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SUMMER W&T USA

CULTURAL EXCHANGE PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS

WHAT MAKES US SPECIAL

If a student does not get the visa we keep 0$!

The program price includes health insurance for the fifth month

Payment is possible in five installments, the last one you pay after getting the visa

Possibility to attend the world recognized course in catering SERVSAFE (www.servsafe.com)

Free English language course with native speaker!

Job fairs and live interviews with employers!

Over 100 authentic student experience videos!

What is Work and Travel program?

“Summer Work and Travel USA” program is a cultural exchange program exclusively for students. The program has been approved and supported by the American government and it enables students to work in the USA during the summer break within a period of 4 months and after that, if they want, to use the fifth month for traveling. The aim of the program is to gain great experience, improve English language, meet the culture, customs and lifestyle, as well as, to get new friends.

What do we offer?

Summer Work and Travel Program is a complex program. Therefore, it is important that you have safety and all the program segments organized.

1. Safe job – interviews with the employers 2. Meeting the representative of the sponsor companies in the USA authorized by the State Department before departure to the USA. 3. Transport to the location of the employer or accommodation 4. Organization and help with getting SSN number in the USA which you cannot work without 5. Continuous support during your stay in the USA

See the necessary documentation

JOB LOCATIONS

See the full offer of jobs across the USA

For more student experiences visit

WORK AND TRAVEL GROUP APP

Find fellow travelers!

START YOUR ADVENTURE TODAY

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Work & Travel in the US

The programme falls under the exchange visitor programme which allows students to work legally for a period of up to four months –May to September each year.

Job Assisted Most Popular

We will help you find a job that matches your skills and interest in any state of your choice. A list of available jobs will be provided in the Jobs tab that you can select from, after registering and paying off the program fee.

Self Placement

For students arranging their own job in the USA. You must submit a written offer of employment with your completed application, and this job would then be approved by our sponsors.

Where to work?

Our Work and Travel (WAT ) USA Programme offers positions in most of the fifty states in the United States to work in temporay jobs for the duration of the programme. Apply for a job you like in a state you’ve always wanted to visit!

Why Choose Us?

Payment Plans

Pay 50% of the programme fee and access the job listing.

Insurance Coverage

Insurance coverage for the duration of the programme.

Job & Housing Assistance

Full assistance with housing and job arrangements.

How It Works

Register here on our website, pay programme fee deposit then submit your application with the required documents.

Apply to the U.S Embassy

Attend your appointment at the U.S Embassy for your visa interview.

Select Your Job & Housing

Browse the job & housing lists and make your selection. You must do a job interview.

Travel & Work

Book your flight to your U.S residence/job for the summer. Here the fun begins.

Jobs are waiting

Work & Travel USA

• Program Overview
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The program is designed so that overseas students can become more than tourists, experiencing life in the U.S. first-hand by working alongside U.S. citizens in temporary employment. Not only does this unique opportunity allow for a genuine “U.S. experience,” it helps cover travel expenses!

For a time, the program was offered only in European and Central/South American countries and was introduced in Asia only in the 1990s to countries such as Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand. In Singapore, it officially took root in November 2000 and the program is available now in Malaysia, Australia, and Indonesia as well. A pioneer group of 30 students from Singapore embarked on this adventure in May 2001 through Speedwing and hundreds of other countries' students have participated in this program each year ever since.

Students on the program are employed in summer jobs in famous locations like amusement parks Cedar Point and Six Flags and national parks Yellowstone and Grand Canyon. Upon fulfilling their work agreement, they get to travel around the USA within a stipulated period as part of the program. In this way, they have in many seasons of the program formed meaningful friendships with people from many countries, acquired overseas work experience, and simply gained great memories.

This program is not for students to gain practical training, apply classroom knowledge, complete compulsory work attachment/internship programs unless otherwise stated by their institutions, or seek permanent work opportunities or long-term career in the USA. At the end of the program, all students must return to the country in which they are studying.

• Minimum employment period is 2 to 3 months. Maximum is 4 months.
• Duration of stay in the USA can be up to 5 months (maximum 4 months of employment followed by an optional maximum 30 days of travel within the US).
• Legal work document and visa are generally issued for only the work duration agreed between each participant and the employer. Participants cannot extend work duration when they are already in the USA.
• Participants who are required to return to school can only remain in the USA on the program until the last day of their school vacation and must return in time to start the new semester.
• be at least 18 and not more than 30 years of age
• be a full-time tertiary student in your local university with official semester break OR a final year, final semester student graduating from a full-time course
• Undergo an interview with secure job offer before you can be accepted on the program

Summer Intake

This program is offered in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

In Singapore, Speedwing usually commences recruitment in August/September and organizes a recruitment roadshow in October/November for the program in the following summer.

From 2013 onward, Singapore participants who embark on the Summer Work & Travel USA will have to follow the set date given. No employment can start earlier or end later than this range: May 01 – August 31 (not May 15, effective 2016).

For Malaysia and Indonesia, applications usually commence in October/November with the recruitment roadshow in January/February for the program in the following summer. Participating employers will interview interested candidates at recruitment roadshows (Singapore and Malaysia mostly) or online hiring via SKYPE or Zoom.

From 2013 onward, Malaysia participants who embark on the Summer Work & Travel USA will have to follow the set date given. No employment can start earlier or end later than this range: May 25 – September 15 (not May 15, effective 2016)

Winter Intake This program applies to Malaysia and Australia.

The winter recruitment begins in June/July for one to depart in November/December the same year.

From 2013 onward, Malaysia participants who embark on the Winter Work & Travel USA will have to follow the set date given. No employment can start earlier or end later than this range: November 25 – March 15 (not November 15, effective 2016).

Click here to find out the set dates given by the US Department of State for each country.

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Summer Work Travel

College and University students enrolled full time and pursuing studies at post-secondary accredited academic institutions located outside the United States come to the United States to share their culture and ideas with people of the United States through temporary work and travel opportunities.

Participants

Ambassadors fund for summer work travel experience.

Bulgarian students Valeri Konicheva and Hristina Nikolova share their experience of living and working in the U.S. with Deputy Assistant Secretary Nicole Elkon.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Educational & Cultural Affairs (@exchangeourworld)

Summer Work Travel Students must be:

• Sufficiently proficient in English to successfully interact in an English speaking environment;
• Post-secondary school students enrolled in and actively pursuing a degree or other full-time course of study at an accredited classroom based, post-secondary educational institution outside the United States;
• Have successfully completed at least one semester or equivalent of post-secondary academic study; and
• Pre-placed in a job prior to entry unless from a visa waiver country.

