People
You learn to move a team
Professional English, feedback, accountability and multicultural leadership.
No degree required · 5 years in your field qualifies you
Trainee USA 2027 · Global Leadership Track™
You know the work.
Now learn to lead it.
Advanced J‑1 professional training for hospitality and tourism professionals ready to replace another European season with a U.S. training year. No degree required — five years of experience in your field qualifies.
5 years of experience qualifies you · no degree required · 6–12 months · DS‑7002 advanced training · 5 years of experience qualifies you · no degree required · 6–12 months · DS‑7002 advanced training ·
Who this program is built for
Cooks. Chefs de partie.
Waiters. Shift supervisors.
Front office.
If you have five years in your field, the U.S. Department of State qualifies you for a J‑1 Trainee program — with no university degree. Most working professionals never find this out.
Important: EARN&GO USA / WiseHunters International DOOEL is not a U.S. Department of State designated Sponsor and does not issue DS-2019 forms or visas. Trainee USA is supervised professional training — not employment. Unskilled and casual labor positions are prohibited under the program. Final eligibility, host organization, training plan, duration and stipend are subject to Sponsor review and U.S. regulations.
Not another season
Greece taught you speed.
Croatia taught you stamina.
America can teach you scale.
You are not starting over. You are taking everything you already know and placing it inside a bigger system, a higher standard and a career story that travels.
The professional threshold
Good service is expected.
Leadership is remembered.
Trainee USA is not ordinary employment. It is advanced, supervised professional development built around objectives, rotations, mentorship and evaluation.
3+training phases
12months maximum
1U.S. career chapter
Who qualifies
A degree is not
the entry ticket.
The U.S. Department of State recognises two separate routes into a J-1 Trainee program. Most working professionals qualify through the second one — and never find out.
Route 1 — Degree
- A post-secondary degree or professional certificate obtained outside the United States
- Plus at least 1 year of related work experience outside the United States
Route 2 — Experience
- No degree required
- At least 5 years of work experience in your occupational field, obtained outside the United States
- This is the route for career cooks, chefs de partie, waiters, shift supervisors and front office staff
English
- Working level: B2
- Your host interview is conducted in English
- You complete the EARN&GO English Readiness Assessment before your file goes forward
- Interview preparation is included in every package
Duration
- 6 to 12 months
- U.S. Department of State rules cap hospitality and tourism trainee programs at 12 months
- Longer durations exist only for other occupational fields
After the program
- Trainee USA is supervised training, not an immigration route
- It does not lead to a work visa or permanent residence
- Repeat participation is restricted under J-1 rules
- We would rather tell you this now than after you have paid
Family
- EARN&GO USA does not arrange or support J-2 dependent applications
- The program is designed for an individual participant
- Plan on travelling alone
The shift
“You stop asking what your shift needs from you. You start seeing what the entire operation needs next.”
That is the difference between performing a role and becoming someone trusted with standards, people and outcomes.
Choose your operating world
Where do you want
your next level to happen?
Your DS‑7002 progression
Not random duties.
A professional climb.
PHASE 01
Read the system
Standards, operation flow, culture, controls and expectations.
PHASE 02
Own the outcome
Coordination, judgment, guest recovery, quality and team communication.
PHASE 03
Lead the standard
Advanced responsibility, cross‑department insight, evaluation and leadership practice.
What changes
Your title may start the same.
Your professional weight does not.
Operations
You see the whole floor
From guest moment to business outcome—from task execution to operational thinking.
Where trainees are placed
Representative markets.
Not placement promises.
These are the U.S. markets our trainee candidates most often select and are matched into. Your final location follows your profile, the host interview, timing and Sponsor approval — it is never promised in advance.
Florida
Resort capital of America — hospitality operations at world scale.
Texas
Business powerhouse with Southern service culture.
California
Innovation coast — competitive, career-defining operations.
Colorado
Mountain resorts and four-season operations.
Nevada
Las Vegas — the industry's largest operational stage.
Arizona
Luxury desert resorts and golf hospitality.
