| Most jobs in American businesses are filled by Americans. Still, there is a shortage of seasonal labour. Many employers have begun to rely on international employees to fill the entry-level seasonal job void. There are two options for compensating for the labor shortage: filing for H-2B visas or taking on J-1 student visa workers. Both types of visas exist to serve an employer's temporary demand for unskilled entry-level workers.
In the recent years, employing H-2B visa employees has been necessary for hospitality, catering and housekeeping industries in the hey of a season. A total of 33, 000 H-2B visa workers are allowed in the country every season. H-2B visa holders come to the USA twice a year: from October 1 to March 31 (winter) and from April 1 to September 30 (summer). With two seasons allowing 33, 000 employees each, a total limit of 66, 000 H-2B visas is issued nationwide yearly.
Due to the complex nature of the H-2B visa application procedure and the current cap on its usage, some businesses are looking to the J-1 student visa program instead.
There are no limits on the number of issued J-1 visas. Workers are allowed to have several jobs at a time and there is minimal paperwork to be done by an employer. Students fill in all visa forms in their home countries and are either approved or denied by the Visa Council of the U.S. Embassy.
J-1 student visa holders have proven to be a wonderful solution to a labour shortage. A lot of businesses consider J-1 student workers a viable option.
However, J-1 visas have the downside. J-1 student visa workers are only permitted to work four months a year - the period that corresponds to their summer holidays.
Student employees work for about 90 days, starting from June/May, and then travel around the country for a month - the so-called grace period - before returning home. It means that J-1 student visa holders can legally reside in the United States for up to four months.
For H-2B and J-1 visa holders the Work & travel USA Program is an opportunity to earn money, discover the USA with new-found friends. |
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