The Summer Work Travel program provides foreign students with an opportunity to live and work in the United States during their summer vacation from college or university to experience and to be exposed to the people and way of life in the United States.

More information

Summer work travel 2024 season program dates by country, summer work travel community support groups.

Find SWT community support groups near you

Map of Summer Work Travel Participants

View the number and locations of Summer Work Travel participants across the U.S.

Readmittance, Program Length, and Returning Home

• Readmittance: Participants can be admitted to the program more than once;
• Program Length: The maximum length of the program is four months; and
• Returning Home: Students must return to their home country prior to the start date of their university or college.

Program Exclusions

Sponsors must not place participants:

• In positions that could bring notoriety or disrepute to the Exchange Visitor Program;
• In sales positions that require participants to purchase inventory that they must sell in order to support themselves;
• In domestic help positions in private homes (e.g., child care, elder care, gardener, chauffeur);
• As pedicab or rolling chair drivers or operators;
• As operators or drivers of vehicles or vessels for which drivers’ licenses are required regardless of whether they carry passengers or not;
• In positions related to clinical care that involves patient contact;
• In any position in the adult entertainment industry (including, but not limited to jobs with escort services, adult book/video stores, and strip clubs);
• In positions requiring work hours that fall predominantly between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am;
• In positions declared hazardous to youth by the Secretary of Labor at Subpart E of 29 CFR part 570;
• In positions that require sustained physical contact with other people and/or adherence to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Universal Blood and Body Fluid Precautions guidelines (e.g., body piercing, tattooing, massage, manicure);
• In positions that are substantially commission-based and thus do not guarantee that participants will be paid minimum wage in accordance with federal and state standards;
• In positions involved in gaming and gambling that include direct participation in wagering and/or betting;
• In positions in chemical pest control, warehousing, catalogue/online order distribution centers;
• In positions with traveling fairs or itinerant concessionaires;
• In jobs that do not allow participants to work alongside U.S. citizens and interact regularly with U.S. citizens and to experience U.S. culture during the workday portion of their Summer Work Travel programs;
• With employers that fill non-seasonal or non-temporary job openings with exchange visitors with staggered vacation schedules;
• In positions that require licensing;
• In positions for which there is another specific J visa category (e.g., Camp Counselor, Trainee, Intern);
• Participants must be employees of and paid by the staffing agencies
• Staffing agencies must provide full-time, primary, on-site supervision of the participants
• Staffing agencies must effectively control the work sites, e.g., have hands-on management responsibility for the participants
• After November 1, 2012, in positions in the North American Industry Classification System’s (NAICS) Goods-Producing Industries occupational categories industry sectors 11, 21, 23, 31-33 numbers (set forth at http://www.bls.gov/iag/tgs/iag_index_naics.htm ).

Sponsors must also:

• Use extra caution when placing students in positions at employers in lines of business that are frequently associated with trafficking persons (e.g., modeling agencies, housekeeping, janitorial services);
• Consider the availability of suitable, affordable housing (e.g., that meets local codes and ordinances) and reliable, affordable, and convenient transportation to and from work when making job placements;
• Actively and immediately assist participants with arranging appropriate housing and transportation, if employers do not provide or arrange housing and/or transportation, or if participants decline employer-provided housing or transportation;
• The number of job placements available with host employers
• That host employers will not displace domestic U.S. workers at worksites where they will place program participants
• That host employers have not experienced layoffs in the past 120 days and do not have workers on lockout or on strike

Sponsors may place participants only in jobs that:

• Are seasonal or temporary;
• Provide opportunities for regular communication and interaction with U.S. citizens and allow participants to experience U.S. culture.

Report Abuse or Exploitation

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Summer Work Travel Resources

Events SWT Participant Map Community Support Groups Strengthening and Reforming the SWT Program SWT Monitoring Report

Program Sponsors

Sponsors are required to:.

• A copy of the Department of State Summer Work Travel Program Brochure;
• The Department of State’s toll-free emergency hotline telephone number;
• The sponsor’s 24/7 immediate contact telephone number;
• Information advising participants of their obligation to notify their sponsor when they arrive in the United States and to provide information of any change in jobs or residence; and
• Information concerning any contractual obligations related to participants’ acceptance of paid employment in the United States, if pre-arranged.
• Ensure that participants entering the United States without prearranged employment have sufficient financial resources to support themselves during their search for employment;
• Provide such participants with information on how to seek employment and secure lodging in the United States before they depart their home countries; and
• Provide participants with a job directory that includes at least as many job listings as the number of participants in their program who are entering the United States without prearranged employment.
• Sponsors must undertake reasonable efforts to secure suitable employment for participants unable to find jobs on their own after one week;
• Sponsors must inform program participants of Federal Minimum Wage requirements and ensure that, at a minimum, participants are compensated at the prevailing local wage, which must meet the higher of either the applicable state or the Federal minimum wage requirement, including payment for overtime in accordance with state-specific employment; and
• Sponsors must maintain, at a minimum, a monthly schedule of personal contact with the program participants (in-person, by telephone or via-electronic mail), document such contact, and ensure that issues affecting the health, safety and welfare of participants are addressed immediately.

2024 Program Date Chart

2024 Program Date Chart (PDF)

• Summer Work Travel 2024 Season Program Dates by Country (PDF)

Note on the Administration’s 1/20/17 Memorandum

The Exchange Visitor Program – Summer Work Travel Notice of Proposed Rule Making is not affected by the Administration’s January 20, 2017, memorandum to agencies. As noted in the NPRM, the Department of State will accept comments on this proposed rule until February 27, 2017.

Host employers are required to:

• Provide participants the number of hours of paid employment per week as identified on the job offer and agreed to when the sponsor vetted the jobs;
• Pay those participants eligible for overtime worked in accordance with applicable state or federal law;
• Notify sponsors promptly when participants arrive at the work site and begins their programs; when there are any changes or deviations in the job placements during the participants’ programs; when participants are not meeting the requirements of job placements; or when participants leave their position ahead of their planned departure; and
• Contact sponsors immediately in the event of any emergency involving participants or any situation that impacts the health, safety or welfare of participants.

“As an employer of international kids, keep your door open and be proactive in solving their issues.” 

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• Work & Travel USA

Exploring the U.S.

Travel after the program.

One of the great things about CIEE Work & Travel USA is the option to explore this amazing country on your own. Go anywhere you like – the only limits are your imagination, your budget, and the date by which you need to return home. Remember that if you want to take a short trip while still at your job, you will need to ask your employer for time off.

