work and travel usa egypt

• How to – guides
• Skills List
• How to – guides
• North America
• South America

Work and Travel in Egypt

Help us grow. share what you know about getting work in egypt for travellers., volunteer and paid work opportunities in egypt for travellers.

VOLUNTEER WORK VISA / PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR EGYPT

If you want to work in Egypt you’re going to have to deal with what can be a confusing and complex system of visas. This is all dictated by the Department of Foreign Affairs . Travellers from the United Kingdom, most of Europe, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Russia who want to work and travel in Egypt are able to get a visa on arrival if they arrive via an airport. Overland travel usually requires a visa to be arranged in advance. The fee for the Egyptian visa must be paid on arrival at the airport. You usually have a choice between different currencies, including the Egyptian Pound, Pound Sterling, and United States Dollars. Every foreigner looking to volunteer in Egypt must also apply for a volunteer visa. The exact same information is required for a volunteer visa as with a normal visa. The difference is you must provide a letter of invitation. This is a simple document that includes your volunteering position and length of stay. It has to be signed by the person inviting you. It’s also possible to be in Egypt and apply for a volunteer visa from within the country. However, it’s highly recommended that you stick to applying for your volunteer visa before you travel.

SEASONAL BACKPACKER SKILLS NEEDED IN EGYPT

Spring work.

Cool, windy, and humid, this is the closest thing to cold you’re going to find in Egypt. The shoulder season begins in March, which marks the time when foreigners start to flood into the country again. January right through to March can be perfect weather in the Western Desert. Travellers who want to work in Egypt on eco projects should choose the shoulder season to visit. Projects in places like Nuweiba are in need of foreign volunteers to help in the countryside on organic farms . Backpackers will participate in desert planting, where they will learn how to plant seeds and harvest plants.

SUMMER JOBS

Summer is the height of the tourist season and is the driest, hottest part of the year. Hospitality jobs in Egypt are not as abundant as they are in Europe. The majority of hostels tend to be run by Egyptians, especially in the major cities of Cairo and Alexandria. These positions are available if you look hard enough, but they’re relatively difficult to come across. To increase your chances of finding a position you may want to look towards resorts dedicated to foreigners, such as Sharm El-Sheikh. These tend to be more accommodating to foreign volunteers. Those with diving experience are highly coveted. Resorts are always hiring native English speakers with prior diving qualifications. The country’s position on the Red Sea makes it an ideal diving destination. Take note that many of these places hiring people who want to work and travel in Egypt will require previous experience for diving, but for work above the shore they will not.

Egypt is a country where it’s relatively easy to find English-teaching jobs. British control over Egypt means that, like a lot of African countries, English is quite widely spoken in the cities. But there are still lots of people who either don’t speak the language or want help with improving their language skills. Autumn is the primary hiring period for English teachers, since English teachers tend to leave in the summer to travel themselves. If you want to work in Egypt this is the time to find English teaching positions. There are many ways in which you can pick up one of these jobs. You can work for an organisation sponsored by a foreign NGO or organisation like the British Council , or you can apply directly to a school. Some people also post private notices in Alexandria and Cairo, but this is technically illegal and could get you into serious trouble if the authorities catch you. Make sure you check the deadlines for applications because most schools have a cut-off date of spring or early summer.

Winter in Egypt doesn’t bring any specific seasonal opportunities. The winters in Egypt can get so cold even Mount Sinai has snow on top. The tourism industry hits its lowest ebb and most places are not hiring new workers. Those who can find work tend to be English teachers in the major cities.

ATTITUDE TO FOREIGNERS WORKING OR VOLUNTEERING IN EGYPT

This subject is a highly contentious one because there are a lot of conflicting opinions on this subject. For example, one article from The National says Egypt has a poor attitude towards foreigners. It cites the fact they believe many of the negative things they hear about in Western media. However, other articles state that Egypt has a fondness for foreigners. It’s true that many of the touts ordinary backpackers in Egypt meet will be fond of foreigners, but they’re only after their money. Most Egyptians are likely to be a mix of the two when it comes to foreigners working in Egypt. You’re not going to run into any problems, but don’t expect a hero’s welcome.

Recent Contributors

• Edited on May 10 2021 by
• Village Hotel Maramures has edited this wiki on May 7 2021. View Profile
• Edited on Apr 21 2021 by

If you have worked in Egypt or live here. Instead of saying `That information is not right` Please sign up to Working Traveller by clicking here and update this page with your opinions on the subject and your views on what the barter points should be. If your a host, you will have a SEO link added to the page directly to your own web site so viewers can see who provided the information. If you are a traveller it will link to your profile.

• Al Mansurah
• Beheira Governorate
• Ismailia Governorate
• Kafr ash Shaykh
• Muhafazat ad Daqahliyah
• Muhafazat al Bahr al Ahmar
• Muhafazat al Fayyum
• Muhafazat al Gharbiyah
• Muhafazat al Iskandariyah
• Muhafazat al Jizah
• Muhafazat al Minufiyah
• Muhafazat al Minya
• Muhafazat al Qahirah
• Muhafazat al Qalyubiyah
• Muhafazat al Uqsur
• Muhafazat al Wadi al Jadid
• Muhafazat ash Sharqiyah
• Muhafazat Aswan
• Muhafazat Asyut
• Muhafazat Bani Suwayf
• Muhafazat Bur Sa`id
• Muhafazat Dumyat
• Muhafazat Janub Sina'
• Muhafazat Matruh
• Muhafazat Qina
• Muhafazat Shamal Sina'
• Muhafazat Suhaj

WORKING TRAVELLER LTD 27, Lonsdale Rd, Blackpool, FY1 6EE, UNITED KINGDOM

Work and travel the world using your skills to gain work experience and references for a good job back home

Log in with your credentials, forgot your details.

• Go to the U.S.
• For Work Exchange
• Work & Travel USA

Let's Get Started

How To Apply For Work And Travel

Ready to begin your American adventure? Let us help you find a job in the United States – just as we do for more than 15,000 international students each year. 

The first step is to connect with the CIEE international representative closest to you. If you can’t find a CIEE representative in your country, you can apply directly to CIEE. Send us  an email  to learn more.

