match what applicants are looking for and that it's a good fit culturally. Glacier National Park is also known to go viral on TikTok, which helps with hiring — Nix said it's something candidates often bring up in interviews. Though Thailand is the top sending country, the company also works with students from Bulgaria, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Romania, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and Ukraine, among others. Nix said Xanterra hiring staff have gone on several trips to the top sending countries in recent years, where they learned more about cultures and met potential hires face-to-face. Some of the students show up and immediately look for Nix, because they are eager to see a familiar face. "A lot of times they bring us gifts from their countries, which is really cute, like a little tea or candy, something small," she said. "But yeah, it's a really fun reunion when we get to see them again. Two girls that were checking in this morning poked their head in my office and were like 'Hi, Victoria! Do you remember us?' I was like, 'Yeah!'" Preferences of the workers are considered during placement within the park. Nix said those who are very eager to hike and backpack typically love Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, while those who want to be a little closer to town prefer Lake McDonald Lodge. There's a draw in working at the beautiful Many Glacier Hotel for some hires, and Nix said it's one of the most requested locations. Once they arrive, summer starts rolling fast for these exchange workers. Students are taken to rodeos and firework shows on the Fourth of July, among other activities, to show-off American culture. But the exchange goes both ways with U.S. employees learning about their coworker's culture. It's the kind of closeness that comes with working side-by-side all summer long, Nix said. "It's always a 'cry-fest' on our check out days, because everyone forms really strong friendships. They're working with everyone every day," Nix said. "So, on big checkout days, if you drive up on property, you'll just see hordes of employees, both domestic and international, all hugging and crying and maybe kissing — whatever the nature of the relationship was." While they occasionally get homesick, Nix said the students generally have good sentiments about their time in Glacier National Park. They may be happy to come back another summer or already have plans with their coworkers to come visit them in their home country. While the Visitor Exchange Program may solve a lot of logistical issues for hiring managers in Northwest Montana, Nix said her favorite part of the program is the connections made by employees. "It's really beautiful to see another human being, person-to-person, and to maybe learn their country's games or share food with them or tell stories around a campfire," Nix said. "So, I think it's good for global diplomacy and global citizenship, because it's bringing people from all over the world together in a beautiful place like Glacier." Reporter Taylor Inman can be reached at 406-758-4440 or by emailing tinman@
Extra.ie
4 days ago
- Politics
- Extra.ie
Trump halts student visa appointments and instigates expanded social media vetting
Irish students' planned trips to the US over the summer could be scuppered as the Trump administration rolls out social media screening of applicants. Embassies and consulates have been ordered to stop scheduling new appointments for student and exchange visitor visa applicants as the US State Department prepares to expand social media vetting of foreign students. Even students who have already successfully obtained a J1 Visa could see themselves grilled by US Border Control Officers and questioned about their political persuasions, and also about the war in Gaza, as well as their personal opinions on the President. US president Donald Trump. Pic: Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images About 5,000 Irish students are expected to travel on J1 visas this summer, a similar number to last year. A cable from the US State Department to embassies – reported by Reuters – states that it is 'conducting a review of existing operations and processes for screening and vetting of student and exchange visitor (F, M, J) visa applicants, and, based on that review, plans to issue guidance on expanded social media vetting for all such applicants'. The move has led to a freeze on all visa interview appointments at US embassies across the world. But appointments that have already been made will be honoured. Taoiseach Micheál Martin with US president Donald Trump. Pic: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images Commenting on the news, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: 'I believe in the mobility of young people across the world, and we should facilitate the mobility of young people. We do it in Europe very well and very effectively. There shouldn't be any overzealous examinations of people's records.' However, recent reports emanating from high-profile social media stars and online streamers anecdotally point to a clampdown at the point of entry across US airports. Irish students who participated in college encampments could find themselves falling afoul of Trump's new tightening of border control. Earlier this month, Hasan Piker, a popular left-wing political commentator and Twitch streamer, said he was detained and questioned by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents upon his return to the US from France. Hasan Piker. Pic:for Politicon Piker, who is a naturalised US citizen, claimed he was stopped and questioned by CBP agents at Chicago's O'Hare as he returned from a family trip to France. The social media personality recounted the experience on his Twitch stream, detailing how he was hauled in by Customs and Border Control agents and questioned about his political views, including his stance on Donald Trump and his stance on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Piker expressed concerns about the nature of the questioning, suggesting that it went beyond routine border security procedures and alleged he was targeted over his overt political views. This claim was, however, denied by the U.S Department of Homeland and Security who said on their X stream that it was just a random 'routine stop'. Hasan Piker. Pic: Hagop Kalaidjian/BFA/REX/Shutterstock The incident sparked a lot of discussion and debate about the role of CBP in enforcing political opinions and the rights of citizens entering the country. Piker mentioned that he is enrolled in Global Entry, a program designed to expedite travel for low-risk individuals, and he was still subjected to this intense questioning. The White House visa clampdown comes as Donald Trump continues his war on academies with gusto. Last week, the US President cancelled all foreign students from enrolling at elite institution, Harvard University, a move that has enraged Boston College and has led to another court battle for the bullish U.S President.
