Social Security
J-1 participants must pay Federal and State taxes, but are exempt from social security
deductions. They do however need a Social Security card which they will apply for
once they arrive in America. They will not have a social security number when they
apply for a job, however this should not stop you from hiring them.
Once students have validated their SEVIS record (this is a straightforward procedure
which should be completed immediately on arrival in the US) they may apply for their
Social Security card. When they arrive at your workplace they should have an application
receipt which confirms their application has been made and should be sufficient
for your payroll purposes. Their card should arrive some time later at which point
they will give you their Social Security number.
If a participant has any problems with SEVIS validation or applying for a social
Security card, they should contact BUNAC in New York immediately.
Minimum Wage
Work America and Work USA participants have the same legal rights
(including coverage under Workers Compensation) as any American employee. We expect
that you will pay them fairly and honor your commitments to them accordingly.
Understandably, our members, like their US counterparts inevitably gravitate towards
the better-paying jobs whether they find them in our Job Directory or by their own
initiative, therefore if you are paying little more than the minimum wage you may
find it difficult to attract or keep staff.
Visas
You do not have to apply for Labor Certification or get involved in the visa application
process in any way. This is all handled by BUNAC.
All participants will have a Work/Travel J-1 visa which allows them to take seasonal
employment legally in the US for up to 4 months.
The US State Department now operates the SEVIS tracking system to record and monitor
the whereabouts of J-1 participants.
It is the responsibility of the students to comply with all SEVIS requirements.
BUNAC provides all students with detailed instructions on how to do this.