Find a Representative by Country

EBLA Educational Business Links Albania     +355 67 20 77 990   [email protected]    blink-al.com

Integral Albania    [email protected]    integral.al

Kouzon    00355695417369   00355695417385   [email protected]    kouzon.mk

Tandek Exchange your mind    +355682060277   [email protected]     tandek.al

WEUSA    +(5411) 4773-7327   [email protected]    www.weusa.com.ar/

BUNAC    +61 3 9119 5252   infobunac.org    bunac.org

Work and Travel Group     066/375-888   [email protected]    workandtravelgroup.com

Kouzon Work and Travel BiH    387 66 533 030   [email protected]    kouzon.com.mk

Integral    359 28050600   [email protected]    wat.integral.bg

Usit Colours    359 29811900, ext 306   [email protected]    gotousa.bg

WEUSA    (+56) 2 2378 7083   [email protected]    www.weusa.cl

Raising Culture    +8618610165402   [email protected]    raisingculture.com

SunnySky Intl Cultural Exchange    +8602981707357   [email protected]     sunnyskyicec.cn

Servicio Educativo Internacional    +57 (1) 2745798   [email protected]    servicioeducativo.com

Smaller Earth Colombia    smallerearth.com/us/

SEP Costa Rica    +506 2253 4007   [email protected]    sepworkandtravelcr.com

Integral    385 1 4683 381   [email protected]    integraledu.hr

Work and Travel Group    097 720-12-56   [email protected]    workandtravelgroup.com

Applimates Educational Consultancy Service    +357-22669757 and +90-548- 853-9714   [email protected]    applimates.com

WYSE TRAVEL    +35725345273    [email protected]    www.workandtravel.cy

Czech-us    +420 773 960 963   [email protected]    www.czech-us.cz

Smaller Earth Czech Republic    +420 702 060 336   [email protected]    smallerearth.com/cz

Student Agency Czech Republic    +1800 100 300   [email protected]    studentagency.cz

The North-West Passage    +16199720555   [email protected]    thenorth-westpassage.com

ODTE    +1 809 686 3333   [email protected]    odte.org/

OFIT    +1 809 535 4881   [email protected]     ofit.com.do

APEX… tu camino    +593 (2) 2460484   [email protected]    apextucamino.com

Ordex    +201093699639   [email protected]     exegypt.org

EX Egypt    +201030117310   [email protected]     exegypt.org

Star Travel Georgia    +99532 2967799   [email protected]     workandtravel.ge

Work and Travel Group    +30 210 822 0015 [email protected]    workandtravelgroup.com

Student and Youth Travel Organization    +233 (0) 302 769157   [email protected]    sytoghana.org

Smaller Earth Hungary    (36) 20-662-5938   [email protected]    smallerearth.com/hu/

Work and Travel Group     +36 70 270 2211   [email protected]    workandtravelgroup.com

Speedwing Training (Asia) Pte Ltd    +65 62567555   [email protected]    www.speedwing.org

Global Insight    +1 (876) 9788098   [email protected]    globalinsightexchanges.com

International Recruiting Staffing Solutions    +1 (876) 7541836   [email protected]    irssworktravel.com

International Travel and Cultural Exchange    +1 (876) 3783876   [email protected]    goitce.com

Divan Student Travel    +96265511950   [email protected]    divanintl.org/a>

Travel Gates    962 79 691 5148   [email protected]    travelgatesjo.com

AirTravel International    +87(17)262-5745    [email protected]    airtravel.kz

Kazakhstan Council for Educational Travel (KCET)    +7 727 2723722,   +7 747 2507777,   +7 705 249 7337   [email protected]    kcet.kz

ABC Universe Kazakhstan    +77075619621   [email protected]    www.workandtravelus.kz

Jaunimo Keliones    370 604 13172   [email protected]    jaunimokeliones.lt

Lithuanian World Center for Work Experience and Studies Abroad    +370 37 223355   [email protected]    www.lwc-wt.lt

Kouzon & Co.    389 2 3238 801   [email protected]    kouzon.com.mk

Infinity Abroad    +6012 321 0397   [email protected]    https://infinity-abroad.com/

OOTB Personal Development Sdn Bhd    60 3 2164 5407   [email protected]    outofthebox.com.my

Speedwing Malaysia S/B    +65 6526 7555   [email protected]    www.speedwing.org

International Cultural Exchange    +52 1 3312462744   [email protected]    ice.org.mx

Smaller Earth Mexico    (52) 222-211-0956   [email protected]    smallerearth.com/us/

Kouzon    0038268271671   [email protected]    kouzon.mk

Work and Travel Group    +382 20 / 675 164   [email protected]    workandtravelgroup.com

WAT Montenegro    069 450 405, 067 357 377   [email protected]    watmontenegro.com

Phi S.A.    505-8424-0314   [email protected]

BUNAC    +64 9 883 2525   infobunac.org    bunac.org

International Working Holidays    +64 9 6660192   [email protected]    iwh.co.nz

Internship New Zealand    +64 (4) 920 7646   [email protected]    internshipnz.com

Almatur    48 22 826 23 56   [email protected]    almatur.pl

The Best Way    48 61 622 95 51   [email protected]    tbw.pl

Business Travel Club    BTC - stany,pl   +48 726 020 050   [email protected]    stany.pl

Camp Leaders Poland    (48) 81-532-34-64   [email protected]    resortleaders.com/pl

GTS International Romania    +4021.313.4545   [email protected]    gotosua.ro

IntegralEdu Work & Travel    +40 737 069 011   [email protected]    worktravelusa.ro

Student Travel    40 756068541   [email protected]    studenttravel.ro

STM Acord Travel    +40784433555   [email protected]    acordtravel.ro

Global Vision    +7 812 970 06 25   [email protected]    global-vision.ru

Star Travel    +7 495 797 95 55   [email protected]    startravel.ru

Divan International    +966126676161   [email protected]    divanintl.org

Agencia Kouzon I Ko doo    381 18 523374   [email protected]    kouzon.com.mk

IUVIA NGO    00381113035788   [email protected]    gpa.rs

Work & Travel Group    00381 11 40 56 198   [email protected]    posloviamerika.com

Smaller Earth Slovakia    (421) 0918-935-622   [email protected]    smallerearth.com/sk/

Student Agency Slovakia    420 5 42 42 42 42   [email protected]    studentagency.cz

CIEE Study Center Seville    (+34) 954-412-002   [email protected]    usa-internships.org

Foreign Study League    34-917-819-910   [email protected]    fsl.es

Travelingua    34-965.12.38.12   [email protected]    travelingua.es

StudyZone (Advis Educational Counseling)    +90 (212) 3938296   [email protected]    studyzone.com.tr 

Armada Grandee Education Consulting    +90 (312) 4192121   [email protected]    armadagrandee.com

United Towers    +90 (212) 2445005   [email protected]    unitedtowers.com

Coliseum    38 (044) 239-1919   [email protected]    workandtravel.org.ua

Star Travel Ukraine    +38 0443834112   [email protected]    startravel.ua

Student Travel    (+380) 99 940 49 62, (+380) 93 271 70 20   [email protected]    studenttravel.ua

BUNAC    +44 333 014 8484   infobunac.org    bunac.org

IST Plus    44 (0) 207 788 7877   [email protected]    istplus.com

Parenthèse    33 1 43 36 37 07   [email protected]    parenthese-london.co.uk

WEUSA    +(5411) 4773-7327   [email protected]    weusa.com.ar

Speedwing Training (Asia) Pte Ltd    +65 6256 7555   [email protected]    www.speedwing.org

If you can’t find a CIEE international representative in your country, you can apply directly to CIEE. Send us an email to learn more.

