Over the coming weeks, hundreds of Irish J-1 visa students will arrive in the U.S. for what is sure to be a summer of adventure. With the J-1 season about to kick off, many third level students will use their experience as a gauge for possible future immigration.
Speaking to the Irish Voice from his home in Limerick City, Andrew Graham was preparing for his imminent trip to New York. The 22-year-old student said he is using the J-1 program to sample life in America.
A final year construction management student at Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT), he reflects that employment prospects in his industry in Ireland are minimal.
“It is hard to get a job in construction, but I am prepared to go anywhere there is work,” he told the Irish Voice.
Graham and his friend Brian Treacy decided to wait until they were over 21 to avail of the J-1 program, which allows visa holders to spend three months in the U.S.
“Myself and Brian are not going for the stereotypical J-1 experience,” he explained. “We want to get a better picture of what life is like.”
For Graham, his journey to the Big Apple is the trip of a lifetime.
“I have always wanted to go there but because of the recession it was not a financial option,” he said.
The two friends plan on hitting up Irish neighborhoods in search of work.
“I think we are aiming for Yonkers at the moment. We know there is a high percentage of Irish living there and Gaelic Park is there.
“We will do anything,” Graham says, “within reason. We just want to pay for our living expenses and have a good time”.
In the middle of his finals at the University of Limerick (UL), Treacy, 22, took a break from studying to speak to the Irish Voice.
New York was an obvious choice for his J-1 experience, having already traveled here four times. The two friends intend to stay with Treacy’s uncle until they can find jobs in a place he describes as the best city in the world.
In preparation, Treacy, a math student, got in touch with various GAA clubs New York and is gearing up to play for Kerry during his time here.
“There is no Limerick team,” he explained.
Treacy says a lot of his fellow students are heading abroad this summer to sample life in the U.S.
“When I went up for my interview in the American Embassy in Dublin, it was all UL students that day,” he said.
“I know 20 students studying business that are going to Ocean City.”
The price of a typical J-1 summer abroad does not come cheap. The average cost of a J-1 visa with flights and insurance included is around $1,300. As well as this, travel agents recommend students have at least a few thousand dollars to use as a buffer while they search for work and accommodation.
“Pretty much all my savings will be used,” Treacy said.
Despite the expense, the two friends are determined to enjoy their time in New York and have already made plans for the summer. The students are already looking forward to Labor Day weekend when they will attend the Electric Zoo music festival in Randall’s Island.
“We want to save money and see all the sites of New York,” says Graham.
If their summer experience goes well, the two final year students are considering applying for the yearlong J-1 visa now available to Irish college graduates.
“I would love to stay there,” Treacy admits. “I don’t think my mother would be happy if I said I was coming for a year.”
Last December, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ordered an “extensive and thorough review” of the J-1 summer work travel visa in response to reports that many students from nations around the world were being exploited.
"We have already instituted one set of reforms and are working toward additional ones that take additional measures to protect participants and prioritize the original cultural intent of the program," a State Department spokesman said at the time.
In response, the State Department launched a new website designated for the J-1 program which details the different variations of the J visas on offer.
According to the website, in 2010 there were 132,342 visas issued.
Numbers for the coming summer J-1 program are expected to remain high. In the Aisling Irish Community Center in Yonkers, board chair Agnes Delaney says they have already received hundreds of J-1 related phone calls.
Established in 1996, the center provides invaluable assistance to Irish immigrants who arrive in the U.S, and the arrival of students in summer makes it their busiest season. The organization provides support and information for many students who arrive here, as for many their J-1 trip is their first time leaving home for an extended period.
“When they arrive at the center, we complete a comprehensive sheet with all their pertinent information including the names of their friends, local phone numbers and a family contact number in Ireland,” Delaney told the Irish Voice.
“We have an Internet cafe with Skype so that they can keep in contact with family and friends.”
The center provides students with folders packed with information. They also have bulletin boards with accommodation and job postings.
“We encourage them to check in with us regularly so that we can be of assistance to them,” says Delaney.
According to Simon Gillespie, games development officer for the New York GAA, he has noticed an increase in the number of J-1 summer students getting in touch this summer compared to 2011.
