Summer Work and Travel Program

Practical Information

The United States’ Summer Work and Travel program permits post-secondary school students to work and travel throughout the U.S. Every year, the program draws many thousands of students from around the world, and Moldova is no exception.

Many worked at hotels, beach resorts and amusement parks across the U.S. Others were employed at casinos or national parks. And of course, they had the opportunity to see some of the cities and scenery of the fifty United States.

The Summer Work and Travel Program is a great opportunity to explore the U.S., get to know its culture and its people, improve English language skills, earn money, develop a network of international contacts, and gain marketable job skills.

Requirements

To participate in this program, participants must meet the following requirements.

Participants must be post-secondary school students who are actively pursuing a degree or a full-time course of study at an accredited educational institution in their country of residence may participate in the Summer Work/Travel program only during their summer vacation.

Students may not participate in this program during time periods other than their summer vacations.

Eligible participants must also be enrolled in an accredited educational institution and registered for a full-time course load following their participation in a summer work/travel program.

Prospective exchange visitors must also possess sufficient proficiency in the English language to participate in their programs.

How to Apply for the Summer Work and Travel Program

There are a number of local agencies that work with American sponsors and recruit Summer Work and Travel Program participants.

These agencies and American sponsors hold job fairs throughout Moldova during the winter and spring during which qualified participants can be interviewed by prospective employers.

Local agencies can also help participants locate employment on their own.

The final step involves an interview with a consular officer at the U.S. Embassy in Chisinau, which the local agency will help to arrange.

The purpose of the interview is ensure that participants meet the requirements of the program and are eligible to receive visas.

In the United States

Once they enter the United States, students can stay for up to four months, during which time they may spend up to one month traveling. When the program ends, students are expected to return home and continue their studies.

Income earned by Summer Work and Travel Program participants in the U.S. will be taxed, but applicants can apply for a refund upon return to Moldova.

Travel USA!

In addition, we encourage students to take advantage of the “travel” portion of the Summer Work and Travel Program.  A list of resources for inexpensive and enjoyable travel in the U.S. is available in this booklet.

When visiting the U.S., be sure to get a taste both of the vibrant cities and of the magnificent natural beauty.  From the skyscrapers of New York City to the snowy mountains of Colorado, from the deserts of Arizona to the national monuments of Washington D.C., the U.S. has a wide variety of sites that impress millions of visitors each year. 

Ten ways to get a taste of the best of the U.S.:

1) Take a drive along the Pacific Coast Highway (Route 1) in California, which runs along the breath-taking coastline.  Be sure to stop and see the bustle of Los Angeles, the tranquility of secluded Big Sur, and the beautiful beaches of Carmel, all before crossing San Francisco’s world-famous Golden Gate Bridge.

2) Sample the classic American architecture of Chicago, visit Navy Pier, the Art Institute, or go see a Chicago Cubs baseball game in the friendly confines of Wrigley Field.  The “City That Works,” Chicago is a major manufacturing and transportation hub and home to vibrant immigrant communities from throughout the world.

3) Explore the unique landscape of Arizona, from the desert of Tucson to the red rocks of Sedona.  Then visit the state capitol, Phoenix, one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States.

4) Take in the history to be found in Philadelphia.  Visit Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was signed and the U.S. Constitution was written, and make a stop to see the Liberty Bell, which rang before the first public reading of the Declaration.

5) See the wonders of Glacier National Park in Montana.  A great place to hike, camp, bike, and fish, the park possesses some of the most striking natural beauty to be found in the U.S., right in the heart of the Rocky Mountains.  Be sure to drive down Going-to-the-Sun Road for the magnificent views.

6) Wander through the streets of New York City, from the Financial District, Chinatown, Soho, and Greenwich Village up through Midtown, the theater district, and Museum Mile.  If you’re brave, take an entire day and walk the entire length of Manhattan on Broadway.  Don't forget to take in some professional sports games by seeing the New York Knicks or the New York Yankees in action.

7) Sample the flavors of the American South.  Try Tennessee, where you can visit the home of Elvis Presley, check out some country music in Nashville, or just drink in the serenity of the tree-lined streets and beautiful old mansions.  For some Cajun vibes, explore New Orleans, filled with great jazz, amazing seafood, and a party scene that never stops.  Or explore cosmopolitan Atlanta, the site of the 1996 Summer Olympics, renowned for its beauty and its cultural prominence.

8) Visit Yellowstone Park, which contains close to sixty percent of the world’s geysers, including the famed Old Faithful.  View the park’s incredible diversity of wildlife, including moose, elk, bison, coyotes, bobcats, and bighorn sheep.

9) Check out Seattle, the largest city in the Pacific Northwest.  A cultural center, Seattle is a great place to hear live music—and of course, visitors can see the famous Space Needle, constructed for the 1962 World’s Fair.

10) And of course, no visit to the United States would be complete without seeing the monuments and museums of the nation’s capitol, Washington DC.  Take a tour of the White House, visit the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials and the Washington Monument, and visit the fantastic museums run by the Smithsonian Institution, where admission is free.