Summer '27 spplications are open
US visa sponsors
Summer Camp USA Direct Placement
Secured your job directly with a camp?
Our Direct Placement program provides the US sponsorship, J1 visa support, camp job vetting, required medical cover, and application processing for First-timers with their own job to work at camp for the summer.
About
Why apply as a Direct Placement with BUNAC?
If this is your first time going to camp, you've secured your job independently with a camp, and are now looking for the visa sponsorship to work in America – you've come to the right place.
Part of the same travel family as IENA – one of the... Read more
Visa + cost
Who can apply as a Direct Placement?
Deposit
USD $35
Next payment
USD $175
Final payment
USD $289
Total
USD $499
Police check
This a condition of your visa sponsorship, and is typically done online in your home country for free or a small fee.
US Embassy fee
This is paid directly to the US Embassy and currently costs USD $185 (+ an additional $215 for Australia passport holders)
I-94 arrival fee
Paid directly to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and currently costs USD $24
Visa integrity fee
We're anticipating the US will bring in a refundable USD $250 visa integrity fee for future departures. More info to follow
Support funds
You may be required to show proof that you can access USD $800
Travel insurance for camp
Medical cover is included, but you must also purchase travel insurance
Flights
We don’t recommend booking flights until your J-1 visa is approved
Travel after camp
Get 10% off worldwide Contiki trips before you go! Friends = benefits
About our Youth Access Scholarship Fund
Balancing profit with purpose, summer camp USA only works for us if it works for others too. BUNAC donates 5% of profits to our Youth Access Scholarship Fund so that young people from under-served and lower-income backgrounds can experience working at camp. Find out more on our JENZA Travel Group scholarship page.
How it works
What's the process to apply?
The countdown to camp
- Check the visa eligibility on this page, hit ‘apply now’ and create your profile. You can then access your online account anytime from the top of this page. Once you’ve paid your deposit, you’ll need to book a non-scary camp coaching session with the BUNAC team. This is a visa requirement and is to check your eligibility and make sure that the camp program is right for you. You can then move onto your sponsorship application to get ready for your camp consultation.
Once you’ve applied, you’ll complete your sponsorship application with IENA.
In the resources section of your online account, you’ll find everything you need to fill out your sponsorship application. Ultimately, this application needs to be approved by our US sponsor and is what allows you to work in America – so it’s time to make it shine! You’ll need to provide your education history, childcare experience, a personal statement and two references from a teacher, employer or non-relative adult.
You’ll need to ensure you have all written sections of your IENA application completed before your coaching session.
- This is a one-on-one 30-minute call with the BUNAC team or one of our camp alumni. It’s designed to check your eligibility, discuss your skills and motivation for working at camp, and go through your application to make sure it’s hitting the right notes. It’s also your chance to ask any questions you have about the programme or your summer at camp. While this is a strictly non-interview dress scenario, you need to show up – physically and mentally – to get the most out of the call and to set yourself up for the next step.
- Once your IENA application is complete, you’ve attended your coaching call, and your second payment has been received, we’ll submit your application to IENA for review. Once reviewed and everything has the okay, your application will move forward and you will be marked as hired with your camp,
Once you’ve been marked as hired, you’ll need to make your final payment before your DS-2019 can be issued and released to you. At this stage, make sure all your documents are uploaded and up to date, including both completed references and your camp contract.
Once your final payment has been received and IENA has issued your DS-2019, your sponsorship paperwork will be available to download on your IENA application and you can move on to the visa stage.
- In your online account, you’ll find step-by-step guidance on filling out your online J1 application and prepping for your US Embassy interview. The embassy will keep your passport for 7-10 days, returning it by post along with your visa stamp. So if you have any trips booked in the lead up to camp or need a new passport, make sure you factor this into your timelines! Unfortunately, camp providers don’t have any control over the availability of visa appointments or the outcome of your appointment.
- Once you have your J1 visa, it’s safe to book your flights and travel insurance. Make sure you book a return ticket as you’ll need this to get through US immigration. In Apr/May, the BUNAC team run camp orientations via group video calls to get you all set up for life at camp. As well as being mandatory for your visa, it’s also a great way to connect and get all your camp questions answered.
- While many summer camps offer transport, camps are scattered all over the USA and our travellers fly in from all over the world, so you’re responsible for getting from the airport to your camp. Typically, you’ll arrive a week before your campers. This is to connect with your USA summer camp family and complete your training. Going from your home life to camp life can feel like a shock to the system. But go with it. Guaranteed, once you settle in, you won’t be able to imagine spending a summer anywhere else!
Around the campfire