“My first email for this summer was last September,” Gillespie told the Irish Voice. “They are really planning ahead.
“We have been inundated with emails from students looking for clubs to play with and to come out for the summer and work. The emails started coming in December and January.”
The GAA is like a safety net for J-1 students, according to Gillespie, who says that June and July are the peak months for their involvement.
“It gives them a sense of community,” he says. “If they stay involved with the GAA they will be looked after.”
Gillespie says the arrival of the J-1 students is a huge part of the GAA summer in New York.
“It’s not just about playing,” he says. “The students give more of a life to the Woodlawn area.”
34 Comments
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.MaryM232 | May 13, 2012, 04:42 PM EDT
MeadhbhB, yeah, we're in debt because we're told we need to provide aid to corrupt, cesspits like the one you crawled out of. We're not going to pay China back, but we will enjoy watching China take over Ireland, which your shanty politicians are enabling them to do. My paternal grandmother, who came from Ireland, warned all of her grand children, that it's better to avoid relationships with the Irish, because they're unfortunately over populated with corrupt, cowardly, weak minded and willed individuals. She felt a great deal of shame over her former countrymen, and her grand children listened.
STEVENSTAR | May 13, 2012, 11:39 AM EDT
@@@ancavker | May 12, 2012, 10:58 AM EDT STEVENSTAIR: I was in London, Manchester, and Edinburgh, and the economy is in the toilet.Yout unemployment (16-25 years old) is at an all time record high. And the U.K. has officialy entered a second recession. Not only that the locals are not happy with the Irish and others coming over looking for scarce jobs. And more thsn a few of those Irish are hanging around doing nothing but drinking. The Irish community Manchester for example is not crazy about this latest batch that are crossing over. They have a real bad attitude.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> NOT TRUE AT ALL AT ALL ... I THINK THE ONLY ONE WITH A 'BAD' ATTITUDE AROUND HERE IS YOU !!! ;-) HOW DO U FEEL ABOUT THAT COMMENT ? NO DOUBT YOU'LL LEAVE A BICHY COMMENT BACK AT ME AGAIN AS ALWAYS
ciaradexy | May 13, 2012, 10:50 AM EDT
helen, this article is about J1 students visiting to work there for a summer. i dont know anyone under the age of 60 who hasnt visited the US. We are a well travelled nation and we are not naive.
Helen Ferone | May 13, 2012, 10:14 AM EDT
Stay home in Ireland and appreciate what you've got. People are under the impression the US is a bed of roses, and will be sorely disappointed once they get here. New York City is expensive to live in, and pretty soon all the glitz and glamor gets boring. The Irish people are warm and caring, and would willingly help you if you needed it, but not so in the US and with good reason not to trust. If you want a long vacation, and try it come on over, but be sure you want to stay before you committ.
ciaradexy | May 12, 2012, 06:18 PM EDT
I worked in Usit Now as a travel consultant and in Spring, selling the J1 and other working abroad visas was our main work.
ciaradexy | May 12, 2012, 06:17 PM EDT
Abhainn, to get the J1 visa you must have insurance. Its pact of the J1 visa package and its compulsory to have. Students can be asked to prove they have insurance when they reach the immigration desk at the airport.
abhainn | May 12, 2012, 03:05 PM EDT
"The average cost of a J-1 visa with flights and insurance included is around $1,300" but you can save unnecessary expense by skipping the cost of insurance. In all my years travelling in many countries, I only insured myself once, on my first bit trip abroad, because my inexperience made me wary. Don't give away your money to some insurance company; keep it for your own use.
ciaradexy | May 12, 2012, 12:19 PM EDT
Ancavker, the US is the biggest exporter of arms in the world! Its responsible for more deaths than any other nation on this planet and you wanna talk about the IMF? How many trillions is the US in debt and where is the money gone? Oh thats right, on illegal wars and invasions of other countries and the imposition of your countries 'values' on everyone else. id take a good hard look at yourself and wonder why youre in this mess. Mary, Ireland isnt a socialist country, it never was! Im still quite glad that sick people here are still treated when they are ill regardless of whether they have insurance or not, is that what you mean by socialist? I have been offered a job in the US but decided against it because I couldnt stand to be surrounded by yanks. Youre ok for a holiday but any more of the self indulgent whining and my ears would bleed.