How Does the Program Work?

You will be welcomed as a visitor with a U.S. Department of State J-1 visa. This visa allows you to live and work in the United States for up to four months during your university summer break. It also gives you the possibility to travel for an additional 30 days after your job ends.

Visitors with J-1 visas require a sponsor. As a student in the CIEE Work & Travel USA program, CIEE is your sponsor. We’re responsible for making sure you are prepared to live in America, have access to a good job with a responsible employer, and have a meaningful cultural exchange experience. We also monitor your health, safety and well-being while you are in this country.

You will be working for one of thousands of employers located all across the United States. Your representative can tell you all you need to know about your employment options.

Are You Eligible?

To be eligible for the CIEE Work & Travel USA Program, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old (check with your local representative for specific rules)
• Be registered as a full-time university student
• Be able to function in English, both at work and in a community
• Have a pre-arranged job (CIEE can help)
• Have at least $800 to support yourself upon arrival in the United States

We welcome students who wish to come back. Ask your CIEE international representative, or contact CIEE for further details to find out if you are a candidate for a second visit.

© 2024 CIEE. All Rights Reserved.

• Privacy Notice
• Terms & Conditions

ESCAPE THE ORDINARY, EMBRACE THE EXTRAORDINARY

Who we are.

EXEGYPT Association is an intercontinental organization dedicated to promoting global health and facilitating student exchanges. We organize educational programs and opportunities for students from various countries. Our initiatives include intercontinental winter and summer schools and EBSC, providing diverse learning environments in over 10 fields of study. We also run a monthly exchange program for students to experience different educational systems and cultures. Our goal is to create a global network of students passionate about global health, intercultural learning and Entrepreneurship , cultivating future leaders in the field. We also offer programs like the USA Summer Work & Travel and Work and Travel in Egypt, providing students with unique cultural and work experiences.

Our Partners

Exegypt intercontinental summer school (24th edition).

Application is now open

Work and travel in egypt.

Work and Travel

• A program that allows students from all over the world to work in the US for 3 months and then travel to the US for another month.
• It’s a very interesting experience for students because they get to work alongside US citizens and learn the American culture as well as teach their culture to Americans and other nationalities who are experiencing the same program.
• This is one of the best ways to discover America and a great opportunity to earn back the money spent on this program.

Why should you try the Work & Travel program?

Living and working among Americans is a great opportunity to gain great insight into life and culture in the US, make friends, and improve your English skills.

At the end of your program you’ll have the opportunity to travel around the US for up to 30 days.

Summer Work and Travel programs last up to four months, with an opportunity for up to one month of travel after your job ends, depending upon your university schedule.

So .. how does it work?

Visit Website

إذا كان لديكم أية استفسارات، برجاء عدم التردد في التواصل معنا

• Skip to main navigation
• Skip to sub-navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to site map
• Exchange Visitor Program Information on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• Visa Services Operating Status Update (November 19, 2021)

• Camp Counselor
• College and University Student
• Government Visitor
• International Visitor
• Research Scholar
• Secondary School Student
• Short-Term Scholar
• STEM Initiatives

Summer Work Travel

College and University students enrolled full time and pursuing studies at post-secondary accredited academic institutions located outside the United States come to the United States to share their culture and ideas with people of the United States through temporary work and travel opportunities.

Participants

Summer work travel students must be:.

• Sufficiently proficient in English to successfully interact in an English speaking environment;
• Post-secondary school students enrolled in and actively pursuing a degree or other full-time course of study at an accredited classroom based, post-secondary educational institution outside the United States;
• Have successfully completed at least one semester or equivalent of post-secondary academic study; and
• Pre-placed in a job prior to entry unless from a visa waiver country.

The Summer Work Travel program provides foreign students with an opportunity to live and work in the United States during their summer vacation from college or university to experience and to be exposed to the people and way of life in the United States.

More information

Summer work travel 2024 season program dates by country, summer work travel community support groups.

Find SWT community support groups near you

Map of Summer Work Travel Participants

View the number and locations of Summer Work Travel participants across the U.S.

Readmittance, Program Length, and Returning Home

• Readmittance: Participants can be admitted to the program more than once;
• Program Length: The maximum length of the program is four months; and
• Returning Home: Students must return to their home country prior to the start date of their university or college.

Program Exclusions

Sponsors must not place participants:

• In positions that could bring notoriety or disrepute to the Exchange Visitor Program;
• In sales positions that require participants to purchase inventory that they must sell in order to support themselves;
• In domestic help positions in private homes (e.g., child care, elder care, gardener, chauffeur);
• As pedicab or rolling chair drivers or operators;
• As operators or drivers of vehicles or vessels for which drivers’ licenses are required regardless of whether they carry passengers or not;
• In positions related to clinical care that involves patient contact;
• In any position in the adult entertainment industry (including, but not limited to jobs with escort services, adult book/video stores, and strip clubs);
• In positions requiring work hours that fall predominantly between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am;
• In positions declared hazardous to youth by the Secretary of Labor at Subpart E of 29 CFR part 570;
• In positions that require sustained physical contact with other people and/or adherence to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Universal Blood and Body Fluid Precautions guidelines (e.g., body piercing, tattooing, massage, manicure);
• In positions that are substantially commission-based and thus do not guarantee that participants will be paid minimum wage in accordance with federal and state standards;
• In positions involved in gaming and gambling that include direct participation in wagering and/or betting;
• In positions in chemical pest control, warehousing, catalogue/online order distribution centers;
• In positions with traveling fairs or itinerant concessionaires;
• In jobs that do not allow participants to work alongside U.S. citizens and interact regularly with U.S. citizens and to experience U.S. culture during the workday portion of their Summer Work Travel programs;
• With employers that fill non-seasonal or non-temporary job openings with exchange visitors with staggered vacation schedules;
• In positions that require licensing;
• In positions for which there is another specific J visa category (e.g., Camp Counselor, Trainee, Intern);
• Participants must be employees of and paid by the staffing agencies
• Staffing agencies must provide full-time, primary, on-site supervision of the participants
• Staffing agencies must effectively control the work sites, e.g., have hands-on management responsibility for the participants
• After November 1, 2012, in positions in the North American Industry Classification System’s (NAICS) Goods-Producing Industries occupational categories industry sectors 11, 21, 23, 31-33 numbers (set forth at http://www.bls.gov/iag/tgs/iag_index_naics.htm ).

