Seasonal Regions and Housing Requirements

Restricted Job Locations Requiring Housing

The Department of State recommends that applicants only work with employers who identify safe, suitable and affordable housing. To be considered safe, housing must, at a minimum, meet all applicable local laws and regulations, including with respect to ventilation, utilities, and occupancy rates. Transportation must be reliable, affordable, and convenient between participants’ residences and worksites.

Due to housing difficulties, J1ers who plan on staying in the following areas must have either permanent or termporary accommodation arranged in order to have their DS-2019/ work paper approved by the US Sponsor.

Examples include:

•   Long Island
•   Cape Cod
•   Myrtle Beach
•   New Jersey
•   Virginia Beach*
•   Rhode Island

*Please be advised of zoning and housing codes that affect housing for participants who will be living and working in Virginia Beach this summer. The City of Virginia Beach has issued the following housing regulations:

Virginia Beach Zoning and Housing Codes

For an explanation of a “Dwelling Unit” as defined by the City of Virginia Beach, please view their Residential Zoning Illustrated guide.

Also note that zoning ordinances prohibit most housing units in properties classified as a “Hotel/Motel” from being rented to the same person or group of persons for more than thirty (30) consecutive days. 

The City of Virginia Beach has issued a Zoning Determination and listed the housing properties located at: 307 24th Street, 306 24th Street, 302 24th Street, 300 24th Street and 2305 Pacific Ave. InterExchange will not be approving participant housing at these addresses for the 2020 Summer season.  

Housing Requirements:

Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, housing information maybe required before any 'Self Placement' job offer can be approved by the US Spsonsor.

Areas where employers do not support or assist with housing may not be eligible for self placements. Please ensure to review your housing agreements closely prior to signing and be mindful of housing agreements that do not include a cancellation and refund policy of housing deposits. Please find a guide to understanding lease agreements is available here

All self sourced housing will be thoroughly vetted prior to job offer approval based on CDC requirements. This includes the ability to social distance, guest and gathering policies, and quarantine protocols. If housing does not meet these requirements job offers will be rejected. 

A housing guide can be found here