South Carolina
Coastal resorts with Southern service culture.
No preference
We match your profile where it fits best.
60‑second professional check
Do you already have
what Trainee USA needs?
The complete route
You do not arrive
as a question mark.
Eligibility verification, experience evidence, U.S.‑standard CV and professional positioning.
Interview preparation, host coordination and a structured plan that advances—not duplicates—your prior experience.
Sponsor review, DS‑2019 coordination and preparation for the J‑1 visa process.
Pre‑departure orientation, accommodation guidance, arrival instructions, SSN, banking, insurance and support contacts.
The professional move becomes real
Not someday.
A real departure.
The airport is not the achievement. It is the line between the career you already know and the international standard you are ready to enter.
01 · The decisionYou leave with a route
02 · The moveYour next level has a departure gate
03 · The arrivalYou do not land alone
Land ready · stay supported
You do not arrive alone.
You arrive with a route.
A professional move needs more than a visa. Before departure, you know the host, the documents, the arrival steps and exactly who handles which kind of problem.
01 · BEFORE DEPARTURE
Your route is clear
Host and program documents, accommodation guidance, first-day instructions and the confirmed support contacts are organized before travel.
02 · WHEN YOU LAND
You know the next move
Arrival, local transport or meeting-point guidance, check-in information and the first operational steps are explained before you board.
03 · DURING THE PROGRAM
One issue. One right contact.
Workplace matter: host supervisor. J‑1 program-status matter: designated Sponsor. Local coordination and guidance: EARNGO.
04 · URGENT OR DANGEROUS
The emergency route
Call 911 for immediate danger, police, fire or ambulance. For program emergencies, use the Sponsor’s emergency contact and your EARNGO support details.
Professional arrival system
EARNGO USA Ready Kit™
RFID travel carry & passport sleeveU.S. power adapter & charging cableUSA pocket guide & contact routeeSIM setup guidance before landing
Final kit contents, eSIM provider, data allowance and availability may vary by package, destination, device compatibility and the participant’s signed terms. EARNGO is not an emergency service or a U.S. Department of State designated Sponsor.
The comparison you are actually making
You already know
what a season pays.
You do not need us to describe a European season — you have lived it. Put your own numbers in the left column and compare them honestly against the right one.
Your last European season
DurationUsually 5–6 months
Gross earningsYou know your figure
AccommodationOften provided
FoodOften provided
What remainsYour figure
What it addsAnother season on the same CV
A U.S. training year
Duration6–12 months
Gross stipend≈ $37,400–$52,000 over 12 months
AccommodationSometimes provided; otherwise $100–200 / week
FoodPlan $80–100 / week
Illustrative remainder≈ $23,000–$28,000
What it addsDS-7002 training record, U.S. references, English
Illustrative planning example only, calculated from a $18–25 hourly range at 40 hours per week and the living-cost ranges shown on this page — before U.S. taxes, flights, visa fees, insurance excess and personal spending. Actual hours, unpaid time, housing terms and exchange rates can change the result materially. No stipend, savings, placement, visa or return is guaranteed. Your written host offer and DS-7002 replace every figure above.
Before you look at the price
The four numbers
that decide it.
Stipend$18–25 / hour
Representative range visible in current trainee opportunities. Not a guarantee — your written host offer controls.
Housing$100–200 / week
Some host organizations provide or arrange accommodation, some do not. Plan this range for when it is not included. Deposit is separate.
Duration6–12 months
U.S. Department of State rules cap hospitality and tourism trainee programs at 12 months.
Intake15 places / month
Applications received by the 10th of each month enter the next group. From application to departure: 2–3 months, depending on when your job offer is accepted.
Career & stipend planner
See the numbers.
Then see beyond them.
This planning tool uses your assumptions. Your written host offer and DS‑7002 replace every example.
Projected gross stipend$0
Estimated living costs$0
Selected program route$0
Remaining before tax & travel$0
Illustrative estimate only. No stipend, savings, placement, visa or return is guaranteed.
Three levels of support
Same program.