Sponsors must also:

• Use extra caution when placing students in positions at employers in lines of business that are frequently associated with trafficking persons (e.g., modeling agencies, housekeeping, janitorial services);
• Consider the availability of suitable, affordable housing (e.g., that meets local codes and ordinances) and reliable, affordable, and convenient transportation to and from work when making job placements;
• Actively and immediately assist participants with arranging appropriate housing and transportation, if employers do not provide or arrange housing and/or transportation, or if participants decline employer-provided housing or transportation;
• The number of job placements available with host employers
• That host employers will not displace domestic U.S. workers at worksites where they will place program participants
• That host employers have not experienced layoffs in the past 120 days and do not have workers on lockout or on strike

Sponsors may place participants only in jobs that:

• Are seasonal or temporary;
• Provide opportunities for regular communication and interaction with U.S. citizens and allow participants to experience U.S. culture.

Report Abuse or Exploitation

1-866-283-9090

Summer Work Travel Resources

Events SWT Participant Map Community Support Groups Strengthening and Reforming the SWT Program SWT Monitoring Report

Program Sponsors

Sponsors are required to:.

• A copy of the Department of State Summer Work Travel Program Brochure;
• The Department of State’s toll-free emergency hotline telephone number;
• The sponsor’s 24/7 immediate contact telephone number;
• Information advising participants of their obligation to notify their sponsor when they arrive in the United States and to provide information of any change in jobs or residence; and
• Information concerning any contractual obligations related to participants’ acceptance of paid employment in the United States, if pre-arranged.
• Ensure that participants entering the United States without prearranged employment have sufficient financial resources to support themselves during their search for employment;
• Provide such participants with information on how to seek employment and secure lodging in the United States before they depart their home countries; and
• Provide participants with a job directory that includes at least as many job listings as the number of participants in their program who are entering the United States without prearranged employment.
• Sponsors must undertake reasonable efforts to secure suitable employment for participants unable to find jobs on their own after one week;
• Sponsors must inform program participants of Federal Minimum Wage requirements and ensure that, at a minimum, participants are compensated at the prevailing local wage, which must meet the higher of either the applicable state or the Federal minimum wage requirement, including payment for overtime in accordance with state-specific employment; and
• Sponsors must maintain, at a minimum, a monthly schedule of personal contact with the program participants (in-person, by telephone or via-electronic mail), document such contact, and ensure that issues affecting the health, safety and welfare of participants are addressed immediately.

2024 Program Date Chart

2024 Program Date Chart (PDF)

• Summer Work Travel 2024 Season Program Dates by Country (PDF)

Host employers are required to:

• Provide participants the number of hours of paid employment per week as identified on the job offer and agreed to when the sponsor vetted the jobs;
• Pay those participants eligible for overtime worked in accordance with applicable state or federal law;
• Notify sponsors promptly when participants arrive at the work site and begins their programs; when there are any changes or deviations in the job placements during the participants’ programs; when participants are not meeting the requirements of job placements; or when participants leave their position ahead of their planned departure; and
• Contact sponsors immediately in the event of any emergency involving participants or any situation that impacts the health, safety or welfare of participants.

“As an employer of international kids, keep your door open and be proactive in solving their issues.” 

• Facts & Figures
• About J-2 Visa
• Other U.S. Student Visas
• Common Questions
• How to Apply
• Current Participants
• Participant Experiences
• Common Questions for Participants
• Become a Sponsor
• Current Sponsors
• How to Administer a Program
• Common Questions for Program Sponsors
• For Host Families
• For Employers
• For Schools
• Common Questions for Host Families/Employers
• RO-ARO Virtual Training
• SEVIS login
• SEVIS Manual (PDF)
• SEVIS Manuals
• SEVIS Training Videos
• Regulations and Compliance Administration
• Get Adobe Reader
• U.S. Department of State
• Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs
• Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
• Privacy Notice
• Copyright Information
• Facebook    Twitter    Instagram    Flickr

Work and Travel

Have a great summer to remember lifetime, work and travel is a cultural exchange program that is available only for college students..

The Work and Travel program enables the participants to live, work and travel in the USA during their summer holiday. Work and travel USA is a great opportunity to practice English, meet new people, gain work experience and have an unforgettable USA adventure.

Top reasons to participate in Work and Travel USA

• experience American lifestyle.
• gain work experience.
• improve your English.
• make new friends.
• travel in the USA.
• have the best summer of your life.

Who can do it?

You must…

• be at least 18 years old and not more than 30 years old by the application deadline
• be registered as a full-time student at an accredited university
• have sufficient funds to support yourself upon arrival in the U.S.
• be able to function in an English-speaking work environment.
• have a pre-arranged job (GEC will help!)

Your USA adventure starts here!

Thousands of work and travel alumni, unforgettable adventures, lifelong friendships.

We know exactly what you expect!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is included in the cost of my program?

The program fee that you paid for your program includes your SEVIS payment, your mandatory health insurance, your orientation and program materials, 24 hour emergency support services, initial job placement, your signed work agreement from your employer, courier fee of documents to your home country and the administrative fees to process your DS-2019 form. Your program also includes the monthly check in email from your sponsor verifying that your program is on track and you are receiving a satisfactory experience.

There may be additional fees charged by your Foreign Partner Agent (if applicable) and may include a registration fees, application fee, interview/screening fee, English Eligibility tests, translation of school documents, etc. and other documents as necessary/required.

Can I stay longer than the 30 extra travel days?

No. You are allowed up to 30 days from the end date on your DS-2019 form for travel purposes only. You are also required to purchase an insurance extension before you begin your travel period. Working during the 30 day travel period is STRICTLY prohibited. You are not allowed to miss the start of your university classes according to your university’s official academic start date which may result in travel days that are less than 30 days. Your university cannot grant you generous leave to avoid this regulation. This is strictly prohibited. Not returning to your home/ school country on time may result in problems obtaining future visas to the U.S.

How much money do I need to bring to the U.S.?