Irish Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Most Irish J1 students unaffected by US move to halt interviews for visas
Most Irish students who have applied for J1 visas to work in the United States this summer will be unaffected by the US government's suspension of visa interviews for foreign students, according to travel experts. Embassies and consulates have been ordered to stop scheduling new appointments for student and exchange visitor visa applicants as the US State Department prepares to expand social media vetting of foreign students. Travel firms who help to administer J1 visas for Irish students said the vast majority of students have had their applications processed, while those with scheduled interviews at the US embassy are exempt from the pause. About 5,000 Irish students are expected to travel on J1 visas this summer, a similar number to last year. READ MORE A cable from the US State Department to embassies – reported by Reuters – states that it is 'conducting a review of existing operations and processes for screening and vetting of student and exchange visitor (F, M, J) visa applicants, and, based on that review, plans to issue guidance on expanded social media vetting for all such applicants'. Michael Doorley, owner of SayIt Travel, who has been organising J1 visa applications for more than 20 years, said the vast majority of summer workers can breathe a sigh of relief. 'J1 students are pretty much done and dusted by this stage,' said. 'If you're on the record as having applied – our understanding is that applicants with existing interview appointments should still be able to attend those.' Sheelagh Daly, director of sales for the Council on International Educational Exchange, agreed that only a very small number of J1 students who have not yet applied may be affected. 'It is an evolving situation. We expect to get update guidance [on student visa applications] over the coming days, so we'll be monitoring that closely, but we're confident that almost all J1 students are on track.' [ Irish students' J1 plans in the Trump era: 'We said we wouldn't go ahead. It just isn't safe' Opens in new window ] Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn (AMLÉ), the national representative body for students, acknowledged 'growing concerns around political expression, social media monitoring, and student safety'. It called on both US and Irish authorities to provide 'clear, consistent information to protect students' rights and ensure their safety while abroad'. Chris Clifford, AMLÉ's president, said Irish students should not be discouraged from pursuing cultural exchange programmes. 'Those who have already applied can proceed with confidence. For those intending to apply, we recommend acting quickly and maintaining contact with your provider. AMLÉ will continue to support and advocate for all students involved in the J1 programme,' he said. Last March, consular officers were first told to scrutinise the social media content of some applicants for student and other types of visas. That directive said that officers need to refer certain student and exchange visitor visa applicants to the 'fraud prevention unit' for a 'mandatory social media check'. [ Irish J1 visa students urged to be informed of potential risks of 'activism' in US Opens in new window ] In recent months, US president Donald Trump 's administration has spoken about cancelling student visas, revoking green cards and scrutinising the social media history of foreign visitors, mainly in the context of outrage around Israel's war in Gaza. Mr Doorley of SayIt Travel said it has advised J1 students to be 'careful' about their use of social media. Despite the political atmosphere in the US, he said demand was as strong as ever for J1 visas. 'It's still a rite of passage for students,' he said. 'We filled our quota and still had a waiting list of about 150 students.'
South China Morning Post
23-05-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Armed ICE raid on Filipino teachers in Hawaii decried as ‘abuse of power' by US senators
A dawn raid by armed immigration agents on the home of Filipino teachers legally working in Hawaii has sparked outrage among migrant advocates and US lawmakers, who say the incident exemplifies the increasingly aggressive and indiscriminate enforcement tactics used by US President Donald Trump 's administration. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detained 12 Filipino educators from their residence on the island of Maui on May 6. All had been recruited under the J-1 non-immigrant visa programme – a cultural exchange scheme widely used to fill public school teaching posts amid chronic shortages in Hawaii. The raid, which witnesses described as 'traumatic', lasted more than 45 minutes and ended without arrests. The operation stunned the local community, with teachers' unions and migrant workers' groups condemning what they characterised as heavy-handed enforcement tactics against foreign workers engaged in legally sanctioned employment. 'For Filipinos, this is a chance to seek work abroad to provide for their families back home, but it can also come with challenges of racism and navigating an unfamiliar country,' according to Kami Yamamoto, interim executive director of the Hawaiʻi Workers Centre (HWC), a labour advocacy organisation. Yamamoto argued the teachers on J-1 visas were deliberately targeted 'because there is a concerted effort to crackdown on migrants in the US, regardless of their immigration status'.