Different amount of carrying.
All three packages include the Sponsor fee, the placement, the SEVIS fee and your insurance. What changes is how much of the journey around them we carry for you.
Trainee Pro
$4,900
≈ €4,540 · the complete operational route
- File opening, eligibility and work-experience verification
- CV prepared to U.S. standards
- Placement with a vetted host organization
- DS-7002 training plan coordination
- Sponsor processing and DS-2019 support
- Host interview and visa preparation
- Pre-departure orientation
- Sponsor + placement fee included
- SEVIS fee ($220) included
- U.S. eSIM before departure
Not included: airline ticket · airport transfers · DS-160 ($185) · Visa Integrity Fee ($250) · accommodation and deposit · local transport · personal expenses
Trainee Executive
$5,990
≈ €5,545 · the arrival is handled
- Everything in Trainee Pro
- Economy airline ticket up to $900
- Transport to the airport in North Macedonia
- U.S. arrival transfer, where available
- Accommodation assistance
- Social Security Number support
- U.S. bank account support
- Post-arrival support in the U.S.
- Career coaching and personalised interview preparation
- 24/7 support for the duration of the program
Not included: DS-160 ($185) · Visa Integrity Fee ($250) · accommodation deposit · personal expenses · excess baggage
Trainee Platinum
$6,450
≈ €5,975 · nothing left for you to organise
- Everything in Trainee Executive
- DS-160 visa fee ($185) included
- Confirmed accommodation before departure, where provided by the host
- Executive and leadership coaching
- CV and LinkedIn optimisation
- Individual mentor
- Priority document processing and VIP support
- International reference letter support
- Post-program career consultation
- Alumni network membership
Not included: Visa Integrity Fee ($250) · personal expenses · tourist travel · excess baggage
Ticket coverage applies up to $900 economy; any difference above $900 is paid by the Participant. Exact inclusions, third-party costs and the payment schedule are defined in the signed agreement and Annex A. Final acceptance, DS-2019 and visa decisions belong to the authorized Sponsor, the Host Organization and U.S. authorities.
Payment schedule
You never pay
the whole price upfront.
Payment is staged against real milestones. Each instalment falls due only once the previous step has actually happened.
| Instalment | Trigger | Deadline | Trainee Pro | Trainee Executive | Trainee Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | On signing the agreement | 3 business days | $600 | $600 | $600 |
| 2 | Confirmed placement and job offer (DS-7002) | 5 business days | $3,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| 3 | DS-2019 issued | 3 business days | $800 | $1,300 | $1,600 |
| 4 | Visa approved | 5 business days | $500 | $1,090 | $1,250 |
| Total program price | $4,900 | $5,990 | $6,450 | ||
If the visa is denied, Instalment 4 is never charged. Late payment beyond 7 calendar days entitles the Agency to suspend the application and halt communication with the Sponsor and Host Organization. The signed agreement and Annex A prevail over this summary.
Costs, refunds and financing
The parts most agencies
leave out.
Not included in any package
- Visa Integrity Fee — $250, a U.S. government fee payable by you personally, included in no package
- DS-160 visa fee — $185, payable at the Embassy under Trainee Pro and Trainee Executive; included in Trainee Platinum
- Accommodation and accommodation deposit
- Local transport and personal expenses
- Excess baggage above the airline allowance
- Airline ticket under the Professional package
Already included — in every package
- Sponsor fee and placement fee
- SEVIS fee ($220)
- Health and accident insurance meeting U.S. Department of State requirements, through the Sponsor fee
- U.S. eSIM with activation instructions before departure
- DS-7002 training plan coordination and DS-2019 support
- Host interview preparation and visa preparation
If your visa is denied
- Instalment 4 is not charged
- Total non-refundable amount: $500 — or the amount your Sponsor organization retains on a visa denial, where that amount is higher (per-sponsor figures are listed in the Schedule to Annex B, signed before Instalment 1)
- All other amounts you have paid are refunded
- Condition: the Sponsor must be notified within 48 hours of the denial. Contact us the same day you leave the Embassy
- Government fees already paid directly to U.S. authorities — DS-160 ($185) and SEVIS ($220) — are non-refundable by their nature
If you withdraw voluntarily
- Before the host interview: registration fee and administrative costs incurred are retained; the remainder may be refunded
- After the DS-2019 is issued: Sponsor costs, DS-2019 costs, the SEVIS fee and administrative costs are retained
- After the visa is granted: no refund of costs already incurred
- After the ticket is purchased or after departure: no refund
- Annex B — Refund and Cancellation Policy governs in full
Komercijalna Banka × EARN&GO USA
You do not have to fund it all at once.