Typically, after you begin working there is a one to two week waiting period before you will receive your first paycheck. This waiting period will vary by employer, so be sure to ask how long you will have to wait to begin receiving paychecks. Some employers will let you begin working before you receive your Social Security number and some will not. These are questions to ask your employer before you depart for the U.S. It is your responsibility to bring enough personal funds with you to the U.S. in order to pay for your housing deposits, rent, food and other expenses. GEC will not loan money to you or make these payments for you. You are required to bring at least $1000 USD with you. Depending on the cost of your housing deposit, rent, food and the time it will take to receive your first paycheck, you may need more than $1000. We suggest you bring $1500. We recommend you bring an international credit card. Most places in the U.S accept Visa and MasterCard. USD travelers checks are accepted at most businesses as well.

Can GEC extend my visa?

No. GEC cannot extend your program after you have arrived in the U.S. Your visa was approved by the U.S. embassy in your home country based on the official summer vacation dates of your university and your original vetted job offer. Program extensions are not granted even if you have a new job offer that allows you to work longer than what was offered to you in your original work agreement. This means you may have a shorter J-1 Work and Travel program than the 4 months allowed by law.

I'm not interested in cultural activities. Is it okay if I don't participate in them?

No. The purpose of your program is for cultural exchange. You must participate in cultural activities while in the U.S. Cultural activities can include touring the city where you are living, visiting museums, attending a U.S. sporting event, visiting amusement/ theme parks, attending a concert, and many, many other activities. If you are having difficulty with cultural activity ideas, please contact GEC for assistance.

What is program sponsorship termination?

GEC is your J-1 visa sponsor. You must have a sponsor for the entire time you are in the U.S. under the J-1 visa program. If you violate the terms and conditions and the regulations of your program (not validating your program, not reporting to your employer, not updating your address within 10 days of any change, not answering your monthly monitoring questionnaires, working at a second or replacement job without GEC’s written permission, etc.), your program sponsorship will be terminated. Termination means that you no longer have a sponsor in the United States, and you are required to make immediate arrangements to leave the U.S. and return home. Your SEVIS record will be marked accordingly. Program termination has a serious negative impact on your record and may affect future return visits to the U.S. Don’t let this happen to you. Comply with the terms and conditions and regulations of your program.

Why does GEC need to contact me monthly?

Regulations state that sponsors MUST maintain MONTHLY contact with all sponsored students for the program duration. We will send monthly email reminders to you requesting that you log into your GEC record and confirm your reported SEVIS address, seek input from you regarding your work opportunity, and will ask for feedback in regards to your health and safety. It is your REQUIREMENT to complete these monthly monitoring questionnaires. If no response is received by us, we will attempt to contact you by phone, through your employer, through your Foreign Partner Agent (if applicable), or as a last result, through your Emergency Contact listed on your application. Failure to respond to these monthly monitoring requirements WILL result in the termination of your program. Your health, safety and well being are of our highest concern and that of the U.S. Department of State thus the reason for the implementation of this regulation.

Ready to start your Work and Travel adventure?

Work and Travel USA

International Cultural Exchange Program

What is Work&Travel Program?

The Summer Work Travel program provides foreign students with an opportunity to live and work in the United States during their summer vacation from college or university to experience and to be exposed to the people and way of life in the United States

Work&Travel Participant Map

We are creating interactive map for Work&Travel Students. You can find Employer Reviews, Whatsapp Group Links.

How Can I Find Local Agency?

We will connect you with trusted local agencies in your country

HOW TO PASS J1 VISA INTERVIEW - POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

How to File Taxes as an Exchange Student?

My journey from a little town to the Big Apple!

Search Cheap Plane Tickets

Connect with us.

[email protected]

Security Alert May 17, 2024

Worldwide caution, update may 10, 2024, information for u.s. citizens in the middle east.

• Travel Advisories |
• Contact Us |
• MyTravelGov |

Find U.S. Embassies & Consulates

Travel.state.gov, congressional liaison, special issuance agency, u.s. passports, international travel, intercountry adoption, international parental child abduction, records and authentications, popular links, travel advisories, mytravelgov, stay connected, legal resources, legal information, info for u.s. law enforcement, replace or certify documents.

Share this page:

Egypt Travel Advisory

Travel advisory july 13, 2023, egypt - level 3: reconsider travel.

Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed.

Reconsider travel to Egypt due to  terrorism . Exercise increased caution in Egypt due to  the Embassy’s limited ability to assist dual national U.S.-Egyptian citizens who are arrested or detained.

Do not travel to:

• The Sinai Peninsula (with the exception of travel to Sharm El-Sheikh by air) due to  terrorism .
• The Western Desert due to  terrorism .
• Egyptian border areas due to  military zones .

Country Summary: Terrorist groups continue plotting attacks in Egypt. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, and have targeted diplomatic facilities, tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, western businesses, restaurants, resorts, and local government facilities. Terrorists have conducted attacks in urban areas, including in Cairo, despite the heavy security presence. Terrorists have targeted religious sites, to include mosques, churches, monasteries, and buses traveling to these locations.

Due to risks to civil aviation operating within or in the vicinity of Egypt, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) and/or a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR). For more information U.S. citizens should consult the  Federal Aviation Administration’s Prohibitions, Restrictions and Notices .

Local law prohibits protesting or demonstrating without a permit. Being near anti-government protests can draw scrutiny from Egyptian police and security forces. U.S. citizens have been detained for participating in protests and for posting content on social media perceived as critical of Egypt or its allies.

The U.S. Embassy may have a limited ability to provide consular services to dual U.S.-Egyptian citizens. Egyptian law considers dual citizens to be Egyptian citizens.

Read the  country information page  for additional information on travel to Egypt.

If you decide to travel to Egypt:  

• Stay alert in locations frequented by Westerners.
• Avoid demonstrations and crowds.
• Obtain comprehensive medical insurance that includes medical evacuation.
• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)   to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on   Facebook   and   Twitter .
• Review the  Country Security Report   for Egypt.
• Visit the CDC page for the latest   Travel Health Information  related to your travel.
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the   Traveler’s Checklist .

Sinai Peninsula – Level 4: Do Not Travel The Sinai Peninsula remains a particularly dangerous area, with frequent attacks on security forces and civilians.

The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens anywhere in the Sinai Peninsula as U.S. government employees are not authorized to travel to these areas (with the exception of the beach resort of Sharm El-Sheikh; travel to Sharm El-Sheikh is only permitted by air). Visit our website for  Travel to High-Risk Areas .