The program allows you to travel for up to 30 days. You will need to plan your travel dates before coming to the United States to make sure you have insurance coverage. You may not change these dates after you arrive. You must also be back in time for the start of the school year.

Traveling Before Your Job Ends You may also have the opportunity to travel while still at your job. You are expected to work for the entire length of your employment agreement. However, when you have approved time off from work, you should take advantage of it to travel and learn more about American culture.

Taking a few days off is the perfect way to see and experience some of what you’ll find in the monthly Culture Guides we send you, or the Top 10 Things to Do. Be sure to talk with your manager in advance about the possibility of taking time off.

Traveling Outside the United States

You can take a trip outside the United States during the program, but CIEE must approve it. There are important rules that you must follow.

Timing You may only travel outside the United States during the work dates in Box 3 of your DS-2019 and for no longer than 30 consecutive days.

Authorization You must be authorized to enter the United States on more than one occasion. The number of times you are allowed to enter the United States is indicated on your J-1 Visa under the section “entries.” You can have multiple entries if the letter “M” appears in this section; if it does not, you are only allowed to enter the United States the specific number of times indicated (usually one or two).

Notify CIEE by phone or email two weeks before any trip outside the United States to ensure you get your DS-2019 signed and returned.

Paperwork If you travel outside the United States, you must have your original DS-2019 signed for travel by CIEE and receive a Good Standing Letter. Send your DS-2019 and a note that explains your travel plans in an envelope to CIEE. Include a prepaid return envelope (from CIEE to your U.S. mailing address), and we will return it to you. Make sure to use a mail service that provides a tracking reference number for your package, like USPS or FedEx. Do not send money in the mail. For detailed instructions on how to obtain proper travel validation from CIEE, please call 1-888-268-6245 or email us at  [email protected] .

Do not travel without your signed DS-2019 form. Doing so will cause delays of 30 to 90 days before you may re-enter the country, while the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) processes your paperwork.

If you have multiple trips outside of the United States planned, please contact CIEE before sending in your DS-2019 form. Depending on your travel dates, you may not need to have your documents signed.

Insurance Coverage Travel to Mexico, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas) is covered by CIEE insurance. Travel anywhere else outside the United States is not covered by CIEE insurance.

J-1 Visa Your J-1 Visa must be valid and the dates on your DS-2019 must be current when re-entering the United States. You will not be allowed back into the United States with an expired DS-2019, even for connecting flights. It is your responsibility to make sure that you meet the re-entry requirements.

Depending on your home country, you may be required to have a visa for the country you are traveling to. Be sure to check with your embassy before you travel anywhere outside the United States.

Travel Tips & Resources

Your safety is very important to us. When you travel during your CIEE Work & Travel USA program, keep these tips in mind to make sure you travel smart.

- Travel with friends whenever possible. - Plan ahead. Research hotels, hostels, and transportation if you are traveling for more than one day. - Always tell friends and coworkers where you are going and when you will be back. - Make sure you have contact information for friends and employers, and give them your phone number as well. - Take your CIEE Work & Travel USA ID card with you, along with your important documents. - Protect your personal property by keeping it in a safe place; if there are safes where you are staying, lock up your valuables and important documents. - Never hitchhike! It is illegal in many states.

Travel Guides CIEE Work & Travel USA will email you some useful travel guides, including the regional Top 10 Things to Do and our monthly Culture Guide USA. Also, there are many useful websites with information about many American destinations. Many of them also offer guidebooks. Here are a few:

Budgettravel.com Letsgo.com Fodors.com Frommers.com Lonelyplanet.com Notfortourists.com Roughguides.com Tripadvisor.com Virtualtourist.com

Individual cities and states also have helpful tourism websites.

Lodging & Transportation Visit the  Housing  and  Transportation  pages for useful tips and links to find great, inexpensive places to stay, along with the best way to travel around the United States.

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How to travel and work in the USA

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Many of you are asking me how to visit and work in the USA legally, and here I have the answer!

If you are a young person (under 30) and you are studying in a college or some professional school, you have the right to apply for J1 Visa and travel to America to live and work there for a few months! Check if your country is eligible for the program and the dates you are allowed to visit:

https://j1visa.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/2020-Program-Date-Chart-Dec-Final.pdf

The United States Government has created the Summer Work and Travel Program  to allow young foreigners the opportunity to experience the way of life in the USA during their summer vacations.

The best thing about this program is that you have the right to apply every summer and work for four months every year during your education.

Requirements for the students who apply for the Summer Work and Travel Program:

• Sufficiently proficient in English to successfully interact in an English speaking environment;
• Post-secondary school students enrolled in and actively pursuing a degree or other full-time course of study at an accredited classroom-based, post-secondary educational institution outside the United States;
• Have completed at least one semester or equivalent of post-secondary academic study.
• Pre-placed in a job before entry unless from a visa waiver country.

You will find a step by step tutorial on how to apply for a J1 Visa and how to visit and work in the USA:

https://app.box.com/s/uk1jn6kbcza66yinapngm05i69d8lc3q

The Summer Work and Travel program is just one small part of the Exchange Visitor Program in the USA . Here you will find all eligibility requirements and if you fit one of them to apply for work in the USA.

https://j1visa.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Exchange-Visitor-Program-Category-Requirements.pdf

All the opportunities through the Exchange Visitors Program are for temporary employment. They vary from a few weeks up to 7 years! For people employed in the Hospitality Industry as waiters, you will have an opportunity to work in the USA for up to a year.

After you have chosen that you want to participate in the Summer Work and Travel program, the first thing you have to do is find a Sponsor! 

Program sponsors are responsible for selecting participants for the Exchange Visitor Program, as well as supporting and monitoring them during their entire program stay. Participants should contact the sponsors directly to find out more about a specific program and application requirements. Here you will find a list of designated Sponsors for the Summer Work and Travel program:

https://j1visa.state.gov/participants/how-to-apply/sponsor-search/?program=Summer%20Work%20Travel

As a waiter or waitress and a person who works in the Hospitality Industry, you could choose the American Hospitality Academy as a sponsor and let them guide you through the rest of the process:

https://www.americanhospitalityacademy.com/

On the link above, you will find all the information you need to start the process of obtaining a J1 Visa and flying to America for an exciting summer job.

You have many other options for sponsors , and you should know that Sponsors charge fees, so you have to do a research and find the one that fits your interests and your budget best.

My personal opinion is that everyone should try to work in the USA for one summer! The experience will enrich you, and there is no better place to learn the Hospitality business than the USA.

