About InterExchange
InterExchange is a nonprofit organization with more than 50 years of experience dedicated to promoting cultural awareness through a wide range of affordable and exciting work & travel, professional training, internship, au pair, camp, language learning, and volunteer programs within the U.S. and abroad. InterExchange is designated by the U.S. Department of State to sponsor the J-1 Visa for people from around the world who would like to engage in cultural exchange by visiting the U.S. for a defined period of time. We also connect U.S. citizens with work and volunteer opportunities that enable them to learn about life in other countries.
We encourage all our participants and professional colleagues to learn about The Fulbright-Hays Act of 1961, also known as the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961. This important act enables the Government of the United States to:
- increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries by means of educational and cultural exchange;
- strengthen the ties which unite us with other nations by demonstrating the educational and cultural interests, developments, and achievements of the people of the United States and other nations, and the contributions being made toward a peaceful and more fruitful life for people throughout the world;
- promote international cooperation for educational and cultural advancement; and thus assist in the development of friendly, sympathetic, and peaceful relations between the United States and the other countries of the world.
Our J-1 Visa participants and their hosts must follow all regulations set forth by the U.S. Department of State and maintain contact with InterExchange throughout their selected programs. We guide international visitors to best take advantage of the cultural opportunities offered by their local host communities in the U.S. Similarly, we encourage U.S. host families and employers to promote cultural learning by introducing international visitors to uniquely American values, customs, history and activities while simultaneously learning about the countries and cultures of visiting participants. Strengthening these relationships makes achieving the goals of mutual cultural exchange possible and allows us to build a global community—one person at a time.
InterExchange Camp USA places international participants, ages 18-28, in U.S. summer camps in counselor positions. InterExchange also sponsors visas for returning staff or for participants who have found their own camp counselor jobs. The Camp Counselor J-1 Visa is valid for up to four months. The program runs between May 15 and September 15.
Other InterExchange Programs
Au Pair USA is a 12-month program that gives young people, ages 18-26, the opportunity to experience the U.S. by living with an American host family and providing child care. In return for their services, au pairs receive room, board, a weekly stipend, accident and sickness insurance, airfare, and an educational allowance to use toward college-level courses. This program can be extended for an additional six, nine, or 12 months after successfully completing the original 12-month program.
Career Training USA assists international students and young professionals, ages 18-38, with J-1 Visa sponsorship for internships and practical training programs in the U.S. Candidates may apply for the J-1 Intern or Trainee Visa if they have already secured an appropriate position in the U.S. International students and recent graduates may apply as Interns and pursue an internship for up to 12 months in a field related to their academic field of study. International working professionals may apply as Trainees and pursue training programs for up to 18 months in a field related to their occupational background. To be eligible, participants’ education and work experience must have been earned outside the U.S.
Work & Travel USA offers international university students ages 18-28 the opportunity to live and work in the U.S. for up to four months during their breaks from university classes. Students work in seasonal and temporary positions in hotels, inns, amusement parks, national parks, retail stores and ski resorts, among other types of businesses. They receive a wage, assistance with housing, accident and sickness insurance, program support and an optional month for travel to explore the United States. Work & Travel USA also offers a 12-month program for citizens of Australia and New Zealand.
Working Abroad enables U.S. citizens, generally ages 18-30, to build diverse work experiences overseas. Opportunities include au pair, English language instruction, work and travel, and volunteer abroad placements. We offer programs in Australia, Africa, Asia, South America and numerous European countries.
The InterExchange Foundation was established in 2007 to provide grant funding to motivated young Americans who contribute to worthy work or volunteer projects abroad. The Working Abroad Grant supports participants of select InterExchange Working Abroad programs, and the Christianson Fellowship supports individuals who have sought out and arranged their own long-term work abroad programs. Many students study abroad every year, but far fewer take advantage of the opportunity to work, intern, or volunteer overseas. By providing financial assistance to talented candidates, we hope to encourage young Americans to discover the world and benefit from the unique and enriching insights one can only gain from living and working abroad.