Travel Advisory Levels

Assistance for u.s. citizens, search for travel advisories, external link.

You are about to leave travel.state.gov for an external website that is not maintained by the U.S. Department of State.

Links to external websites are provided as a convenience and should not be construed as an endorsement by the U.S. Department of State of the views or products contained therein. If you wish to remain on travel.state.gov, click the "cancel" message.

You are about to visit:

تغيير اللغة: Change to Arabic

Apply for a U.S. Visa

• Bank and Payment Options
• DS-160 Information
• Appointment Wait Times
• Photos and Fingerprints
• Visa Waiver Program
• Security Regulations
• Apply for a Visa
• Pay My Visa Fee
• Complete My DS-160
• Schedule My Appointment
• Change Document Delivery Address
• Track & Retrieve My Passport
• Apply for an Expedited Appointment
• Renew My Visa
• Application Refused under INA 221(g)
• Visa Information
• Check My Petition Status
• Visa Wait Times
• Select Document Delivery Address
• Travel Coordinator
• Group Appointments
• Diplomatic and Government Officials
• Visas for Children
• U.S. Embassy
• Passport/Visa Collection Locations
• Document Drop-Off Locations
• Bank Locations
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Holidays and Closures
• Rights and Protections
• Helpful Links

You are here: Home / Work Visa

Common Nonimmigrant Visas

• Business/Tourist Visa
• Student Visa
• Exchange Visitor Visa
• Transit/Ship Crew Visa
• Religious Worker Visa
• Domestic Employee Visa
• Journalist and Media Visa
• A List of NIV Types

On this page:

Visa Descriptions and Qualifications

When to apply, application items, how to apply, supporting documents, more information.

If you want to work in the U.S. temporarily as a nonimmigrant, under U.S. immigration law, you need a specific visa based on the type of work you will be doing. Most temporary worker categories require that your prospective employer or agent file a petition, which must be approved by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in the United States before you can apply for a work visa.

All applicants for H, L, O, P and Q visas must have a petition approved on their behalf by USCIS. The petition, Form I-129 , must be approved before you can apply for a work visa at the U.S. Embassy. When your petition is approved, your employer or agent will receive a Notice of Action, Form I-797, which serves as your petition's approval notification. The consular officer will verify your petition approval through the Department of State's Petition Information Management Service (PIMS) during your interview.

You must bring your I-129 petition receipt number to your interview at the U.S. Embassy in order to verify your petition's approval. Please note that approval of a petition does not guarantee issuance of a visa if you are found to be ineligible for a visa under U.S. immigration law.

H-1B (specialty occupation)

An H-1B visa is required if you are coming to the United States to perform services in a pre-arranged professional job. To qualify, you must hold a bachelor's or higher degree (or an equivalent degree) in the specific specialty for which you seek employment. USCIS will determine whether your employment constitutes a specialty occupation and whether you are qualified to perform the services. Your employer is required file a labor condition application with the Department of Labor concerning the terms and conditions of its contract of employment with you.

H-1B1 ( Treaty-based Temporary Work Visas)

Free trade agreements signed with Chile and Singapore permit qualified  Chilean and Singaporean citizens  to temporarily work in the United States in certain circumstances.  Only Chilean and Singaporean citizens are eligible as principal applicants , although their spouses and children may be nationals of other countries.

Applicants for H-1B1 visas should already have a job offer from an employer in their chosen work area in the United States, but the employer does not have to file Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker, and the applicant does not need to obtain a Notice of Approval, Form I-797 form before submitting the visa application. However, the petitioner does need to file an Application for Foreign Labor Certification with the Department of Labor prior to applying for the visa.  For more information on the H-1B1 visa, please visit travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/employment/temporary.html

H-2A (seasonal agricultural workers)

An H-2A visa allows U.S. employers to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary agricultural jobs for which U.S. workers are not available. An H-2A nonimmigrant classification applies to you if you seek to perform agricultural labor or services of a temporary or seasonal nature in the United States on a temporary basis. A U.S. employer (or an association of U.S. agricultural producers named as a joint employer) must file a Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker, on your behalf.

H-2B visa (skilled and unskilled workers)

This visa is required if you are coming to the United States to perform a job which is temporary or seasonal in nature and for which there is a shortage of U.S. workers. Your employer is required to obtain a Department of Labor certification confirming that there are no qualified U.S. workers eligible for the type of employment on which your petition is based.

H-3 (trainee)

An H-3 visa is required if you are coming to the United States to receive training from an employer in any field of endeavor, other than graduate education or training, for a period of up to two years. You can be paid for your training and "hands-on" work is authorized. Training cannot be used to provide productive employment and cannot be available in your home country.

H-4 (dependents)

If you are the principal holder of a valid H visa, your spouse or unmarried children (under age 21) may receive an H-4 visa to accompany you to the United States. However, your spouse/children are not permitted to work while in the United States.

L-1 (intra-company transferees)

An L-1 visa is required if you are the employee of an international company which is temporarily transferring you to a parent branch, affiliate, or subsidiary of the same company in the United States. The international company may be either a U.S. or foreign organization. To qualify for an L-1 visa, you must be at the managerial or executive level, or have specialized knowledge and be destined to a position within the U.S. company at either of these levels, although not necessarily in the same position as held previously. In addition, you must have been employed outside the United States with the international company continuously for one year within the three years preceding your application for admission into the United States. You may only apply for an L-1 visa after your U.S. company or affiliate has received an approved petition from USCIS, either on a "blanket" or individual basis.

L-2 (dependents)

If you are the principal holder of a valid L visa, your spouse or unmarried children (under age 21) may receive this derivative visa. Due to a recent change in the law, your spouse may seek employment authorization. Your spouse must enter the United States on his or her own L-2 visa and then submit a completed Form I-765 (obtainable from USCIS), along with an application fee. Your children are not authorized to work in the United States.

Type O visas are issued to people with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business and athletics, or extraordinary achievement in motion picture and television production, and their essential support personnel.

P (artists, entertainers)

Type P visas are issued to certain athletes, entertainers, artists and essential support personnel who are coming to perform in the United States.

A Q visa is required if you are traveling to the United States to participate in an international cultural exchange program for the purpose of providing practical training, employment, and the sharing of the history, culture, and traditions of your home country. You must have a petition filed on your behalf by the program sponsor and the petition must be approved by USCIS.

The U.S. Embassy or may process your H, L, O, P or Q visa application up to 90 days prior to the beginning of employment status as noted on your I-797. However, when making your travel plans, please note that due to Federal regulations, you can only use the visa to apply for entry to the United States starting ten days prior to the beginning of the approved status period noted on your I-797.