For most countries, the participants will have to find a job prior to getting the J1 Visa and entering the United States . Your Sponsor will help you find an Employer and sign a contract for a job you qualify. Make sure you put the effort and the time into finding the right job!

It is not enough to fly and work in the USA for a few months! You have to enjoy it; you have to learn a lot and be able to make some money too!

Do not expect that you will make a lot of money during those few months in America! The program is created to allow people to travel in the country, make new friends, and learn the American people first hand. It is not created to make people rich! Still, you should be able to earn and save some money.

Working in a Five stars hotel in the United States will do you tons of good  in your future job searches. Have experience in America counts a lot! And you should be able to land a top job in your country or some other foreign country! If you have worked for an international company like Hilton and you have done an excellent job, they would love to keep you in the company and offer you a job in another country where you have a permit to work, or in your own country! 

During your work in the USA, try to show leadership skills and passion for Hospitality! That will help you get a promotion within the company as soon as you are relocated to your country or some other country!

We will share similar programs from every country in the world on the  Waiters Network  and help you travel and work in many different regions.

Make sure you have created your profile on the Network so hotels and restaurants from every corner of the World could search for you and offer you a job directly! 

Register  today, and don't miss the next great article on our Blog.

If you are a new waiter/waitress or you feel like learning and getting another certificate to improve your chances of landing a top job, sign up for our  Free Online Waiter Training Course . 

You have to understand that there are many waiter jobs out there that will allow you to live a life and there are many waiter jobs that will let you live like a star! Those jobs are hard to get, but you could do it! You have to learn, you have to work hard, and you have to hustle! We are here to help you all through your career in the Hospitality!

The Waiter's Academy  has helped tens of thousands of waiters  improve their skills and knowledge, get better jobs, and live better lives. We do everything for free! 

The Waiters Network is a new service that connects the companies directly with the top talent in the World and lets them hire people quickly and free of charge on the spot in a matter of minutes! Make sure you ave your profile filled out. Your next job could find you while you sleep.

No matter where you work and what kind of job you do , you can be successful only if you put your mind and heart into your job and give it your best effort! This is how success is built, this is how a character is built, and this is how the good life is achieved!

Can you do that? 

Let me know in the comments below what are your dreams and goals as a waiter! Where do you want to work and which other countries should we research next. 

• Hotel jobs near me
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• Work & Travel USA

The Experience

Good Jobs. Great Experiences.

So Much More Than a Job

International students.

Look forward to the experience of a lifetime! CIEE Work & Travel USA gives you a chance to live in America, immerse yourself in its culture, venture out and explore, earn money, and add work experience to your resume. It is a journey you will never forget.

A Trip to Remember Forever

There’s no doubt: this is a terrific way to spend a university break. Students who come to the United States with CIEE Work & Travel USA learn a lot – about America, about working with others, and about themselves. It’s all thanks to CIEE’s focus on cultural exchange and support. Time after time, our students tell us how we’ve helped them gain independence, maturity, and life skills that prepare them for the future. And along the way, they’ve had a great time!

When embarking on a CIEE Work & Travel USA program, students take responsibility for themselves, work, and share experiences with people across America. The employers with whom CIEE works are proud to be part of that discovery, giving our participants a head start in life.

Employee Reviews

I’d always lived with my parents, and it was my first time moving somewhere far away. I was paying rent, getting food – doing everything by myself. It really helped me to be a responsible person and become who I am.

Katya P., Russia

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Situation in Haiti April 5, 2024

U.s. citizens in haiti, update january 10, 2024, information for u.s. citizens in the middle east.

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Temporary Worker Visas

Visas for Members of the Foreign Media, Press, and Radio

Treaty Trader & Treaty Investor and Australians in Specialty Occupations

Visas for Canadian and Mexican USMCA Professional Workers

Domestic Renewal of H-1B Nonimmigrant Visas for Certain Applicants

A citizen of a foreign country who wishes to work in the United States must first get the right visa.  If the employment is for a fixed period, the applicant can apply for a temporary employment visa.  There are 11 temporary worker visa categories.  Most applicants for temporary worker visas must have an approved petition.  The prospective employer must file the petition on behalf of the applicant.  U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reviews the petition. 

Temporary worker visa categories

Labor certification.

Certain visa categories need an approved labor certification. First, the prospective employer must apply for the labor certification with the Department of Labor .  Then, the prospective employer can file the Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, Form I-129, with USCIS.  Please refer to the Instructions for Form I-129   on the USCIS website to confirm if you need  the labor certification.

Petition Approval

Some temporary worker categories are limited in the total number of petitions which can be approved on a yearly basis. Before an applicant can apply for a temporary worker visa, USCIS must first approve the Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, Form I-129 .    For more information about the petition process, see Working in the U.S. and Temporary (Nonimmigrant) Workers on the USCIS website.  Once USCIS approves the petition, it will send the prospective employer a Notice of Action, Form I-797. 

Important Notice: Same-sex Marriage

Effective immediately, U.S. Embassies and Consulates will adjudicate visa applications that are based on a same-sex marriage in the same way that we adjudicate applications for opposite gender spouses. Please reference the specific guidance on the visa category for which you are applying for more details on documentation required for derivative spouses. For further information, please see our  FAQ’s .

How to Apply

You may apply for a visa when USCIS has approved your petition. There are several steps in the visa application process. The order of these steps and how you complete them may vary at the U.S. embassy or consulate where you apply. Please visit the embassy or consulate website for instructions on how to apply.

Complete The Online Visa ApplicationComplete The Online Visa Application

• Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160 – Learn more about completing the DS-160 . You must: 1) complete the online visa application and 2) print the application form confirmation page to bring to your interview.
• Photo –You will upload your photo while completing the online Form DS-160. Your photo must be in the format explained in the Photograph Requirements .

Schedule an Interview

Applpicants of a certain age may not need to have an interview. Consular officers have the discretion to  interview any applicant, regardless of age.

You must schedule an appointment for your visa interview at any U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you live.  However, it may be difficult to qualify for a visa outside of your place of permanent residence.

Wait times for interview appointments vary by location, season, and visa category.  You should apply for your visa early.  Review the interview wait time for the location where you will apply:

Appointment Wait Time

Check the estimated wait time for a nonimmigrant visa interview appointment as a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. 

Note: Please check the individual Embassy or Consulate website to determine if your case is eligible for a waiver of the in-person interview.

Applicants scheduling visa appointments in a location different from their place of residence should check post websites for nonresident wait times.

Select a U.S. Embassy or Consulate:

You will need to provide the receipt number to schedule an interview.  The receipt number is printed on your approved Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, Form I-129, or Notice of Action, Form I-797.

