Uncertainty Looms Over Summer Jobs for Foreign Students in the US

Visa delays, geopolitics, and economic factors could disrupt the pipeline of international workers that small businesses rely on each summer.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 10:59am

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A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life photograph featuring a stack of international passports, a pen, and a calculator on a clean, monochromatic background, symbolizing the administrative and economic challenges faced by businesses and students in the J-1 visa program.The J-1 visa program's uncertain future casts a shadow over the summer jobs that international students have long provided to small US businesses.Ocean City Today

Small and seasonal US businesses typically rely on about 100,000 international students to boost their staff each summer through the J-1 Visa program. However, this year, uncertainty surrounding the visa process, shifting geopolitical relationships, and economic factors could lead to a 5-10% decrease in the number of requested supplemental participants, according to Kasey Simon, president of United Work & Travel. Delays in visa processing, dissuaded participants from certain countries, and a weaker economy could all impact the availability of these student workers, forcing businesses to operate at limited capacity and lose revenue during peak season.

Why it matters

The J-1 Visa program is a crucial source of labor for small and seasonal businesses in popular tourist destinations across the US, providing around 100,000 student workers each summer. Any disruption to this pipeline of international workers could have a significant impact on these businesses, which often rely on the added support during their busiest times of year when American workers are still in school or have already left for the season.

The details

Kasey Simon, president of United Work & Travel, a designated sponsor of BridgeUSA's Summer Work Travel program, said the company is seeing the same number of businesses participate, but the requested number of supplemental participants might be slightly less, around 5-10% overall. These student workers cover a wide range of hospitality and tourism roles, including lifeguards, bartenders, theme park attendants, retail staffers, and restaurant servers. Uncertainty surrounding the visa process, shifting geopolitical relationships, and a weaker economy could all contribute to a decrease in participants, leaving some businesses unable to fully staff up during peak season.

  • The J-1 Visa program typically brings in around 100,000 international student workers each summer to support small and seasonal US businesses.
  • This year, United Work & Travel is seeing a potential 5-10% decrease in the requested number of supplemental participants.

The players

Kasey Simon

President of United Work & Travel, a designated sponsor of BridgeUSA's Summer Work Travel program.

BridgeUSA

An organization that runs the Summer Work Travel program, which invites full-time university students from across the globe to work temporarily in the US on a J-1 visa.

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What they’re saying

“We're seeing the same number of businesses participate. However, the requested number of supplemental participants might be slightly less, five to 10% less overall.”

— Kasey Simon, President of United Work & Travel

“Smaller seasonal businesses typically rely on the international workforce to supplement their domestic workforce and give them added support during the shoulder seasons.”

— Kasey Simon, President of United Work & Travel

What’s next

United Work & Travel and other organizations that sponsor the J-1 Visa program will continue to monitor the situation and work with businesses and international students to navigate the challenges posed by visa delays, geopolitics, and economic factors.

The takeaway

The potential disruption to the pipeline of international student workers that small and seasonal US businesses rely on each summer highlights the importance of this program and the need for stability in the visa process, geopolitical relationships, and economic conditions to ensure these businesses can fully staff up during their peak seasons.