If you apply for an H, L, O, P, or Q visa, you must submit the following:

• A Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) Form. Visit the DS-160 web page for more information about the DS-160.
• A passport valid for travel to the United States with a validity date at least six months beyond your intended period of stay in the United States (unless country-specific agreements provide exemptions). If more than one person is included in your passport, each person desiring a visa must submit an application.
• One (1) 2"x2" (5cmx5cm) photograph taken within the last six months. This web page has information about the required photo format.
• A receipt showing payment of your non-refundable nonimmigrant visa application processing fee paid in local currency. This web page has more information about paying this fee. If a visa is issued, there may be an additional visa issuance reciprocity fee, depending on your nationality. The Department of State's website can help you find out if you must pay a visa issuance reciprocity fee and what the fee amount is.
• If you are an L-1 applicant on a blanket petition, you must pay a fraud prevention and detection fee (more information about this fee is here ).
• The receipt number printed on your approved I-129 petition.

In addition to these items, you must present an interview appointment letter confirming that you booked an appointment through this service . You may also bring whatever supporting documents you believe support the information provided to the consular officer. Paper copies of the I-797 are not required at the interview.

Complete the Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) form .

Pay the visa application fee .

Schedule your appointment on this web page. You need three pieces of information in order to schedule your appointment:

• Your passport number
• The CGI reference number from your Visa Fee receipt. (Click  here  if you need help finding this number.)
• The ten (10) digit barcode number from your DS-160 confirmation page

Visit the U.S. Embassy on the date and time of your visa interview. You must bring a printed copy of your appointment letter, your DS-160 confirmation page, one photograph taken within the last six months and your current and all old passports. Applications without all of these items will not be accepted.

In addition to these items, you must present an interview appointment letter confirming that you booked an appointment through this service. You may also bring whatever supporting documents you believe support the information provided to the consular officer.

Caution: Do not present false documents. Fraud or misrepresentation can result in permanent visa ineligibility. If confidentiality is a concern, you should bring your documents to the U.S. Embassy in a sealed envelope. The U.S. Embassy will not make your information available to anyone and will respect the confidentiality of your information.

Consular officers look at each application individually and consider professional, social, cultural and other factors during adjudication. Consular officers may look at your specific intentions, family situation, and your long-range plans and prospects within your country of residence. Each case is examined individually and is accorded every consideration under the law.

If you are a first time visa applicant, you may save time by bringing the following documents to your interview:

• Evidence that establishes your job qualifications, including any university diplomas.
• Original letters from current and previous employers detailing your position and projects you worked on and how long you worked with your employers.
• If you are currently working and holding H-1B status, please submit your pay slips for the current calendar year and your Federal tax returns (IRS Form 1040 and W-2) for all the years in which you have been employed in the United States. You should bring:
• pay slips from your current or most recent place of employment
• the names and current phone numbers of the personnel managers at your present and previous places of employment
• your resume or CV

Your dependents should bring all required documents for any nonimmigrant visa, plus:

• An original marriage (for your spouse) and/or birth certificate (for unmarried children under 21), as applicable
• A letter from your employer confirming his or her continued employment
• If your spouse is currently working in the United States on an H1-B visa, his or her pay slips for the current calendar year and federal tax returns (IRS Form 1040 and W-2s) for all the years in which he or she has been employed in the United States on the H-1B visa.

For more information about H, L, O, P and, Q visas, visit the Department of State's Temporary Workers webpage .

© CGI Federal Inc.

• NIV Information
• NIV Application
• Immigrant Visas
• Local Visa Programs
• General Information

We’re sorry, this site is currently experiencing technical difficulties. Please try again in a few moments. Exception: request blocked

U.S. planning meeting with Egypt, Israel to discuss Gaza border security

T he White House is working on a trilateral meeting between U.S., Egyptian and Israeli officials in Cairo next week to discuss the reopening of the Rafah crossing and a plan for securing the border between Egypt and Gaza, three U.S. and Israeli officials said.

Why it matters: A plan for reopening the crossing, preventing Hamas from smuggling weapons into the Strip from Egypt and maintaining a tenuous peace between Israel and Egypt are top priorities for the Biden administration.

• The administration also views Egypt as a key player in any post-war plan for the stabilization and reconstruction of Gaza.

Driving the news: A U.S. delegation headed by the senior director for the Middle East at the White House National Security Council Terry Wolf is expected to travel to Egypt in the coming days.

• The trip was agreed on during a phone call last Friday between Biden and Egyptian president Abdul Fattah el-Sisi.
• During the call, Sisi agreed to Biden's request to resume the flow of aid trucks into Gaza through Israel, after deliveries were halted two weeks ago in protest of Israel's takeover of the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing.
• A U.S. official said Biden told Sisi that if the delivery of aid trucks wasn't resumed, the U.S. would publicly criticize Egypt for it.
• He promised the Egyptian president that if the flow of aid was resumed, the U.S. would work to reopen the Rafah crossing as soon as possible, the U.S. official said.

State of play: Israeli and U.S. officials say a delegation of Israeli security officials is also expected to travel to Cairo at the same time.

• The White House wants to hold a trilateral meeting between Wolf and his delegation, representatives of the Egyptian military and intelligence service and the Israeli delegation, the officials said.
• U.S. officials said a key issue in the talks will be a plan for how to reopen the Rafah crossing without Israeli military presence on the Palestinian side of the crossing.
• Israel has presented Egypt with a plan for reopening the crossing with the involvement of the United Nations and Palestinian representatives from Gaza who are not connected to Hamas.
• As part of the possible plan, the IDF would redeploy outside of the crossing and secure it from the outside against Hamas attacks.

The U.S. also wants to discuss a plan for curbing arms smuggling by building an anti-tunnel underground "wall" on the border between Egypt and Gaza, U.S. officials said.

• A similar wall was built on the Israel-Gaza border and managed to blocked most of Hamas' attempts to dig cross-border tunnels.
• Israeli forces have taken control in recent days of about 90% of the "Philadelfi corridor" on the border between Gaza and Egypt, located 20 tunnels that run under it and informed the Egyptian military, an IDF official said in a briefing with reporters on Wednesday.

The big picture: The U.S. wants to discuss with Egypt the possibility of forming a "transitional force" that would be in charge of security in Gaza on the day after the war, the officials said.

• The U.S. would want Egypt to take a major role in a security force along with other Arab countries.
• U.S. officials said there is interest among several countries in the region to be involved — under certain political conditions — in an interim Arab security force in Gaza that would secure the border, supply humanitarian aid and train a new Palestinian security force.