Prepare for your Interview

• Fees - Pay the non-refundable visa application fee , if you are required to pay it before your interview. When your visa is approved, you may also pay a visa issuance fee, if applicable to your nationality. Fee information is provided below:

Select your nationality to see Issuance Fee

Reciprocity Fees

Nonimmigrant visa applicants from certain countries*/areas of authority may be required to pay a visa issuance fee after their application is approved. These fees are based on the principle of reciprocity:  when a foreign government imposes fees on U.S. citizens for certain types of visas, the United States will impose a reciprocal fee on citizens of that country*/area of authority for similar types of visas. 

Check the Reciprocity Fees

• Fee payment information is available on the website of the embassy or consulate where you will apply.
• L visa applicants included in a L blanket petition : must also pay the Fraud Prevention and Detection fee and may need to pay the Border Security Act fee. Select  All Fees  to learn more.

Gather Required Documentation

Gather and prepare the following required documents before your visa interview:

• Passport  valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States (unless exempt by country-specific agreements ).  Each person included in a single passport needs a separate visa application.
• Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160 confirmation page .
• Application fee payment receipt, if you are required to pay before your interview.
• Photo – You will upload your photo while completing the online Form DS-160. If the photo upload fails, you must bring one printed photo in the format explained in the Photograph Requirements . 
• Petition Receipt Number as it appears on your Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, Form I-129, or Notice of Action, Form I-797.
• L Visa Applicants  included in an L blanket petition, must bring Form I-129S to the interview.

Legal Rights and Protections

H-1B, H-2A, and H-2B visa applicants should read the Legal Rights and Protections pamphlet before applying for a visa.  The pamphlet includes information on your rights in the United States and protection available to you.

Additional Documentation May Be Required

Review the instructions on how to apply for a visa on the website of the embassy or consulate where you will apply. Additional documents may be requested to establish if you are qualified.  

Most visa applicants, except H-1B and L, need to show their intent to return to their home country after their temporary stay in the United States. They can do so by showing proof of compelling ties to the home country, which may include:

• A residence abroad which you do not intend to abandon
• Your family relationships
• Your economic situation
• Your long term plans

Attend your Visa Interview

During the visa interview, a consular officer will determine if you are eligible for the visa.  The consular officer will also determine if the visa category is appropriate for your purpose of travel. You will need to establish that you meet the requirements under U.S. law to receive the category of visa for which you are applying.

Ink-free, digital fingerprint scans will be taken as part of your application process. They are usually taken during your interview, but this varies based on location.

After your visa interview, your application may need further administrative processing . A consular officer will inform you if further processing is necessary for your application.

Depending on your nationality, you may need to pay a visa issuance fee.  You must pay this fee when the visa is approved.  The embassy will explain how your passport with visa will be returned to you.  Review the visa processing time , to learn how soon your passport with visa will generally be ready for pick-up or delivery by the courier.

Entering the United States

A visa allows a foreign citizen to travel to a U.S. port-of-entry (generally an airport).  A visa also allows you to request permission to enter the United States.  A visa does not guarantee entry into the United States.  U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials at the port-of-entry have authority to permit or deny admission to the United States.  When admitted, you may get an admission stamp or  Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record. Review the CBP website to learn more about entry requirements and customs restrictions.

Extending Your Stay

You must leave the United States on or before the date indicated on your admission stamp or Form I-94.  You can request to extend your stay by contacting USCIS.  Visit USCIS's Extend Your Stay website for more information.

Failure to leave the United States on time will result in you being out of status . Under U.S. law, visas of travelers who are out of status are automatically voided ( Section 222(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ). If you had a multiple-entry visa and it was voided due to you being out of status, it will not be valid for future entries into the United States.

Failure to leave the United States on time may also result in you being ineligible for visas you may apply for in the future. Review Visa Denials and Ineligibilities and Waivers: Laws to learn more.

Change of Status

While in the United States, you may be able to request a change to another nonimmigrant category.  See Change My Nonimmigrant Status on the USCIS website to learn more.

Requesting a change of status does not require that you apply for a new visa, as long as you remain in status. If you cannot remain in status while USCIS processes your change of status request, you must apply for a visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate.

Additional Information

• The approval of a petition does not guarantee that you will get a visa. Do not make final travel plans or buy tickets until you have a visa.
• Spouse and Children –
• Your spouse and unmarried, minor children may also apply for the same visa category as you to accompany or join you.  The only exception is for Cultural Exchange Visitor Q-1 visa applicants.  You must be able to show that you will be able to financially support your family in the United States.
• For more information, visit USCIS’s Temporary Workers information and Employment Authorization website.
• Unless canceled or revoked, a visa is valid until its expiration date.  Therefore, a valid U.S. visa in an expired passport is still valid. If you have a valid visa in your expired passport, do not remove it from your expired passport. You may use your valid visa in your expired passport along with a new valid passport for travel and admission to the United States.

Visa Denial and Ineligibility

Review Visa Denials  for detailed information about visa ineligibilities, denials and waivers.

Visa Renewal

The same visa application process applies for first-time applicants and renewals. Please review How to Apply for more information.  Some applicants may be eligible for interview waiver.  Interview waiver allows eligible individuals to renew their visa without an in-person interview. To determine if you are eligible for interview waiver, please review the instructions on the website of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you will apply.

I was refused a visa under section 214(b). May I reapply?

Yes, if you feel circumstances have changed regarding your application. Review  Visa Denials  to learn more.

Misrepresentation or Fraud

Attempting to obtain a visa by the willful misrepresentation of a material fact, or fraud, may result in the permanent refusal of a visa or denial of entry into the United States. 

Review  Ineligibilities and Waivers: Laws .

Citizen of Canada and Bermuda

Citizens of Canada and Bermuda do not need visas to enter the United States as temporary workers.  These applicants do need a temporary worker petition approved by USCIS. For more information see the  U.S. Embassy Ottawa website , the  U.S. Consulate Hamilton website  and the  CBP website .

Additional resources for Canadian temporary workers to the United States can be found on the U.S. Embassy Ottawa website in Canada.

Further Questions

• Case-Specific Questions  - Contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate handling your visa application for status information. Select  U.S. Embassy or Consulate  for contact information.
• General Questions  - review  Contact Us .

More Information

A-Z Index Legal Rights & Protections Lost/Stolen Travel Documents Denials Temporary Workers-USCIS Fraud Warning Border Security/Safety Visa Expiration Date Automatic Revalidation Nonimmigrants in the United States–Applying for Visas in Canada or Mexico Visa Applicants - State Sponsors of Terrorism Find a U.S. Embassy or Consulate Customer Service Statement

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Working in the United States

Many noncitizens want to come to the United States to work. This page provides a summary of employment-based nonimmigrant and immigrant visa classifications and other categories of noncitizens who are eligible for employment authorization. Each classification provides a link to more detailed information on its requirements.

