Staffing Challenges for US Employers - the J-1 Option Visa for Snowsports, Hospitality and Other Industries

The Exchange Visitor Program, established by Congress in 1961 under the Fulbright-Hays Act, serves as a powerful public diplomacy tool. It promotes cross-cultural exchange, enriches workplaces, and cultivates global perspectives. We invite you to join us for an exclusive webinar on the J-1 Internship, Trainee, and Summer Work Travel visa programs, administered by the U.S. Department of State under the Bridge USA program.

In today's dynamic global job market, recruiting and retaining top talent is a top priority for organizations across various industries. The J-1 exchange visitor programs offer a unique and valuable resource for talent acquisition. Employers can participate in these programs by either becoming a State Department-designated sponsor, as some industry giants like Disney, Exxon Mobil, Ingersoll-Rand, and Microsoft have done, or by collaborating with both a sponsoring organization, such as SHRM, and a recruitment agency, like Universal Student Exchange - U.S.E.

This program encompasses 15 categories within the Cultural Exchange J-1 Visa realm, offering both educational and cultural experiences, some of which also include practical work components. The Department of State designates and entrusts organizations to be sponsors of these programs. These designated sponsors play a crucial role in screening and selecting participants and host organizations, ensuring a high-quality exchange experience.

The J-1 Internship and Trainee programs open doors for international students and emerging professionals to gain valuable training experience in their chosen fields while immersing themselves in American culture. Simultaneously, the Summer Work Travel program allows university students to travel to the United States, contributing their unique perspectives and ideas through temporary work opportunities.

In recent years, particularly with the challenges posed by COVID-19 and the complexity of traditional work visa processes, the J-1 visa program has become an increasingly attractive option for business leaders and HR professionals. It is being integrated into talent acquisition and development strategies across a variety of industries, leading to numerous benefits for both participants, employers and the communities where they are based.

Our upcoming webinar will provide a comprehensive overview of the exchange visitor program. We will discuss the various program categories, eligibility requirements, and the streamlined visa application process, making it a favorable choice when compared to traditional work visas. Moreover, we will highlight how organizations in a wide range of industries can optimize the use of these programs to address labor shortages, enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) initiatives, and strengthen their talent strategy.

During this webinar, you can expect to learn:

• How the J-1 visa category differs from and offers a more accessible process than traditional work visas.
• Detailed program category descriptions and eligibility requirements for Interns, Trainees, and Summer Work Travel participants.
• How organizations, beyond the hospitality industry, can harness the potential of J-1 programs for their talent needs.
• Strategies to address labor shortages and boost DE&I initiatives through the J-1 visa program.
• Practical steps for organizations to get started and best practices for program success.
• Industry-specific considerations and real-world examples of how the J-1 visa program has benefited various sectors.

Don't miss this opportunity to explore how your organization can tap into the J-1 exchange visitor program to meet your talent needs, promote diversity, and strengthen your global workforce. We welcome HR professionals from all industries, including:

1. Hospitality, Culinary, and Tourism
2. Information Technology (IT)
3. Engineering
4. Business and Finance
5. Architecture and Design
6. Media and Communications

Join us for this enlightening webinar and discover the untapped potential of the J-1 visa program.

We look forward to your participation in this informative session. Together, we can make a global impact through talent exchange.

Thursday, November 9, 2023

12:00pm

via Zoom

Free

Guest speaker:

Lindsay Bongi

Senior Specialist, Exchange Visitor (J-1 Visa) Program, SHRM



Ms. Bongi provides direction and support to the Department of State J-1 visa programs in the Intern and Trainee categories. Ms. Bongi has been involved with the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program for over ten years and has dedicated her time to assisting host companies, attorneys, and recruiters in the development and management of their J-1 programs. Ms. Bongi manages a portfolio of over 1,000 programs, supporting J-1 exchange visitors and upholding the government compliance requirements. Ms. Bongi spent the first part of her career working in financial planning & analysis for such companies as JPMorgan and America Online which allows her to bring a business mindset to international exchange, an industry that she is passionate about.

Guest speaker:

Rafael Espinoza

Founder & CEO, Universal Student Exchange

Rafael Espinoza is the CEO & Founder of U.S.E. Argentina – Chile and Peru (Universal Student Exchange), one of the world’s biggest Summer Work and Travel recruitment organizations with almost 3,500 participants being sent every year. U.S.E. also works with other programs such as Internship/Trainee and Working Holiday France.



Rafael began his entrepreneurship in 1996 when he launched Uniglobe, a Canadian Travel Agent franchise in Peru. As part of the travel agency, he started a Summer Work and Travel division (U.S.E.) in 1999 which split in 2000 to become a separate organization. In 2000, Rafael was also part of an IT startup (formerly: Certfica.com, now Comscore) with investors including Fundacion Chile and the IFC (World Bank) with offices located in Argentina, Chile, Mexico and Peru. This gave him the possibility of initially managing the Peruvian and then later, the Chilean and Mexican offices. In 2002, Rafael decided to step aside from Certifica and open U.S.E.´s second office in Chile, followed by a third office in Argentina in 2005.

U.S.E has become the leading innovator Latin America in connecting and recruiting potential clients for its programs through the implementation of comprehensive international digital media strategies.