What they are saying: "An initial interagency delegation will travel to Egypt to follow up on the call between President Biden and President Sisi for further discussions on the Rafah border crossing and border security," a senior U.S. official said.

• He added that a "broader and more senior delegation" will then travel to continue those discussions. "Those details are still being figured out."

Get the rundown of the biggest stories of the day with Axios Daily Essentials.

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

• Fact Sheets

Fact Sheet: Presidential Proclamation to Suspend and Limit Entry and Joint DHS-DOJ Interim Final Rule to Restrict Asylum During High Encounters at the Southern Border

Today, the Biden-Harris Administration took decisive new action to strengthen border security, announcing a series of measures that restrict asylum eligibility, and significantly increase the consequences for those who enter without authorization across the southern border. These extraordinary steps, which will be in effect during times when high levels of encounters exceed our ability to deliver timely consequences, will make noncitizens who enter across the southern border ineligible for asylum with certain exceptions, raise the standard that is used to screen for certain protection claims, and speed up our ability to quickly remove those who do not qualify for protection.

These actions follow a series of steps that the Administration has taken over the past three years as it prepared for the end of the Title 42 public health Order, and since it was lifted last year, including surging personnel, infrastructure, and technology to the border, issuing the Circumvention of Lawful Pathways Rule, and referring record numbers of noncitizens into expedited removal. Over the past year, we have removed or returned more than three quarters of a million people, more than in any fiscal year since 2010. Despite these efforts, our outdated and broken immigration and asylum system, coupled with a lack of sufficient funding, make it impossible to quickly impose consequences on all noncitizens who cross irregularly and without a legal basis to remain in the United States.

The Administration has repeatedly called on Congress to provide the resources and legal authorities needed to secure our border. The measures announced today will better enable the Department to quickly remove individuals without a legal basis to remain in the United States, strengthening enforcement and change the calculus for those considering crossing our border irregularly. However, they are no substitute for Congressional action. We continue to call on Congress to provide the new tools and resources we have asked for to support the men and women on the frontlines.

President Biden issued a Presidential Proclamation to temporarily suspend the entry of noncitizens across the southern border. The Secretary of Homeland Security and the Attorney General also jointly issued an interim final rule that, consistent with the Proclamation, generally restricts asylum eligibility for those who irregularly enter across the southern border – including the Southwest land and the southern coastal borders. The rule also limits fear screenings to those who manifest a fear or express a desire to file for protection and heightens the screening standard for statutory withholding and claims under the Convention Against Torture. Taken together, these measures will significantly increase the speed and scope of consequences for those who cross our borders irregularly or who attempt to present themselves at Ports of Entry without authorization, allowing the Departments to more quickly remove individuals who do not establish a legal basis to remain in the United States. The restriction on asylum eligibility will be discontinued when encounters fall below certain levels but will come back into effect if encounters rise again.

The rule makes three key changes to current processing under Title 8 immigration authorities during periods of high border encounters:

• First, noncitizens who cross the southern border unlawfully or without authorization will generally be ineligible for asylum, absent exceptionally compelling circumstances and unless they are excepted by the Proclamation.
• Second, noncitizens who cross the southern border and are processed for expedited removal while the limitation is in effect will only be referred for a credible fear screening with an Asylum Officer if they manifest or express a fear of return to their country or country of removal, a fear of persecution or torture, or an intention to apply for asylum.  
• Third, the U.S. will continue to adhere to its international obligations and commitments by screening individuals who manifest a fear as noted above and do not qualify for an exception to the Rule for withholding of removal and Convention Against Torture protections at a reasonable probability of persecution or torture standard – a new, substantially higher standard than is currently applied under the Circumvention of Lawful Pathways rule.  

Like the Proclamation, the rule provides for an end to these enhanced measures following a sustained reduction in southern border encounters. Specifically, these measures are in effect until 14 calendar days after there has been a 7-consecutive-calendar-day average of less than 1,500 encounters between the ports of entry. The measures would again go into effect, or continue, as appropriate, when there has been a 7-consecutive-calendar-day average of 2,500 encounters or more.

During periods of high encounters, the Proclamation will apply across the southern border. Lawful permanent residents, unaccompanied children, victims of a severe form of trafficking, and other noncitizens with a valid visa or other lawful permission to enter the United States are excepted from the Proclamation.

In addition, the suspension and limitation on entry and rule will not apply to noncitizens who use a Secretary-approved process—such as the CBP One mobile app—to enter the United States at a port of entry in a safe and orderly manner or pursue another lawful pathway.

Noncitizens who cross the southern border and who are not excepted from the Proclamation will be ineligible for asylum unless exceptionally compelling circumstances exist, including if the noncitizen demonstrates that they or a member of their family with whom they are traveling:

• faced an acute medical emergency;
• faced an imminent and extreme threat to life or safety, such as an imminent threat of rape, kidnapping, torture, or murder; or
• satisfied the definition of “victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons” currently provided in 8 CFR 214.11.

Consequences

Noncitizens who are subject to the rule’s limitation on asylum eligibility and who manifest or express a fear of return to their country or country of removal, express a fear of persecution or torture or an intention to apply for asylum, but do not establish a reasonable probability of persecution or torture in the country of removal will be promptly removed.

Those ordered removed will be subject to at least a five-year bar to reentry and potential criminal prosecution.

The Proclamation and rule will significantly enhance the security of our border by increasing the Departments’ ability to impose swift consequences for individuals who cross the southern border irregularly and do not establish a legal basis to remain in the United States.  Together, the Proclamation and rule make critical changes to how the Departments operate during times when encounters are at historically high levels—levels that, in the absence of these changes, undermine the government’s ability to process individuals through the expedited removal process. These changes will enable the Departments to quickly return those without a lawful basis to stay in the United States and thereby free up the asylum system for those with legitimate claims.

These extraordinary measures are a stop gap. Even with these measures in place, the Departments continue to lack the authorities and resources needed to adequately support the men and women on the frontlines. The Administration again calls on Congress to take up and pass the bipartisan reforms proposed in the Senate, which provide the new authorities, personnel, and resources that are needed to address the historic global migration that is impacting countries throughout the world, including our own. Until Congress does its part, we will continue to take any actions needed under current law and within existing resources to secure the border.

• Border Security
• Immigration
• Biden-Harris Administration
• Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
• Department of Justice (DOJ)

We’re sorry, this site is currently experiencing technical difficulties. Please try again in a few moments. Exception: request blocked