A common way to work temporarily in the United States as a nonimmigrant is for a prospective employer to file a petition with USCIS on your behalf. The Temporary (Nonimmigrant) Workers webpage describes the main nonimmigrant temporary worker classifications.

If you have the right combination of skills, education, and/or work experience, you may be able to live and work permanently in the United States by seeking an employment-based immigrant visa. The Permanent Workers webpage describes the five employment-based immigrant visa preferences (also called categories).

If you live outside the United States and want to work here, you generally must apply for a visa from the U.S. Department of State (DOS), unless a visa is not required for people from your country of nationality. You may visit DOS’ Travel Without a Visa page for more information.

In many cases, USCIS must approve your petition before you are eligible to apply to DOS for a visa or seek admission at a port of entry. Before entering the United States, you must present yourself to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer and receive permission to enter the United States and engage in your proposed activity.

If you are in the United States in a lawful nonimmigrant status that does not provide employment authorization, you generally may apply for:

• A change of status to a nonimmigrant classification that provides employment authorization; or
• An adjustment of status to become a lawful permanent resident. This may be a concurrent filing with an immigrant visa petition or, depending on the circumstances, may require an applicant to obtain an approved immigrant visa before applying for an adjustment of status to become a lawful permanent resident.

Depending on the classification you seek, your change or adjustment of status application might require a U.S. employer or other qualified requestor to file an application or petition on your behalf to establish your eligibility before we approve your application. However, if you apply based on certain classifications (for example, an alien with extraordinary ability or as a nonimmigrant E-1 or E-2 principal treaty trader or investor), you may be eligible to self-petition, which means filing an application on your own behalf.

Additionally, if you are in the United States, including if you are an applicant for permanent residence or a certain family member of an alien who has lawful nonimmigrant status, you may file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization , to request employment authorization and an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). You may also apply for an EAD that shows such authorization if your immigration status authorizes you to work in the United States without restrictions.

The conditions you must meet and how long you can work in the United States depend on the type of immigration status the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grants. You must comply with all conditions of your employment authorization and the terms of your admission to this country. If you violate any of the conditions, you could be removed from or denied re-entry into the United States.

Temporary (Nonimmigrant) Worker

Permanent (Immigrant) Worker

Students and Exchange Visitors

Temporary Visitors for Business

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The total solar eclipse is today: Get the latest forecast and everything you need to know

It's finally here.

After years of buildup and anticipation, the Great North American Eclipse will occur today: This afternoon, a  total eclipse of the sun  will appear in the skies above the U.S., all the way from southern Texas to northern Maine.

The  rare event  − where the shadow of the moon plunges a narrow strip of land into darkness in the middle of the day − is an astronomical experience like no other that will be unusually accessible to millions of people.

That is, if the weather cooperates. Here's the latest forecast:

What time is the 2024 solar eclipse?

The total eclipse will begin in Mexico at about 11:07 a.m. PDT, Monday before crossing into Texas at 1:27 p.m. CDT. It will end in Maine at 3:35 p.m. EDT. The partial eclipse will last for awhile longer. Even if you're not in the path of totality and won't see the full eclipse, you may still see a percentage of it.

To find out exactly when the eclipse will be happening in your area, you can search by  USA TODAY's database by ZIP code  for a viewing guide.

Can you drive during the solar eclipse?

The  2024 solar eclipse  will shroud much of the United States in darkness on Monday, leaving many people to wonder: Is it safe to drive during the solar eclipse?

It is safe to drive during an eclipse as long as you don't look up at the sky. AAA is telling drivers to be focused on the road if they are operating a car during the total solar eclipse. But the automobile insurance company is advising Americans who want to safely view the total eclipse to "find a safe place to park (not on the side of a road or highway) away from other traffic and then wear your eclipse glasses," said Aixa Diaz, a spokeswoman from AAA.

"Pack your patience, whether traveling a great distance or locally," Diaz said. "People will be out and about to catch a glimpse of the eclipse."

A similar scenario  played out in 2017 during the nation's last total solar eclipse : Congestion in some areas lasted for up to 13 hours after totality,  according to Transportation Research News , a National Research Council publication. An analysis of traffic patterns from that year suggests the worst of the traffic – on interstates and rural back roads alike – will kick off after the eclipse ends and everyone tries to leave all at once.

Eclipse weather forecast: Where will there be clear skies?

Surprisingly, weatherwise, the best spot for viewing the eclipse today is expected to be northern New England, specifically northern portions of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, according to the Weather Prediction Center .

The  weather service forecast office in Caribou, Maine , confirmed this Sunday: "Despite being in a relatively active stormy period, somehow we scored a nearly perfect day Monday to observe the eclipse under sunny to mostly sunny skies during the mid-afternoon hours," the service said in a forecast discussion.

Elsewhere, clear skies are also "possible" from northern Arkansas to central Indiana, the weather service said, but the potential for high clouds could impact the view there.

Where will it be cloudy or stormy for the eclipse?

Unfortunately for folks in the path of totality, poor viewing conditions are expected from Missouri and Kansas southward into central and east Texas,  AccuWeather said , where it is likely to be cloudy with showers and perhaps some severe thunderstorms.

Indeed, much of Texas has been placed under a "slight risk" area for severe weather on Monday: "Multiple rounds of severe thunderstorms should develop from early afternoon Monday through Tuesday morning across a large portion of Texas, into south Oklahoma, southwest Arkansas, and west Louisiana," the  Storm Prediction Center  said Sunday. "A few tornadoes, scattered large to very large hail, and isolated severe wind gusts will be possible."

The  Weather Prediction Center  said Sunday afternoon that clouds may also impede viewing across Ohio, northwest Pennsylvania and parts of New York.

What is the path of totality?

Those in the direct line of the eclipse will be treated to an incredible sight as the moon completely blots out the sun's disk, ushering in uncharacteristic darkness and revealing the sun's elusive outermost layer called the corona. That moment is called "totality" and this year the path of totality crosses through 13 U.S. states.

The last total solar eclipse to cut through North America was in August 2017.

How to look at eclipse without glasses

A total solar eclipse offers skygazers the rare opportunity to witness the eclipse with the naked eye. However,  solar eclipse glasses  are still needed until totality is reached. 

