What kind of jobs are available?

Hospitality and tourism roles – Front Desk, Food and Beverage, Housekeeping, Lifeguarding, In Room Dining, Activities, Ski Valet, and more.

Do I need experience?

It helps, but isn’t required. A positive attitude and reliability go a long way.

Can I travel after my job ends?

Yes – you’ll get a 30-day grace period after your contract ends to explore the US.

Most jobs come with subsidised staff accommodation or support finding a place.

Am I eligible for the J-1 visa?

You need to be aged 18–30 and meet other visa criteria – we’ll help you confirm this.

Legal 12 Month J1 Visa for Tertiary Graduates and Students with NZ or Aus Passports

Live, work, and explore the United States for a full year – all with expert support and a special J1 Visa for Kiwis and Aussies

Want to work and travel in the US without the admin overload? Our 12-month American J-1 program sorts your job, handles your visa, and gives you 30 days to travel after work ends – so you can focus on the adventure, not the paperwork.

What Sets Us Apart

For over 30 years, International Working Holidays has helped turn dreams into destinations, providing safe, ethical, and truly unforgettable work and volunteer experiences worldwide. Every project is carefully vetted, with secure accommodations, trained staff, and 24/7 support. We handle the details so you can focus on the impact.

Ready to Explore?

Overview

Included

How It Works

Typical Day

Reviews

Work anywhere in the USA with your own job - we’ll handle the visa and support

This isn’t just a holiday – it’s a full year in the USA with a real job, real income, and time to travel after your contract ends. You’ll be matched with a role before you fly, get help with every step of your visa, and be supported while you’re living and working abroad.

Whether it’s your gap year, post-uni break, or next big life step, we’ll help you make it happen.

Program Highlights

Pre-arranged job in hospitality or tourism before you leave
12-month J-1 visa USA sponsorship sorted for you
Earn in USD and boost your CV with real-world experience
Work in epic locations – from ski towns to national parks
30-day travel window after your contract ends
Full support from our US-based team while you're abroad

Overall Trip Rating:

Total Reviews 5

Average Rating

5.0

Based on 5 travel reviews

5 Excellent

4 Very Good

3 Average

2 Poor

1 Terrible

Write a Review

Verified Purchase

By Gardenia Lemalu August 21, 2026 I'm so grateful to IWH
This is my first program with IWH and it has been an incredibly fun experience. The whole process was smooth and everything went as expected. I got to work with amazing people from all around the world and experience a completely different lifestyle and culture. I've adjusted really well, but the first couple of months were definitely an adjustment, especially being away from home and getting used to a different work environment. Over time, I became more comfortable and started seeing the USA as my second home. I've learned that you either, miss your family or your future. I love travelling and exploring new things, and being in the travel and tourism industry gives me the chance to learn new things and meet different people every day. I've really enjoyed the experience so far. My biggest advice to anyone thinking about applying is to say yes to opportunities and not be afraid to apply just because you're not sure what to expect. You won't know what you're capable of until you put yourself out there. Start the process early and save up before you leave. The beginning might feel unfamiliar, challenging, and you may feel homesick, but you'll learn to become more independent. You're not here just to work, travel around the state or outside while you can. Just have fun, make the most of every opportunity, and make great memories. This experience has given me so much confidence and pushed me outside of my comfort zone. I'm so grateful to IWH.

