We recently spoke with Phil Berndt at Destination Door County about this summer’s foreign students which will be working here in Door County through the J-1 visa program, a program which, as he told us, is currently being rebranded…….
So, the J-1 visa program will now be known as “Bridge USA”, For it helps give young people a chance to see what life is really like in other countries. As college students, they make good use of their summer break, and this program helps them afford to come here at a time when our local businesses need them the most……
Once the workers arrive, they usually have to meet with a Social Security representative to arrange their card. Berndt says this year Social Security might not be sending up a representative so employers might have to help arrange a meeting in Green Bay for their employees. If you are a J-1 employer, Berndt says you can find out more through the DDC website……….
Out of approximately 100,000 students sent to the US this summer, Door County will be sent almost 500, and as Berndt says, our area is seen as a much-desired destination……….
So, again, keep in mind the J-1 visa program, sometimes called the summer-work-travel program, has now been rebranded by the state department under the new name “Bridge USA”, and local employers can monitor updates on the program through “DoorCounty.com”.
