Three ways to work, learn and see the world
Two are United States exchange visitor programs under the J-1 visa. The third covers what we arrange beyond the United States. Each runs through a designated sponsor or partner, and we tell you which one before you apply.
Who does what
Recruitment agencies get a bad name when nobody explains where their job ends. Here is where ours ends.
- North Haven
- We recruit, screen and prepare you, match you to a program, help with your documents and stay reachable while you are away. We are a recruitment and support agency. We are not a visa sponsor and we do not issue visas.
- The Sponsor
- A sponsor designated by the US Department of State runs the exchange program, issues your DS-2019 form and carries responsibility for you during your stay. You will know the sponsor’s name before you commit.
- The Embassy
- The United States Embassy in Kingston decides whether you receive a visa. No agency can promise you one, and you should be careful of any that suggests otherwise.
- Fees
- [SET OUT YOUR FEE STRUCTURE — what North Haven charges, what the sponsor charges, what is refundable, and when each is due.]
J-1 Summer Work & Travel A summer that pays for itself
Summer Work & Travel is a United States exchange visitor program for full-time tertiary students. You take seasonal work during your university break, earn in US dollars, and live somewhere that works differently from home for a few months.
Most placements are in hospitality, food service, retail, resorts and amusement parks. The work is real work. Students who go in expecting a holiday have a harder time than students who go in expecting a job with a country attached to it.
What North Haven does for you
- Check that you are eligible before you spend anything
- Match you to a designated sponsor and a placement that fits your goals
- Prepare you for the sponsor interview and the embassy interview
- Help assemble every document the sponsor and the embassy ask for
- Run a pre-departure orientation on budgeting, culture and your first week
- Stay reachable on WhatsApp while you are away
Summer Work & Travel
- Who
- Full-time university students
- When
- During your summer break
- Duration
- [ADD DURATION]
- Apply by
- [ADD DEADLINE]
- Sponsor
- [NAME YOUR SPONSOR]
J-1 Camp Counselor Responsibility, early
Camp Counselor places you at a United States summer camp, living on site and leading activities for children through the season. You are supervising young people, not serving them, and camps choose counselors accordingly.
It suits people who are patient, who can teach something specific — swimming, football, basketball, art, music, drama, outdoor skills — and who do not mind long days. You come home with leadership experience you can describe concretely in any interview.
Our Camp Counselor sponsor is United Studies, Inc. The US Department of State designates United Studies for this program, and you can check that yourself on the official sponsor list.
The ideal candidate, Summer 2027
- Age
- 19 to 23
- Arrive
- Between May 1 and June 10
- Stay
- At least 63 days
- English
- 7 out of 10 or better
What camps look for
- Experience with children: teaching, coaching, church, volunteering, family
- One or two activities you can confidently lead on your own
- Good conversational English and a calm manner under noise
- A clean background check and the references to support it
What you need to apply
- Your passport and a medical form
- Three professional references
- A background check
- A detailed introduction video
- Up to five camp skills you can lead
Camp Counselor
- Who
- Ideally 19 to 23, experience with children
- When
- Arrive May 1 – June 10
- Duration
- At least 63 days
- Apply by
- [ADD DEADLINE]
- Sponsor
- United Studies, Inc.
International Opportunities Past the United States
Not every opportunity runs through a US visa. We also place people on exchange, work and study programs elsewhere, through partners who run them in their own countries.
These change more often than the J-1 programs, because they depend on which partners are open in a given season. If you have somewhere specific in mind, message us and we will tell you honestly whether we can help this year.
Who this suits
- Students and recent graduates who are flexible about destination
- People who have already done a J-1 season and want something longer
- Anyone whose field points somewhere other than the United States
International Opportunities
- Who
- Students and graduates
- Where
- [LIST DESTINATIONS]
- Intakes
- [ADD INTAKES]
- Partner
- [NAME YOUR PARTNER]
Tell us your situation and we will say which fits
The application has an option for people who have not decided yet. Choose it, and an advisor will work through the choice with you.