ancavker | May 12, 2012, 11:02 AM EDT
CIARA: The IMF's largest contributor is the U.S. Countries who utilize the IMF are countries that cannot manage their own financial affairs, like the failed Republic of Ireland. With all of your education and sophisication, you Irish who live in Ireland have made a real mess of the place. And yet you dare to criticize the U.S., and Irish-Americans.
ancavker | May 12, 2012, 10:58 AM EDT
STEVENSTAIR: I was in London, Manchester, and Edinburgh, and the economy is in the toilet.Yout unemployment (16-25 years old) is at an all time record high. And the U.K. has officialy entered a second recession. Not only that the locals are not happy with the Irish and others coming over looking for scarce jobs. And more thsn a few of those Irish are hanging around doing nothing but drinking. The Irish community Manchester for example is not crazy about this latest batch that are crossing over. They have a real bad attitude.
STEVENSTAR | May 12, 2012, 10:18 AM EDT
@@@@@@@@@@@@SarahinLA | May 12, 2012, 07:52 AM EDT Ciara should do a little research before spouting tripe out of her Irish behind. Who is the biggest funder of the IMF?..............LETS SEE... IS THE ANSWER DISNEYLAND ???
SarahinLA | May 12, 2012, 09:12 AM EDT
Yet another example of an Irish based poster talking thru their backside. Stevenstar, the UK officially went into wht's termed a double dip reccession about two weeks ago. The unemployment rate in the US is 8.1%.
SarahinLA | May 12, 2012, 08:45 AM EDT
MeadhbhB, yet another Irish based poster talking out of their behind. The Chinese have huge foreign currency reserves that they need to invest. They choose the safest haven in the world, the US. Yields on 10 year US treasuries are currently 1.82%. If Ireland went to the market at the moment they would have to pay 7.5%. Irish people have this tendency to talk out of their ar** about lots of things that they know nothing about. The Chinese are quite happy to invest in the US.
SarahinLA | May 12, 2012, 08:10 AM EDT
Eamon12 asks why I am on an 'Irish site'. Irish parents and living in LA. Some of the Ireland based mutants that post here don't seem to understand that this forum is run by the 'Irish Voice' newspaper in New York and 'Irish America' magazine, for Irish Americans. Certain of the contributions from Irish based posters make me go down on my knees and thank the lord that my parents recognized the 'backwardism' in the homeland and move to the greatest country in the world.
SarahinLA | May 12, 2012, 07:52 AM EDT
Ciara should do a little research before spouting tripe out of her Irish behind. Who is the biggest funder of the IMF?
MeadhbhB | May 11, 2012, 09:01 PM EDT
Sarahin - While you are complaining about Irish people, you seem to forget that American students flock to Ireland. I had the misfortune of making friends with some this University year. Never in my life have I seen people drink like they do. Every single time we went out, they either passed out, got kicked out of a club because they were so drunk or didn't get in in the first place. They used to bring stragglers back to the apartments. They couldn't handle themselves at all, I felt like a babysitter. It was horrible. And to MaryM, you are so in debt to China, they practically own you and Ireland isn't socialist. There isn't even one country in Europe that is socialist.
MaryM232 | May 11, 2012, 08:32 PM EDT
Hey ciaradexy, the IMF money bailing out slugabed Ireland, comes from US taxpayers. The reason there aren't more jobs in Ireland, is because your socialist clap trap destroys economies. You insult the US, but want to come work here? And you wonder why even US citizens of Irish ancestry hate slags like you, and want nothing to do with the illegal Irish and their slatternly mindset.
ciaradexy | May 11, 2012, 03:29 PM EDT
Ancavker, the work is there. Quite a few of my mates moved to the Uk over the past couple of years and they all got work. They all have great qualification and most were snapped up within a couple of weeks.
