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When To Apply

Timing & Duration

Work & Travel USA is available year round during your semester break or after your last exam. Students may not miss part of their term in order to participate in Work & Travel USA – they must complete their term before travelling to the USA to take up a job, and must return to their home country in time to start the new semester. Deferment of a term is acceptable (with proof from university) provided students have good enough reason for a deferment eg. not having a long enough term break throughout students’ academic course.

The minimum employment period is two months and maximum four months though most jobs do require a minimum working period of 3 months. In addition to the working period, students are allowed to remain in the USA for an additional month to travel. You are not allowed to work during this period. Total stay in the USA should not exceed 5 months or the duration of your term break.A job has to be secured in order to get a visa.

Recruitment Periods

There are three main recruitment periods during the year, scheduled around university term breaks, which in Malaysia fall throughout the year. You need to apply well in advance to get the best selection of jobs.

Season Term break starts in this period Recruitment start Hiring Event *
Summer May - July 09 October / November 08 January / February 09
Fall August – October 09 ** see below nil
Winter November – March 08 May / June 08 August / September 08

** Applicants for the Fall period have two options:

  1. Apply in October the year before for the Summer hiring event
  2. Apply in April for other jobs

Hiring events *

Hiring events are organized through our sponsors. Employers from the USA are invited to conduct face-to-face interviews in Malaysia. These half day events are usually held for the Summer season in early February. Depending on demand, hiring events for the winter season are also sometimes held in August / September. Other jobs are available through direct application.

If you are interested in jobs with arranged housing, jobs offered at the hiring events are not to be missed.

Note

  • Establish when your term break is OR which semester you could defer without causing too much delay in your study.
  • Determine when the recruitment period is
  • We are more than happy to help you with the above.

Tips

We are ready to accept applications up to two months before the travel period. However, the earlier you apply, the more time you will have to pick the best job and prepare for your trip! The application for legal documents and visa takes at least a month and job search can sometimes take up to four weeks. Therefore, you risk not securing a job or missing out on working time or pay the expensive air fares if you apply too late.