Gap Year and J1 visa. Help!

Nikiya

My son is about to finish his A levels and wants to take a gap year before deciding what to study.
Since he's had a demanding education -and has done very well indeed- he does not want to do anything too structured, for a change. One option was to start with a couple of months doing a small job at a hotel in USA, and then proceed to another country, where we have family. We have the job offer, but it seems not possible to get the type of visa needed -J1, apparently- without been already a student at one University. Of course, once he is a student he is not going to travel around, but stick to his studies!!!
On the other hand, I have come to realise that the Gap Year Project (now encouraged by most schools) is BIG BUSINESS. There are countless organizations devoted to "organise" gap years, where students live in modest accomodation and work for one charity or another, but have to pay a fortune for the privilege!!! Personally, I'd rather pay for a holiday. I am fed up of the "help the student" businesses... aren't other parents???
Well, any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated!
Have a nice week end.

puffinmuffin

Try this website for help https://www.gapyear.com (it's indepedent)
Unfortunately it's pretty difficult to get a temp working visa for the USA without a sponsor which is why organisations such as Bunac exist. You even need a visa if you do work in exchange for board and lodging. Does it have to be the US? it is possible to get a temporary work visa for other countries.

Nikiya

Thanks P! I shall research all that. I do not know what Bunac is (my husband was dealing with this until now) but I do know most "sponsors" charge a lot and yes, this was the type of job where he would be working for board and lodging -a work experience type of thing...

Gem_

Why not try a former colony such as Oz or canada? they have easier visa requirments. Australia for example will give UK citizens between the ages of 18-30 a 12 month work / holiday visa very easily. My friends did this last year and found it very easy to find work without using agencies etc.

Feel free to PM me though if I can help with any info on getting in and out of USA working there etc ....

HTH

Gem

PS having lived in the states on a visa - you will be taxed to hell and the forms to get a refund are a nightmare!

Voyager2002

Your son can live and work anywhere in the EU, so why bother crossing the Atlantic? And one advantage of Europe is that he would have the opportunity to practice a language that he has already studied, or learn a completely new one!

Nikiya

Oh well... this is all sound advice, but he already knows many parts of Europe (we have also lived in France and Italy), and is thrilled to get to know USA. We shall revise our plans though, in the light of the info we are getting.
Thanks a lotl