All three fall under what?s called the exchange visitor (J-1) visa, which allows you to visit the United States as a "cultural exchange student" and work for three to 18 months ? depending on the program.

Remember though: you need to apply through a sponsor organisation, like the South African Student Travel Service (SASTS), that will organise your job in the States and help you with the application process. Here are a few of the options available to you.

Work-travel

This one?s for you if you?re doing some kind of tertiary qualification at an acknowledged institution, and haven?t yet finished studying. You can work and travel in the United States during your summer holidays, but need to be registered for a full-time course for the following semester. Typically you?ll end up working at a ski-resort or other holiday destination for a couple of months.

Camp counsellor

You?ve seen the movies, so you know the drill: every year thousands of American kids go on Summer camps between May and September. Your job is to look after them, lead activities and act as resident parent/cheerleader for a maximum of four months. You?ve got to be between 18 and 28 and be placed with an accredited camp before leaving South Africa.

Au Pair

Do you love kids and have childcare experience? If you?re between 18 and 26 you can move in with a host family and look after their little angel for up to 12 months. There?s no more than 10 hours of childcare per day, and a maximum of 45 hours per week. The catch: you need to study at the same time ? at least six hours of academic credit at a US tertiary institution.

Another option is the H2B visa which lets you do unskilled seasonal work for up to ten months. You?ll be contracted by the same US employer for the full period and subjected to the same conditions and pay structure as a local (about $7 per hour). You?ll most likely get a job along the lines of cashier, dishwasher, waitron, laundry attendant or landscaping labourer. Not much fun, but an easy way to earn money to go travelling.

Applying

Whether you?re applying for the J1 or H2B visa, the procedure is pretty much the same.

You?ll physically have to go to your closest US Consulate ? there?s one in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban ? to hand in your visa application, attend an interview and be fingerprinted.

You can?t just pitch up at any time, though ? they work on an appointment system which must be booked through their call centre. Find out more on the US Consulate website.

Apart from the application fee you?ll need to ensure that you have the following documents with you, completed and signed.

• DS156, 157, 158 forms. Download these here.
• Passport valid for six months upon return to South Africa
• 50x50mm ID photograph
• Bank statement of the past two months as proof of $400 (about R2400) spending money
• Flight itinerary

If you?re applying for an H2B visa though, you?ll need the I-797B document. Your American employer will apply for permission to hire a foreign worker. If this application is approved, you?ll be sent the I-797 by the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (formerly called the 'INS').

Ski resorts are a popular option

If you're employed, it'll help if you provide a letter from your boss outlining your period of employment, job description, salary, period away from work and promise of a position when you return. You need to show that you have ties outside the US that will compel you to return home.

Useful links

• Diplomatic Mission of the United States of America
• US State Department travel information
• US State Department exchange programs
• US State Department: Summer work
• US State Department: Camp counsellor
• US State Department: Au pair
• South African Student Travel Service (SASTS)