Certified solar eclipse  glasses are crucial for spectators to avoid the sun's retina-damaging rays. But when the moon moves completely in front of the sun and blocks its light, you'll know it's  safe to remove the glasses  for a short period of time.

How fast does an eclipse shadow travel?

According to a post from the  National Weather Service  in Indianapolis on X, an eclipse shadow travels at speeds from 1,100 to 5,000 mph. Near the equator, it travels at around 1,100 mph and increases in speed as it approaches the poles.

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511 Travel Info

News releases

April 2, 2024

Latest news releases

MnDOT announces 2024 state construction projects

Online travel planning tools can help motorists safely navigate work zones.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Travelers should prepare to slow down for construction work zones as road projects begin to ramp up across the state, the Minnesota Department of Transportation announced today. The agency has nearly 200 road construction projects this season that will help maintain and improve Minnesota's roads, bridges and transportation infrastructure; improve safety and mobility; and support jobs that will be worked on statewide.

The 2024 construction season includes 193 planned road and bridge projects, plus 54 projects that will improve airports, water ports, railroad crossings and transit infrastructure.

"Drivers throughout Minnesota can expect to see more work zones, more orange cones, more closed lanes, and more people working along the road wearing their high-visibility gear," said Commissioner Nancy Daubenberger. "We need everyone on the road to work together to keep our crews, and yourselves, safe in work zones. When we all slow down and obey work zone speed limits, set aside our cell phones and other distractions, plan ahead and remain patient, we become safer together as we share the limited space inside work zones."

• Find more information about safe driving around construction work zones .

Significant projects this year

• Replacing and repairing bridges on Interstate 494 between Edina and Richfield continues for the second year of a four-year project that also includes reconfiguring the I-35W/I-494 interchange, building a pedestrian bridge, adding E-ZPass lanes, and constructing noise walls. Other major projects in the Twin Cities Metro area include pavement improvements on I-94 between Oakdale and Lakeland and Highway 36 between Roseville and Little Canada , and the start of a three-year project to repair the Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis .
• Completing bridge work on I-35 between the Twin Cities and Duluth and resurface pavement near Hinckley , and the Atkinson bridge over Carlton County Road 61 will be repaired. Roadwork will also continue on I-35 in Duluth .
• Completing the I-35 Faribault project will include ramp, bridge and pavement improvements.
• Crews will begin a three-year project to improve the I-90/Highway 52 interchange southeast of Rochester which involves replacing the I-90 bridges, constructing a new ramp/bridge over Highway 52 and other improvements.
• Reconstructing Highway 220 north of East Grand Forks with pavement and culvert replacements to improve drainage and the driving surface.
• Resurfacing the Hwy 25 bridge over the Mississippi River in Monticello , including drainage and sidewalk updates.
• A three-year project to improve the 11th Street underpass in Moorhead will involve constructing two underpasses under BNSF rail lines, sidewalk and other improvements.
• Two new roundabouts will be constructed during a two-year complete streets project on Highways 59 and 108 in Pelican Rapids , which will also improve a shared-use path, sidewalk and city utilities.

Safety in work zones

Motorists should always be prepared to encounter traffic changes when approaching work zones including lane closures, lane shifts, uneven road surfaces, slow-moving heavy equipment and slow or stopped traffic. To keep everyone safe, drivers must:

• Obey posted speed limits . The fine for speeding in a work zone is $300.
• Drive undistracted. Avoid using cell phones, mobile devices, adjusting the radio – even eating – while in work zones.
• Move over. Give workers room to safely complete their work.
• Know before you go. Get real-time information about traffic and road conditions at www.511mn.org or get the free 511mn smartphone app at Google Play or the App Store.
• Be patient. Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.
• Do the zipper merge .
• Avoid making unnecessary lane changes.
• Never enter a road blocked with barriers or cones.

2024 Minnesota road construction planning and travel tools

Travelers can use several online tools to plan ahead for construction impacts like detours and lane closures.

• Visit mndot.gov/construction for the statewide view of the 2024 construction season’s projects. The site includes interactive maps linking to more detailed construction project websites, full project lists and other information.
• Individual project pages include information about construction schedules, detours and traffic impacts, maps, benefits and project costs.
• Know before you go – visit 511mn.org or use the 511 app to get near-real-time travel information.
• Sign up for project email updates, or other specific topics .
• Follow MnDOT on social media . 

Your last-minute guide to Monday's total solar eclipse

A total solar eclipse will cross North America on Monday , offering millions a rare opportunity to see afternoon skies temporarily darken as the moon blocks the face of the sun.

Tune into NBC News NOW as Lester Holt hosts a two-hour special at 2 p.m. ET Monday from Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The eclipse's path fortuitously cuts across Mexico, 15 U.S. states and a small part of eastern Canada. In all other states in the continental U.S., viewers will be treated to a partial solar eclipse, with the moon appearing to take a bite out of the sun and obscuring part of its light.

Here’s everything you need to know about the rare celestial event.

What is a solar eclipse?

Solar eclipses occur when the sun, moon and Earth align. The moon passes between Earth and sun, temporarily blocking the sun’s light and casting a shadow on Earth.

A total solar eclipse is when the moon fully obscures the sun, whereas a partial solar eclipse means it blocks just a portion of the sun’s face.

Solar eclipses occur only with the new moon. Because the moon’s orbit around Earth is tilted, the three bodies don’t always line up in a way that creates an eclipse.

“Imagine if the moon’s orbit were in the plane of Earth’s orbit around the sun — if that were the case, then every new moon, you’d have a total solar eclipse and every full moon, you’d have a lunar eclipse,” Neil DeGrasse Tyson, director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History, told NBC News. “So, because things don’t always align, it lends to the rarity of the event and the specialness of the event.”

Where and when will the eclipse be visible?

This year’s eclipse will follow a slightly wider path over more populated areas of the continental U.S. than other total solar eclipses have in the recent past.

NASA estimates that 31.6 million people live within what’s known as the path of totality, where the total solar eclipse will be visible. An additional 150 million people live within 200 miles of the path, according to the agency.

The path travels through Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Tiny parts of Michigan and Tennessee will also be able to witness totality if conditions are clear.

After the eclipse crosses into Canada, it will pass over southern Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton, at the eastern end of Nova Scotia.

Those outside the path of totality can still take part in the astronomical event by viewing a partial solar eclipse — visible throughout all 48 states of the contiguous U.S. — or a NASA livestream.

The timing, including how long totality lasts, depends on the location, but some spots will see the moon fully cover the sun for up to 4 minutes and 28 seconds.