Date of Experience: August 21, 2026
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By Reiko Diaz August 6, 2026 Engineering Technician at Montage Deer Valley in Park City, Utah
Hi! Time has definitely flown by! My name is Reiko Diaz, and I’m from New Zealand. I studied electrical engineering before coming to the United States, and I’m currently working as an Engineering Technician at Montage Deer Valley in Park City, Utah. Honestly, this has been one of the best experiences of my life. I absolutely love Park City—the town really suits me, and so do the people. Everyone has been so welcoming, and I’ve made some amazing friends both at work and outside of work. One of my favourite things about living here has been mountain biking. I ride almost every day after work and have explored so many incredible trails and pushed myself around Deer Valley and Park City. My roommate has become one of my best friends, and we’re always out riding or hiking together. Just yesterday we spent the day hitting the jump trails, crashed more times than we’d like to admit laughed it off and got straight back on our bikes I possibly broke my pinky but Those are the kinds of memories I’ll always remember. I’ve also had the chance to DJ while I’ve been here, which has been an awesome way to meet people and be part of the local music scene. Being able to combine my passion for music with everything else I’ve experienced has made this trip even more special.Work has been great, and I’ve learned so much from the engineering team. It’s been a fantastic opportunity to build practical skills, but it’s also taught me a lot about myself. Living in another country has pushed me outside my comfort zone, made me more independent, and shown me how much there is to learn from different people and cultures Now that I’ve had a taste of living in a different country, I don’t want to stop. It’s fascinated me seeing how people from different cultures live, think, and connect with each other. After the US, I’d love to keep travelling, experience more countries, meet more people, and continue learning about different cultures before eventually heading back home to New Zealand
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By Naomi Hohepa July 6, 2026 Montage Deer Valley in Utah
I’ve had such an amazing experience through International Working Holidays. From the very beginning, the team made the whole process easy to understand and were always there to answer my questions and support me. I’m currently completing my internship at Montage Deer Valley in Utah as a Spa Front Desk Agent, and it has been an incredible opportunity. I’ve gained valuable hospitality experience, built my confidence, met people from all over the world, and experienced living and working in the United States. Moving overseas was a big step, but IWH made me feel prepared throughout the journey. Everyone was always happy to help whenever I had questions, which made the whole process much less stressful. I’m so grateful I decided to take this opportunity, and I would definitely recommend the programme to anyone who wants to travel, grow personally and professionally, and experience life in another country. It’s been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Verified Purchase

By Ethan Embry Barker June 22, 2026 Working in Cliff House made me learn more skills and met great people
I’m Ethan/Embry From Christchurch New Zealand, I’ve been living in the USA on a one year work and travel program for about 7 months now, I’ve been working at the cliff house and Maine and I’ve learned so many new skills and met so many great people from all over the world, even though the language is the same it can be hard to adjust because things we do in New Zealand are different from how the Americans do it, I’m grateful to work with amazing people who are Americans and also other international workers like I am, I’ve been to see formula one in Miami, and I’ve been to see a couple baseball games and currently having the best time having group watch alongs of the Fifa World Cup, my advice is that if you love to travel and wanna get some experience this is the sort of thing that would be right for you.

Date of Experience: June 22, 2026
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By Wilson April 30, 2026 My US Experience
My life in the US is pretty simple, the only thing that isn't covered once my paychecks come through is goods and cleaning stuff, which makes budgeting super easy, and I have more time to relax after work Work is going pretty good. I just finished my training and now I'm a lifeguard, which is pretty cool. The leadership at Sea Island has been great, and I've really enjoyed my freedom at work as well as the trust I get when it comes to doing my job Plans? I'm about to visit my girlfriend in Austin, which I'm very excited about, although I cant say much about how it's gonna go since it hasn't happened yet The process getting here was super smooth, and the way it all unfolded actually made me less worried over time as I went through LAX Airport, the whole thing was super unnerving in my head but the reality was so much more simple! IWH has been crucial in supporting me with getting myself sorted, Joanne did an awesome job helping me with my Visa and Dale sorted everything with flights, I probably couldn't have done it without them.

Date of Experience: May 01, 2026

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By Karen Aguilar April 30, 2026
Love this 🙌 This is exactly how it should feel… simple, supported, and giving you space to actually enjoy life over there. Massive congrats on becoming a lifeguard too, such a cool role 💪 And yep… airport nerves vs reality is so real 😂 We’ll pass this on to Joanne and Dale, they’ll love it. Enjoy Austin and keep making the most of it ✈🌍