We move people beyond map lines, beyond stereotypes and beyond personal limitations. We move people to realize their full potential, ready to make impact – ready to change the world.
The USA Work and Travel Program is for currently enrolled university students aged 18-26years old. Participants can go to the USA for the duration of their summer vacation and will get a chance to travel up to 25 days in the USA. UTP offers two deployment seasons to match the summer vacation of the universities in the Philippines: SPRING – March to June SUMMER – May to August UTP offers placement in various host establishments all over the USA and assistance in procuring a visa and round trip ticket to the USA. *If you are beyond 26 and you satisfy the other eligibility requirements and want to join please contact us for further assessment.
Our Success Stories When students are exposed to a new environment and are taken out of their comfort zone, they gain new perspectives, they adapt, they grow. This is what participants of our program has accomplished!
According to the US Department of State, the USA Work and Travel Program gives any College and University students enrolled full time and pursuing studies at post-secondary accredited academic institutions located outside the United States a chance to come to the United States to share their culture and ideas with people of the United States through temporary work and travel opportunities.
Using a J1 Visa (Exchange Visitor Visa), a USA Work and Travel Participant may work in companies across the United States who passed the requirements to host a Cultural Exchange Participant, checked by the US Department of State. The participants are supervised by their hosts who are responsible for their summer job and weekly salary. They will enter USA with a J1 Visa (Exchange Visitor Visa) which allows them to work and travel in the USA for up to 5 months.
As a company rule, UTP accepts any currently enrolled non-graduating college students aged 18-26 years old to take part in this program for up to 5 months provided that it coincides with the University Vacation dates. The Philippine dates for this program is between March 26 to September 1 (as of December 14, 2022)
It is NOT an income generating program
It is NOT an OFW job
It is NOT an OJT (it is a cultural exchange program not an On the Job Training. It is a prerogative of the school whether to credit the working hours spent by the participant in the USA as part of the training required in the curriculum. This shall be agreed between the participant and the school).
The participant gets to experience a different culture not just with Americans but with other nationalities who are joining the program
Exposure to international training and work force while you’re in college (this program only happens in your college life).
Gain an international work experience that can be added to your resume. You will have an edge against other graduates.
Travel with friends around USA: Travel is the best teacher in life
Make a lot of life-long international friends
Gain confidence and improve conversational English
Develop professional and personal maturity
This program has been on-going for more than 70 years (since 1947) participated by at least 106 countries all over the world. In the Philippines, it's been offered to college students for the past 20 years. In the Philippines alone, more than 100 colleges and universities nationwide have participated in this program.
The USA Work and Travel Program is governed by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO). To assure safety and legality of the program, no participant is allowed to leave the Philippines without completing the mandatory Pre Departure Orientation by the Commission of Filipinos Overseas (CFO). A completion sticker or certificate will be given to the participants as proof of the PDOS completion, prior to leaving the country.
Currently enrolled college students either 2nd year, 3rd yr or 4th Yr (as long as with remaining subjects left)
Must be within 18-26 years old
With good character and academic standing
Can speak conversational English.
Easy to work with.
The Participant will need to secure a J1 Visa (Exchange Visitor Visa) through personal appearance at the US Embassy. This Visa is issued by the US Embassy to those participating in programs that promote cultural exchange.
Yes. The J1 Visa allows the holder to work and travel in the USA within a specific period (from Start to End Date as specified in the VISA) with positions provided by the agency which are issued by the US Visa Sponsors. A Certificate of Eligibility (DS 2019) will be released by the US Department of State to the US Visa Sponsors. The US Visa Sponsors will approve these positions based on credibility and safety of job positions in relation to the participants, before relaying these job positions the Agencies. The J1 Visa has an expiration for a maximum of 5 months or depending on the program dates of the participant.
Camp was a thrilling experience that went above and beyond my expectations. I can’t say I wasn’t nervous at the beginning. I mean, flying over 8,222 miles right after graduation to do something I’ve never done before was an adventure that was both frightening and empowering at the same time. Fortunately, all my nerves went away when I was greeted with big smiles from everyone at camp. From orientation to lifeguarding training to kayaking through rapid rivers to zip-lining cross tree canopies, everyday brought something new. The most fulfilling experience, however, was really getting to know my campers on a deeper level. Sharing about their fears and insecurities one day, and then seeing them come out of their shells and become their best selves at camp was an experience that was as beautiful as it.
Camp was overall a great experience. Aside from building friendships with people from all over the world, I think one of the best parts of my camp experience was learning the different perspectives they had about people with special needs. Camp’s a wonderful place that not only brings people together but ultimately embraces differences. It’s a place where your perspectives are valued because they enrich the camp experience for campers and the counselors. In camp, you learn to share what you love with other people and at the same time grow in their passions. It’s a good place to discover what you can do and what impact you can leave.
I love Camp Killooleet. I had one of the best and memorable summers so far. I’m not good in expressing myself through written words, but if I were to share my overall camp experience? I would say I can’t wait to.
There isn’t really one word you can use to describe Camp Sno-mo. It was crazy, sad, fun, exciting. The camp gave me multiple chances to learn new skills and get better opportunities for myself in the future, but at the end of the day it was all about the kids. The kids we had were amazing: some could not speak, read, or write, some were facing multiple challenges in their lives. All of that didn’t matter to them though, because in camp they were just themselves. To them I was their friend, brother, and sometimes even like their own dad. What mattered was that I gave the kids the best week of their lives. It was a life-changing experience I would do again.
Camp experience was a rollercoaster ride for me. Truth be told, it’s not all about fun. You’ll get frustrated, you’ll feel down. But at the end of it all, you get a rewarding and fulfilling feeling because the campers are amazing. They have unique and wonderful stories especially in my camp.
The people really made the experience. The kids were also amazing, feeling their dependency towards you really molded me to grow into.
I was able to experience different cultures, not only from the international counselors, but also the kids too. It was inspiring to see kids do various activities that scared them – it made me even more confident in trying out new things too. Wakeboarding, glass blowing, wood working, a lot of arts and crafts, lacrosse, football, soccer – things I would not have access to here. Being around kids encouraged me to bring out the best version of myself – loud, happy, positive and spirited – because the kids loved that. Good energy was celebrated at camp and just being able to be happy, loud and fun makes the work that goes into teaching, caring for the kids and doing tasks at camp worth