Below is a list of timings for some cities along the path of totality, as  provided by NASA . A number of other resources, including NationalEclipse.com  and  TimeandDate.com , can also help people plan.

• Dallas: Partial eclipse begins at 12:23 p.m. CT and totality at 1:40 p.m.
• Little Rock, Arkansas: Partial eclipse begins at 12:33 p.m. CT and totality at 1:51 p.m.
• Cleveland: Partial eclipse begins at 1:59 p.m. ET and totality at 3:13 p.m.
• Buffalo, New York: Partial eclipse begins at 2:04 p.m. ET and totality at 3:18 p.m.
• Lancaster, New Hampshire: Partial eclipse begins at 2:16 p.m. ET and totality at 3:27 p.m.

How to safely view a solar eclipse

It is never safe to gaze directly at the sun, even when it is partly or mostly covered by the moon. Special eclipse glasses or  pinhole projectors  are required to safely view solar eclipses and prevent eye damage. Failing to take the proper precautions can result in severe eye injury,  according to NASA .

Eclipse glasses are thousands of times darker than normal sunglasses and specially made to enable wearers to look at the sun during these kinds of celestial events.

Sky-watchers should also never view any part of the sun through binoculars, telescopes or camera lenses unless they have specific solar filters attached. Eclipse glasses should not be used with these devices, as they will not provide adequate protection.

However, during the few minutes of totality, when the moon is fully blocking the sun, it is safe to look with the naked eye.

Beware of fake eclipse glasses. On legitimate pairs, the lenses should have a silver appearance on the front and be black on the inside. The manufacturer’s name and address should be clearly labeled, and they should not be torn or punctured. Check, as well, for the ISO logo and the code “IS 12312-2” printed on the inside.

If you don’t have eclipse glasses, you can make a homemade pinhole projector, which lets sunlight in through a small hole, focuses it and projects it onto a piece of paper, wall or other surface to create an image of the sun that is safe to look at. 

All you need is two pieces of white cardboard or plain white paper, aluminum foil and a pin or thumbtack. Cut a 1- to 2-inch square or rectangle out of the center of a piece of white paper or cardboard. Tape aluminum foil over that cut-out shape, then use a pin or thumbtack to poke a tiny hole in the foil.

During the eclipse, place a second piece of white paper or cardboard on the ground as a screen and hold the projector with the foil facing up and your back to the sun. Adjusting how far you hold the projector from the second piece of paper will alter the size of the image on the makeshift screen.

What to look for while viewing the total solar eclipse

For people along the path of totality, there are some fun milestones to keep track of as the total solar eclipse unfolds.

As the eclipse progresses and the sun gets thinner in the sky, it will start to get eerily dark, according to Tyson.

When the last beams of sunlight are about to become obscured, look out for the “diamond ring effect”: The sun’s atmosphere will appear as an illuminated halo, and the last light still visible will look like the diamond of a giant ring.

As the sunlight decreases even further, an effect known as Baily’s beads will be created by the moon’s rugged terrain. Tiny “beads” of light will be visible for only a few seconds around the dark moon, as the last bits of sunlight peer through the moon’s mountains and valleys.

When the moon is fully blocking the sun, it is safe to remove eclipse glasses and look at the total solar eclipse with the naked eye.

Some lucky sky-watchers may even catch a glimpse of a comet .

Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks — nicknamed the “ devil comet ” because an eruption last year left it with two distinct trails of gas and ice in the shape of devil horns — is currently visible from the Northern Hemisphere as it swings through the inner solar system.

The comet can be seen in the early evenings by gazing toward the west-northwest horizon. During the eclipse, when skies darken during totality, it may be possible to see the comet near Jupiter, but its visibility will depend on whether it’s in the middle of an outburst and thus brighter than normal.

Most likely, all eyes will be on the alignment of the moon and sun.

“Most people won’t even notice,” Tyson said. “But if you know to look, it’s there.”

When is the next solar eclipse?

The next total solar eclipse will be in 2026, but it will mostly pass over the Arctic Ocean, with some visibility in Greenland, Iceland, Portugal and northern Spain. In 2027, a total solar eclipse will be visible in Spain and a swath of northern Africa.

The next total solar eclipse visible from North America will be in 2033, but only over Alaska. Then in 2044, a total solar eclipse will cross Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, parts of Canada and Greenland.

The next total solar eclipse to cross the continental U.S. coast-to-coast in will occur in 2045. The path of totality for that eclipse will cut through California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia and Florida.

Denise Chow is a reporter for NBC News Science focused on general science and climate change.

Lucas Thompson is a content producer for the NBC News Climate Unit.

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Map: 4.8-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes New Jersey

By William B. Davis ,  Madison Dong ,  Judson Jones ,  John Keefe ,  Bea Malsky and Lazaro Gamio

Shake intensity

A light, 4.8-magnitude earthquake struck in New Jersey on Friday, according to the United States Geological Survey. The quake was felt across the New York City metropolitan area, and from Philadelphia to Boston.

The temblor happened at 10:23 a.m. Eastern about 4 miles north of Whitehouse Station, N.J., data from the agency shows.

As seismologists review available data, they may revise the earthquake's reported magnitude. Additional information collected about the earthquake may also prompt U.S.G.S. scientists to update the shake-severity map.

Aftershocks in the region

At 5:59 p.m. Eastern on Friday, a light aftershock with a magnitude of 3.8 struck near Gladstone, New Jersey, according to U.S.G.S. (The agency initially gave the quake a preliminary magnitude of 4.0.)

An aftershock is usually a smaller earthquake that follows a larger one in the same general area. Aftershocks are typically minor adjustments along the portion of a fault that slipped at the time of the initial earthquake.

Quakes and aftershocks within 100 miles

Aftershocks can occur days, weeks or even years after the first earthquake. These events can be of equal or larger magnitude to the initial earthquake, and they can continue to affect already damaged locations.

How this quake compares

The U.S.G.S. has logged 188 earthquakes with a magnitude of 2.5 or greater within a 250-mile radius of New York City since 1957. In that timeframe, only seven have had a magnitude at or above 4.5. Today’s quake had the third-highest magnitude in the available data.

Today’s earthquake

Magnitude 4.8

250-mile radius

from New York City

Source: U. S.G.S.

By Lazaro Gamio

Source: United States Geological Survey | Notes: Shaking categories are based on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale. When aftershock data is available, the corresponding maps and charts include earthquakes within 100 miles and seven days of the initial quake. All times above are Eastern. Shake data is as of Friday, April 5 at 10:44 a.m. Eastern. Aftershocks data is as of Monday, April 8 at 3:54 a.m. Eastern.

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