Irish Times
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Demand for J1 visas to work in US remains high despite concerns about Trump border controls
Demand for J1 visas this summer remains high among Irish students, according to travel providers, despite concerns over border controls and access to jobs under the Trump administration's new hardline immigration policies. In April, the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) urged caution for those who would be travelling to the US on J1 visas this summer. Following the US administration's decision last month to begin screening the social media accounts of immigrants, visa applicants and foreign students for what it has called 'anti-Semitic activity', the union said it was important that those travelling 'fully understand' the possible consequences for their visa status, including the risk of deportation. USI president Chris Clifford said students have 'safety concerns' about the current situation in the US. READ MORE 'There's always concern but it has increased significantly this year. There has been more [concern] this year, more conversations around it, with the student unions and USI ... they [students] have concerns about arriving, having their phone searched, being detained or being deported,' he said. Ellen Clusker, a final-year UCD English and history student from Dublin, will travel to Maine in three weeks where she has secured work at a summer camp. 'I never debated not going but I have worries,' said Ms Clusker, who has been hearing recently how people 'going over are having their phone searched'. 'It's quite invasive but I'm not sure how true those concerns are ... I only have Instagram and it's private. Some friends have deleted Twitter [X] or some tweets that they are worried about, but I personally won't be. 'Even some friends are saying: 'Oh have you seen this?' and I'm like: 'Stop panicking me,'' she said. While her father has been 'encouraging', Ms Clusker says her mother is worried about her upcoming travel plans – 'she keeps sending me news articles.' Other students chose not to give their real names, feeling it may jeopardise any future plans to visit the US. One such student from Munster Technological University in Cork, Sarah* (21), and two friends have decided to forgo their J1 plans this summer amid growing safety concerns. 'We all started the application process and we all paid just under €1,000, but with everything that happened with tariffs, seeing stories of ICE [the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement] taking people into custody and also people being denied entry, it made us a bit nervous," she said. 'So we said we wouldn't go ahead with it. It's a real shame and we're all really disappointed but it just isn't safe.' For Sarah, the decision is 'about freedom of speech ... we wouldn't want to go and feel like we couldn't post something on our Instagram story that wouldn't align with Trump's ideals'. 'If that was taken and used against me and there was a mark on my record that I was denied entry or if I was deported, that would ruin any chance of going to the States again.' Laura*, a second-year Irish and translation student from University of Galway, is getting ready to travel to Ohio this week where she will work as a camp instructor for three months. This will be Laura's first visit to the States – 'I have always wanted to go to America' – and she is feeling uneasy after reading recent news stories and USI's statement last month. 'By the time that came out, I felt I was already too far in with the application process. I do worry, hearing all the stories of protests being shut down in the US.' Laura has been involved in student activism but doesn't 'plan on doing that in the States because it's too risky'. Offering advice to those who may be feeling concerned in advance of travelling to the US, Clifford said students should 'proceed with caution' when it comes to what they post online. 'The digital footprint goes a long way,' he said. 'Keep communicating with your family, tell them where you are and what you are doing, that's big ... Keep informed and most importantly prioritise the safety of you and your friends if you are travelling together.' Work-abroad organisation Usit said there were just over 5,500 J1 visas issued last year, with numbers for 2025 expected to be similar. Although figures have not yet been released for this year, Sheelagh Daly, director of sales in Ireland with the Council on International Educational Exchange said it had not seen any decline in demand for this summer's working visas. Figures provided by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the US Department of State, which oversees the J1 programme, show 3,722 students travelled from Ireland to the US in 2024. Similar uptake was seen in 2023, when 3,673 travelled, and 2022 when 3,660 participants were recorded. These figures represent the amount of BridgeUSA J1 Summer Work and Travel programme participants, not including participants in the US Summer Camp or Internship programmes.
