Education

BridgeUSA

The exchange visitors in Estes Park are on a Department of State BridgeUSA program.
"BridgeUSA annually attracts around 300,000 individuals to the United States from 200 countries and territories to study in U.S. high schools, universities, and research institutions; build professional networks; enhance English language and intercultural skills; and teach in U.S. schools, colleges, and universities.

Since its establishment as part of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (The Fulbright-Hays Act), the program has served as a valuable and important diplomatic tool of U.S. foreign policy. Its mission – to increase mutual understanding between Americans and people of other countries – remains vital to U.S. national security and building people-to-people connections around the world.

BridgeUSA includes the following exchange programs: Professor, Research Scholar, Short-Term Scholar, Trainee, Intern, College and University Student, Teacher, Secondary School Student, Specialist, Alien Physician, Camp Counselor, Au Pair, and Summer Work Travel." - Department of State BridgeUSA Website

Alliance for International Exchange

The Alliance for International Exchange is an association that represents exchange programs, including BridgeUSA, in Washington D.C., advocating for exchange programs and informing the exchange community on developments on Capitol Hill. The Alliance provides resource documents that outline the impact of exchange programs in the USA, a newsletter with breaking news and calls to action, and more.

Community Forum

The CSG hosts an annual community forum in April. You may view the presentation slides from our 2026 Forum here. They include an information from the Department of State, an overview of the Summer Work Travel program, a history of Community Support Groups, and an outline of the Estes Park CSG's initiatives.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • A sponsor is a company that is designated by the U.S. Department of State (shorthand: DOS) as an official exchange visitor program administrator. The sponsor represents the Department of State and the U.S. government as an extension of the U.S. foreign policy outreach program through the J1 visa.

    Each sponsor must have at least one Responsible Officer (RO) and can have multiple Alternate Responsible Officers (AROs). The Responsible Officers oversee the company’s exchange visitor program. They are responsible for issuing DS-2019s, maintaining SEVIS records, reporting incidents to the Department of State, and making final judgement calls in participant disciplinary cases.

    •       The Form DS-2019 or "Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status" is the basic document used in the administration of the exchange visitor program. This form allows participants to seek an interview at a U.S. embassy.

    •       SEVIS (Student Exchange Visitor Information System) is an internet-based database where DOS tracks and monitors all exchange visitor program information.

    The sponsor is responsible for selecting and screening participants and monitoring the welfare, safety and health of its exchange visitors for the duration of the program.

    Each sponsor develops and maintains their program following a set of rules given by the US Department of State - 22 CFR Part 62 -- Exchange Visitor Program.

    The sponsor ensures the participant and host employer understand the program’s purpose, rules, and regulations and ensure the rules and regulations are followed by both parties.

  • Most of the exchange visitors in Estes Park are on the Summer Work Travel program. This program provides college and university students the opportunity to learn about American culture, share their culture with Americans, travel the USA, and work in seasonal positions to help support their living costs in the USA. This is a cultural exchange program, not a work program.

    Estes Park additionally has a small number of au pairs, interns, trainees, and camp counselors.

  • Exchange Visitors are

    •       at least 18 years old

    •       full-time university students

    •       proficient in conversational English

    •       interested in cultural exchange

  • In 2025, Estes Park had the following number of exchange visitors:

    Au Pair - 1

    Camp Counselor - 28

    Intern - 2

    Summer Work Travel - 575

    Trainee - 8

  • Please refer to them as exchange visitors, EVs, or participants. Please do not refer to them as worker, J1, or international staff. We do not want to reduce them to a visa category or incorrectly imply that their purpose in the USA is work related.

  • The Summer Work Travel seasons are:

    ·      Winter: November – April

    ·      Spring: February – July

    ·      Summer: May – October

    Exchange visitor program dates are determined by the Department of State calendar and individual summer break dates. Exchange visitors are not permitted to miss classes for the program.

    Intern and trainee programs may be 3-18 months.

  • Participants must apply for the J-1 visa at the U.S. embassy in their home country. The visa decision is solely up to the U.S. embassy official, and participants are most often denied for not showing sufficient proof that they will return home after the program.

  • Exchange Visitor are generally considered a “Non-Resident Alien” for tax purposes.

    Exchange visitors are required to pay:

    •       Federal income tax

    •       State income tax ( if applicable)

    •       Local or city income tax ( if applicable)

    Exchange visitors are exempt from paying:

    •       Social Security (S.S.)

    •       Medicare tax (FICA)

    •       Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)

    Exchange visitors receive a W-2 and file taxes during tax season.

    TurboTax is not compliant for non-residents.

    Sprintax is a recommended filing service. Sprintax has resources for both host employers and exchange visitors.

  • Every exchange visitor has medical insurance that is provided by or approved by their visa sponsor, following requirements set by the Department of State. Every exchange visitor is covered by the worker’s compensation policy of their host employer.

    Every visa sponsor has 24/7 support phone number that can be utilized if an exchange visitor is experiencing an emergency. This number will be provided on the EV ID that the CSG will distribute to EVs at the Community Fair.

  • Host employers must meet the following to qualify as a host employer for the Summer Work Travel program:

    •       Only place exchange visitors in seasonal positions

    •       Have not experienced layoffs in the past 120 days and do not have workers on lockout or on strike

    •       Will not displace domestic U.S. workers

    •       Pay exchange visitors in accordance with Federal and State laws

    •       Undergo vetting by the visa sponsor including providing business license and worker’s comp policy

    You may find a list of visa sponsors here.