Tourist & Student Visa Plan : Camp Counselor Program
The Camp Counselor Program is a great opportunity for post-secondary students, youth workers and teachers to share their culture and ideas with the people of the United States in camp settings throughout the country.
Camp Counselor Program J1 visa
The J1 is a non-immigrant visa issued to a person participating in the United States Exchange Visitor Program, or EVP. The Camp Counselor Program is one of the 15 categories of the EVP.
The EVP’s J1 visa is one of the most diverse visas for going to the United States and is designed to enable non-Americans to travel within the United States and study or work there as a sponsored exchange visitor while immersing themselves in the local culture and lifestyle. The visionary EVP was created to foster greater understanding between the United States and other countries through educational and cultural exchanges.
Over 550,000 persons representing 200 countries and territories visited the United States under the aegis of the J1 Exchange Visitor Program every year before the Covid-19 pandemic. Currently California hosts the largest number of exchange visitors, followed by New York and Florida. Internationally, China, Great Britain and Germany have been the top three countries from where J1 visa holders come.
What is the Camp Counselor Program?
Going camping is a popular national summertime activity in the United States. Camps with large numbers of students are regularly organized by schools. The Camp Counselor Program is a great opportunity for post-secondary students, youth workers and teachers to share their culture and ideas with the people of the United States in camp settings throughout the country. Every year, almost 23,000 international participants are placed within camps in the United States under the Camp Counselor program.
You’re probably wondering what camping life in the US would be like, especially if you don’t come from a country with a camping culture. America has a wide range of camps, each with its own focus, which can range from sports, outdoor activities, and cultural or religious activities to arts and crafts or any other combination. Your sponsor will try and find a placement for you in a camp that is well matched to your skills and interests.
Here is a random sampling of the kind of positions you could hold at a camp: General Camp Counselor, Archery Counselor, Rock Climbing Counselor, Gymnastics Coach, special Needs Counselor, Swimming Specialist — and many others.
You better be enthusiastic about working with children. As a Camp Counselor, you would have direct responsibility for the supervision of American campers and of activities that bring participants into interaction with their campers. The category welcomes youth workers, students, teachers or persons with specialized skills.
The Camp Counselor Program is sometimes confused with the Summer Work Travel (SWT) Program, though they are quite different. The SWT places only about 5,000 participants in camps, usually in support positions such as in the kitchen. SWT participants do not supervise campers directly. Camp Counselors, on the other hand, are placed in positions where they supervise campers, in group or unit staff positions or program staff positions.
Like all other exchange programs, the Camp Counselor Program is a great opportunity for you to experience American culture and lifestyle while sharing or developing your special professional expertise.
Once the program ends, you will be expected to return to your home country.
Who is eligible for a Camp Counselor Program J1 visa?
To be eligible for a Camp Counselor Program J1 visa, you should —
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Be a post-secondary school student, youth worker, teacher or individual with specialized skills
- Be sufficiently fluent in oral and written English to supervise and interact with American youth.
If you are accepted into the Camp Counselor Program and travel to the US on a J1 visa, you will be provided a place to live and meals at no cost at the camp itself.
In addition, you will receive pay and benefits on par with those offered to Americans in similar positions at the camp. For a placement of 9-11 weeks, you could earn between US$1,625 and US$2,695.
From time to time, you may be assigned non-counseling duties as a part of camp life but you will never be assigned staff or ‘menial’ duties such as cooks or dishwashers.
How long can you stay in the US with a Camp Counselor J1 visa?
With a J1 visa under the Camp Counselor Program, you can stay in the United States for a maximum of four months. Extensions are not allowed.
At the end of your program, you are allowed a 30-day grace period to settle your affairs and prepare to return. You cannot take on employment during this period, and overstaying can have serious repercussions for any future trip you may undertake to the US. During the grace period, you will not be under the J1 visa any longer but under the jurisdiction of the Immigration and Naturalization Services. If you cross the US border to Canada or Mexico, you may not be allowed re-entry
How do you apply for a Camp Counselor Program J1 visa?