STEVENSTAR | May 11, 2012, 01:58 PM EDT
@@@ancavker | May 11, 2012, 10:03 AM EDT STEVENSTAR: Just back from a trip to the U.K., and the economy is terrible there. I do not know why they are still coming for work, it is simply not there.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> JUST BACK FROM LONDON MYSELF TOO WHERE DID YOU GO WHAT DID YOU DO ? THE UK ECONOMY IS BETTER THEN THE AMERICAN ONE AT THE MOMENT AND ALOT BETTER THEN THE IRISH ECONOMY WE HAVE 14% UNEMPLOYMENT IN IRELAND THE UK HAS I THINK 8.3% AND I THINK AMERICA IS 8.5% UNEMPLOYMENT .. PLUS THE EXPENSIVE FLIGHTS FLYING TO AMERICA WHEN YOU CAN GET A CHEAP 20EURO RYAN AIR FLIGHT TO THE UK .. UK WINS OVER AMERICA ANY DAY , FOR ME ANYWAYS AND BY THE LOOKS OF IT ALOT OF OTHER IRISH ALSO ..
ciaradexy | May 11, 2012, 01:52 PM EDT
SarahinLA, the reason the IMF arent in the US is because youre in so much debt that theres absolutely no hope for you!
ciaradexy | May 11, 2012, 11:54 AM EDT
Irish students have always managed to find jobs when they travel on the j1. I have yet to meet one who couldnt find work.
Searlit | May 11, 2012, 11:32 AM EDT
"Now Junior, behave yourself." >.<
ancavker | May 11, 2012, 10:06 AM EDT
I hope they behave themselves in Woodlawn and Yonkers there were more than a few of the crowd that came out in the 1980's who were out of control. I won't rent to them, and they are my own people. And they need to understand that in the U.S. the weekend is the weekend. Tuesday night etc, is not the weekend. Oh and they should leave their anti- Americanism at home too, it is tiresome.
Eamonn12 | May 11, 2012, 10:04 AM EDT
Sarahin LA...Just curious, why are you on an Irish site. Nothing going on in LA?
ancavker | May 11, 2012, 10:03 AM EDT
STEVENSTAR: Just back from a trip to the U.K., and the economy is terrible there. I do not know why they are still coming for work, it is simply not there.
SarahinLA | May 11, 2012, 08:13 AM EDT
Bythebay, before you 'slag off' our debt levels in the US, consider Ireland's position. The IMF go to countries where they deem the people too dumb to manage their own affairs. The IMF are in Dublin, they are not managing the financial affairs of the United States.
SarahinLA | May 11, 2012, 07:44 AM EDT
I hope they are better behaved than the Irish people that are causing so many problems in Australia. We had a situation in San Diego a few years ago with young Irish people behaving like wild animals. They seem to think that the behavior that is tolerated in Ireland will be accepted in the civilized world. I recall my father making reference to the 'wild Irishmen that swingeth from tree to tree'. These young people certainly are doing little to dispel this image. I won't be renting my property to them until they learn respect.
Bythebay | May 10, 2012, 07:07 PM EDT
STEVENSTAR, you're exactly right. And the JP Morgan -Chase bank in the US just announced a $2 billion loss, not much to go there for on top of their $15 trillion national debt.
STEVENSTAR | May 10, 2012, 06:43 PM EDT
FLOCKING TO AMERICAN !! I DONT THINK SO .... MOST PEOPLE FROM IRELAND EITHER GOTO THE UK ENGLAND, AUSTRALIA OR CANADA THESE DAYS ...
Bythebay | May 10, 2012, 05:43 PM EDT
With a climbing national debt over $15 trillion, the US long ago stopped being the "land of milk and honey"!
Bythebay | May 10, 2012, 05:26 PM EDT
This article is based on Ms. Muldoon speaking to one student in Limerick, not a viable basis for her assumptions and not a good reflection of the publication standards of the Irish Voice either.
FastEddy | May 10, 2012, 03:53 PM EDT
Looking for work ... and student loans, I'm guessing. USA = land of milk and honey for students. Just don't expect a job with a masters in musicology.
Searlit | May 10, 2012, 02:10 PM EDT
Stop foul-mouthing the Irish! I'm tired of it!
GeorgeDillon | May 10, 2012, 12:45 PM EDT
Let's hope they know how to behave like human beings. I've been reading the stories from Australia about how the locals have learned to hate the drunken foul-mouthed Irish migrants in their midst.