International Cooperator (IC)
InterExchange is proud to work with International Cooperator (IC) companies and organizations in more than 60 countries. Our IC network represents a cross-section of the most exceptional and trusted companies involved in promoting and recruiting for cultural exchange programs.
Our ICs introduce InterExchange programs to prospective participants in their home countries and emphasize the benefits of spending time in the U.S. to expand their professional and personal experiences. ICs collaborate with us to fulfill the goals of cultural exchange, helping our international participants enjoy learning opportunities in the U.S. while also making it possible for host employers and families to meet and learn about people from all over the world. One of the key responsibilities ICs fulfill is to recruit, pre-screen and select applicants who meet visa eligibility requirements and are prepared to make the most of the cultural exchange experience when working with host employers, families and host communities.
In addition to providing ICs with detailed information and guidance for marketing our programs in their home countries, we also provide content for orientations to teach participants about life in the U.S. and prepare them for adapting to a new culture and country. Each in-bound international participant is interviewed by either InterExchange staff or an IC to evaluate the candidate’s ability to be successful on the program. Every IC is an important part of the process for making sure that all participants are equipped for the benefits as well as the challenges of joining one of our cultural exchange programs.
The Goal of the InterExchange Camp USA Program
The InterExchange Camp USA program allows selected university students, teachers, bona fide youth workers and individuals with specialized skills to gain a greater understanding of the United States via an 8-15 week program at an American summer camp. The program allows participants to serve as a counselor, get paid a stipend, develop lifelong friendships, experience the culture of the United States while sharing their own, and improve their English language abilities. It also provides them with the opportunity to work alongside American peers and travel to other parts of the country after completing their camp placements. After their assignment in the United States, participants return to their home countries with greater maturity, cultural intelligence and improved English language skills as well as enhanced knowledge and appreciation of the U.S.
Important Definitions
Camp Counselor
Camp Counselors are part of a team that help create a fun, safe and rewarding experience for the campers. Their main duty is to coordinate, conduct, and lead all activities for children and young teenagers during their stay at the camp. Camp counselors also have responsibilities within the cabin. A camp counselor typically shares a cabin with a group of campers. They must ensure their safety and act as a role model during this time.
From the U.S. Department of State CFR 62.30: In order to promote diverse opportunities for participation in educational and cultural exchange programs, the Department of State designates exchange sponsors to facilitate the entry of foreign nationals to serve as counselors in U.S. summer camps. These programs promote international understanding by improving American knowledge of foreign cultures while enabling foreign participants to increase their knowledge of American culture. The foreign participants are best able to carry out this objective by serving as counselors per se, that is, having direct responsibility for supervision of groups of American youth and of activities that bring them into interaction with their charges. While it is recognized that some non-counseling chores are an essential part of camp life for all counselors, this program is not intended to assist American camps in bringing in foreign nationals to serve as administrative personnel, cooks, or menial laborers, such as dishwashers or janitors.
Participant eligibility. Participation in camp counselor exchange programs is limited to foreign nationals who:
- Are at least 18 years of age; and generally not more than 28 years of age
- Are bona fide youth workers, students, teachers, or individuals with specialized skills
Self-Placement Participant
Someone who has independently secured a position with a camp in the U.S. and needs assistance in obtaining the necessary paperwork to apply for a J-1 Visa. A Self-Placement participant must NOT have applied through the Camp Placement program. All Self-Placement participants are responsible for the cost of international travel and any domestic transportation to their employer. All of the information about Self-Placement participants is in Chapter 9 of this handbook. Please consult chapter 9 if you have questions about the Self-Placement program and eligibility requirements; the other policies in this manual do not necessarily apply to Self-Placement participants.
Returning Placement Participant
If a participant wishes to return to the same camp in a subsequent year, he or she should do so as a Returning Placement applicant and make arrangements with the original camp . Returning Placement participants follow the same procedures and policies as Self-Placement participants.