1. Find an approved program sponsor: The first step in applying for the Camp Counselor Program J1 visa is finding a designated sponsor. To see a list of 25 designated and approved Camp Counselor Program sponsors, click here.
As part of the selection process, a sponsor will conduct an in-person interview with you, assess your suitability and eligibility for the program and specific camps. Secure a placement with an employer at a camp for you before you leave for the US, and provide you with information on your duties and responsibilities once you reach the camp. The sponsor will remain your point of contact throughout your visit and make sure that everything is going as planned.
2. Get a DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status: Once your host or sponsor ascertains that you are eligible and accepts you, you will be issued a document called the DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status, attesting that you are eligible and have been selected to participate in the Camp Counselor Program. Form DS-2019 is a key document in your J1 visa application.
3. Enter your name in the SEVIS database. Your host or sponsoring institution will usually enter your details in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) database. There is a $220 charge for this.
4. Apply for a DS-160 J1 non-immigrant visa: Once you have your DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility you need to apply for a nonimmigrant J1 visa using the application form DS-160. There is a charge of about $160 for this, and you will receive an online receipt which you must carry to your interview. The application process can be completed online here.
5. Book an interview appointment with the US consulate.
What documents are required for a Camp Counselor Program J1 visa interview?
The following is a minimum list of documents that you must carry to the interview.
- Passport: Valid for at least 6 months after the end date of your program.
- Letter of Offer: Have a letter of invitation or offer from your employer at the camp where you will be working. The letter should state the duration of your employment (maximum four months) as well as what duties you will be performing.
- Form DS-2019 (Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status). This will be issued by your sponsoring institution once they have ascertained your eligibility to take part in the Camp Counselor Program.
- Receipt for Form DS-160 non-immigrant visa application. Once you apply for the DS-160 online and pay the visa fees of $160, you will receive a receipt, which you must carry to the interview.
- SEVIS fee payment confirmation. This is normally $220. The sponsor may require you to pay this, or pay it themselves and share the confirmation document with you.
- Photograph. A complete description of the format requirements is here.
- Consulate appointment confirmation.
You will be informed if you are required to furnish any other documents.
How much does a Camp Counselor Program J1 visa cost?
The main applicable fees are listed below —
Sponsoring agency fees: This is a variable amount and could be as high as 800$. You should check directly with your sponsor.
DS-160 Non-Immigrant Visa Application processing fee: This is currently US$ 160 but may be subject to change. Check with the local US Embassy or Consulate for up to date fees.
SEVIS database. The cost of having your name entered in the SEVIS database is usually around $220.
Visa Issuance fee: In some countries, an additional Visa Issuance fee may be charged when the visa is issued and could be around $220. Check with the local US Embassy or Consulate for up to date fees.
Restrictions of the Camp Counselor Program J1 visa
The Camp Counselor Program J1 visa is not subject to a so-called Home Residency Requirement, which needs you to spend an aggregate of two years resident in your home country after the program before re-entering the US on a J1 or any other visa. This means that you can re-apply for another EVP program or even another Camp Counselor Program without any waiting period.
Need more help?
If you still feel that you would like to have professional help in making your application or would like to consult a lawyer who specializes in immigration and visa matters, click here to see some of your options, including how to access our exclusive list of professional immigration lawyers.
If you have questions or would like clarifications, please send us an email and we’ll do our best to get back to you within 24 hours with an answer.
Camp Counselors were prohibited from entering the USA under the J1 visa by Proclamation 10052, titled Proclamation Suspending Entry of Aliens Who Present a Risk to the U.S. Labor Market Following the Coronavirus Outbreak.
The proclamation, which suspended entry into the United States of many non-US citizens, became effective from June 24, 2020. The proclamation expired on March 31, 2021, and has been neither renewed nor replaced by the Biden administration. As of now, participants of the Camp Counselor Program are not restricted in any way from entering the United States.
Please check with your nearest US Embassy or Consulate for up to date information.