How to resolve worker’s shortage in your hotel or restaurant? Hire foreign students as seasonal help for hospitality and food industries. How?

by · 07/22/2021

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Every year thousands of foreign students come on a J1 visa from foreign countries for internships in their field of studies. US Dept. of State has listed the area of internships for students to come to the US on J 1 Visa. The hospitality and food industries are some of the areas that students from foreign countries can apply to come on a J1 Visa as an intern. However, the students are allowed to come to the US as interns for a temporary period only, 3 – 6 months at a time. Once the internship period is over the students must go back to their country. The foreign students may come from different countries depending upon their college summer vacations period. The students from Asia and Europe usually come from late April to Late September whereas students from South America, and Thailand come during the winter period. Most of the students coming from the Philippines, and India can communicate well in English. The students coming from Eastern European countries like Poland may have a little challenge in communicating in English.

The following conditions must be satisfied by the US employers who are planning to hire foreign students temporarily:

  1. The hiring of temporary help of foreign students must not replace jobs of US citizens and residents.
  2. The US employer must be able to show a seasonal peak in their business that would justfiy hiring of temporary help of foreign students in their businesses.
  3. Foreign students should be able to learn and gain knowledge in the field of their education.
  4. The guidelines for the temporary period as outlined by the US State Dept. for each country must be followed.
  5. The employer may make arrangements for the stay of the foreign students for the internship/job employment period. However, the students will pay the rent.
  6. There are fees attached in applying for the internship and getting a temporary J1 Visa to the US. The interns must pay this fee in their country at the time of applying for a J1 visa.
  7. The process to get J1 Visa may take anywhere from 3 – 6 months for the application to be approved and getting the Visa for the US entry.
  8. The foreign students must apply for Visa in their own country at least about 6 months prior to coming to the US.
  9. The employer must have proper workamn compesation insurance for foreign students to work in the business.
  10. The US employer must pay students following the same payroll regulations as to the regular workers for withholding all federal, state and local taxes.
  11. The US employer must work with an agency approved by the US state Dept. to get approved as an employer for foreign students.
  12. The agency will interview the employer and check the employment facity to meet and satisfy the guidelines of State Department.
  13. The foreign students can not work as the night auditor or in the night shift.
  14. The US employer must provide safety of foreign students at work.
  15. The US employer must start the application process to get foreign students as seasonal workers in October for the next summer period.
  16. The employer must make the job opening attractive to get the most competitive and skilled students in their field of study.
  • In the hospitality industry, the interns can help in the following areas:

– Restaurants

– Housekeeping

– Front desk

  • There are several companies listed on the Us Dept. website as approved agencies and companies that can help in finding foreign students as interns for temporary jobs.

For further questions to get information about approved agencies and company please contact us at admin@bizgrouplink.com.

US Dept. website:

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