J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa Program

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The J-1 Irish Work and Travel visa program (known as the J-1 Graduate visa) allows Irish university graduates to spend 14 months in the States- 12 months to work and two 30 day grace periods to get settled and travel! It is a U.S. cultural exchange opportunity for students and graduates who want to gain an excellent piece of international work in a placement related to their field of study, and to experience life in the United States. 

At the Rian Immigrant Center (formerly Irish International Immigrant Center/IIIC), we have helped over 3,000 Irish students and graduates start their careers through our program. Rian J-1 will support you throughout the entire process, including assisting you as you seek a suitable paid placement in your area of study.

Why Rian J-1?

Curious about how others have spent their J-1 visa programs? Click here to read Rian’s J-1 stories!
Curious about the application process for the J-1 IWT (graduate) visa? Click through for a refresher & reach out to our email at j1iwt@riancenter.org with any questions! Happy Friday! Today we are spotlighting and sharing photos from Lowri Davies! Lowri is a Rian J-1 living in NYC and working in the music industry. Swipe through to get a glimpse into Lowri's J-1 year so far! Happy Wednesday! In our newsletter sent out earlier this month, our team shared our quick dos and don'ts for the J-1 IWT (grad) and Intern visas. Read through them for a quick refresher and let us know what your dos and don'ts are for your J-1 year in the U.S.! We are hosting our J-1 orientation over Zoom next week! Join us on March 21, 2024 at 12 PM EST over Zoom to meet our team, learn about Rian's support, and get ready for your visa year! Register for the Zoom at the link in our bio. Looking for some tips to start your internship search? Look no further! Scroll through to review our top resume, job search, and interview tips. Find more like this on our internship search support resources website (link in bio)! Jude is on the move this week! Jude will be representing Rian's J-1 visa program at @gradireland Live today, Wednesday the 6th of March, and at @tud_ireland Tallaght Campus for the Springs Careers Fair on the 7th! Stop by to chat with him about how you can spend a year living and working in the States! Did you know our team holds weekly support drop-in hours? On Tuesdays at 2:30 PM EST, meet with Phil for all things internship search support. On Fridays at 10:30 AM Irish time, meet with Jude to discuss general inquiries about the visa program and request support for those J-1s still in Ireland. The Zoom links for both drop-ins are in our bio! One of our team's biggest tips for finding an internship is to network! Making connections is the first step in finding your J-1 IWT visa placement. Read through our tips for a place to start. Find more resources like this on our Internship Search Support Resources page (link in bio)! Happy Black History Month! We invite all of our exchange visitors to join our staff in celebrating Black History Month through learning and honoring the contributions of African Americans throughout history!
"If I didn’t have this wonderful Center with the incredible people who work there, my experience would’ve been completely different. The support and encouragement, from the first time I walked into the office and throughout my year was truly immense. I will always be so grateful to the Rian Immigrant Center, it’s like being part of a big family who are there for you every step of the way."
"The J-1 IWT program is by far the best opportunity for graduates who want to gain vital work experience and go on a life-changing adventure. My J-1 IWT program to San Diego, California provided me with professional and personal development that was unparalleled to any other option."