New Zealand and Australia Twelve-Month Student Work and Travel Pilot Programs
On September 10, 2007 the United States and New Zealand signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) initiating a 12-month student work and travel pilot program. This MOU, allows American and New Zealand citizens who are bona fide post-secondary students or recent graduates from postsecondary accredited schools to work and travel in the United States or in New Zealand for up to twelve months.
A similar 12-month student work and travel pilot program Agreement with Australia was signed on September 4, 2007. That agreement went into effect on October 31, 2007.
Eligibility criteria for participants are noted below.
Be a citizen of New Zealand.
Be a bona fide post-secondary student or recent graduate. To be considered a bona fide post-secondary student, the potential participant must have completed his/her freshman year. A recent graduate is defined as a New Zealand citizen who has graduated from a post-secondary college/university in their home country within the last 12 months. The applicant must provide evidence of student status.
Vocational students pursuing studies at a tertiary level accredited educational institution are eligible for participation.
Provide proof of sufficient financial resources, prior to coming to the United States, to support themselves during a search for employment or between breaks in employment.
For New Zealand citizens coming to the United States, these pilot programs will operate under the current Exchange Visitor Program Summer Work Travel regulations and in accordance with the guidelines provided to each designated sponsor. More information on sponsor organisations can be found on the State Department's Exchange Visitor Program website (pilot program release - pdf).
The pilot program concludes two years after becoming effective.
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