J-1 Hospitality and Tourism: Duration, Rotations and Excluded Work
Table of Contents
What Are the J-1 Rules for Hospitality and Tourism?
A J-1 intern and trainee field with a 12-month limit and at least three departmental or functional rotations for programs of six months or longer.
Key Takeaways
- Both interns and trainees may participate for at most 12 months.
- Programs lasting six months or longer need at least three rotations.
- Unskilled positions are excluded, and clerical work is limited to 20 percent.
- Maximum duration
- 12 months for interns and trainees
- Programs of 6 months or longer
- At least 3 departmental or functional rotations
- Clerical work
- At most 20 percent
- Unskilled or casual labor
- Not allowed
A Training Field, Not a Staffing Program
Hospitality and Tourism is one of the Occupational Categories for J-1 Intern and J-1 Trainee programs. Your sponsor must be designated for this field. Programs must provide structured, guided learning and must not replace ordinary employment or fill a labor need.
Source: 22 CFR § 62.22: Trainees and interns
Twelve Months and Three Rotations
The maximum duration is 12 months for both interns and trainees in this field. The usual 18-month trainee maximum does not apply to hospitality and tourism.
If your program lasts six months or longer, it must include at least three departmental or functional rotations. This includes a program lasting exactly six months. Your DS-7002 must identify learning goals, skills to be taught, supervision and evaluation methods.
Source: 22 CFR § 62.22: Trainees and interns
Excluded Positions and Clerical Work
Unskilled or casual labor positions are prohibited. Appendix E to 22 CFR Part 62 lists occupations considered unskilled, including bartenders, cashiers, hotel cleaners, housekeepers and kitchen workers. A hotel placement is not exempt from these Program Exclusions.
Your duties may involve no more than 20 percent clerical work. This limit does not turn an excluded unskilled position into an eligible placement.
Source: 22 CFR § 62.22: Trainees and interns · 22 CFR Part 62, Appendix E: Unskilled occupations
FAQs
Can a hospitality trainee stay for 18 months?
No. Hospitality and Tourism training programs are limited to 12 months, even though the general trainee maximum is 18 months.
Source: 22 CFR § 62.22: Trainees and interns
Does a six-month program need three rotations?
Yes. The regulation requires at least three departmental or functional rotations for programs of six months or longer, not only programs longer than six months.
Source: 22 CFR § 62.22: Trainees and interns
The Bottom Line
Hospitality and tourism exchanges last at most 12 months. At six months or longer, three rotations are required; unskilled jobs remain excluded.
Related Terms
- Occupational CategoriesThe ten fields in which J-1 intern and trainee programs can take place. A sponsor may only run programs in the categories it is designated for.more
- Program ExclusionsThe kinds of positions and duties that J-1 internships and traineeships are not allowed to include.more
- J-1 InternA US exchange visitor category that lets students and recent graduates train at a US company for up to 12 months.more
- J-1 TraineeA US exchange visitor category for people with a degree and work experience abroad, with training at a US company for up to 18 months.more
- DS-7002The Training/Internship Placement Plan. You, your host company and your sponsor all sign it.more
- Host CompanyThe US organization where a J-1 intern or trainee does the training program.more