Eligible EARN&GO candidates can request dedicated-purpose financing for approved program costs. Your program documents support the application; the Bank makes the credit decision and sets the final terms.
up to €6,000dedicated financing
up to 18 monthsrepayment period
Financing is not automatic and is not included in the program price. Approval, amount, repayment period, interest, security and all final conditions are subject to Komercijalna Banka's individual credit assessment and official agreement.
Straight answers
The questions people
actually ask.
Yes. Five years of work experience in your occupational field, obtained outside the United States, is a full qualification route in its own right. A degree is the other route, not the only one.
Current trainee opportunities show a representative range of $18–25 per hour. That is a range seen in the market, not a promise. The written offer from your host organization is the only figure that governs, and it replaces every example on this page.
It varies by host. Some provide or arrange it, some do not. When it is not provided, plan $100–200 per week plus a deposit. Trainee Executive includes accommodation assistance; Trainee Platinum includes confirmed accommodation before departure where the host organization provides it.
Yes. J-1 trainees pay federal and, where applicable, state income tax on their stipend, and are required to file a U.S. tax return. J-1 participants are generally exempt from Social Security and Medicare (FICA) contributions. Budget for tax when you plan your numbers.
Working level B2. Your host interview is conducted in English, and you complete the EARN&GO English Readiness Assessment before your file goes forward. Interview preparation is included in every package.
EARN&GO USA does not arrange or support J-2 dependent applications. The program is built for an individual participant. Plan on travelling alone.
Two to three months from application to departure. The largest variable is when your job offer is accepted — part of that timing is in your hands.
Applications received by the 10th of each month enter the next candidate group. Each group is limited to 15 places. Being in a group does not guarantee acceptance — eligibility, interview, host and Sponsor approval still decide.
Instalment 4 is never charged. The total non-refundable amount is $500 — or the amount your Sponsor organization retains on a visa denial, where that amount is higher (the figure for your sponsor is listed in the Schedule to Annex B, signed before Instalment 1). Everything else you have paid is refunded. One condition matters: the Sponsor must be notified within 48 hours of the denial, so contact us the same day.
Refunds are calculated by phase — how far the process had progressed when you withdrew. The further along, the more has already been paid to the Sponsor and to third parties and cannot be recovered. Annex B sets this out in full before you sign.
Not automatically. Any change is decided by the Sponsor and the host organizations involved, under J-1 rules. It is possible in some circumstances, but it is never your decision alone.
Take it to the right contact, in this order. Workplace, schedule and training matters: your host supervisor. J-1 status and SEVIS matters: your designated Sponsor. Coordination and anything you are unsure about: EARN&GO. For immediate danger, call 911.
Yes. Health and accident insurance meeting U.S. Department of State requirements is covered through the Sponsor fee, which is included in all three packages.
No. Trainee USA is supervised training, not an immigration route. It does not lead to a work visa or permanent residence, and repeat participation in J-1 categories is restricted. Anyone telling you otherwise is not telling you the truth.
Yes — four instalments tied to real milestones, set out in the payment schedule above. Eligible candidates can also apply for dedicated-purpose financing through Komercijalna Banka, up to €6,000 over up to 18 months, subject to the Bank's own credit decision.
Where we are
2027 is
the next group.
We are not going to show you testimonials we do not have. EARN&GO USA is building its first Trainee cohort, which means two things and we would rather say both. There is no alumni network to introduce you to yet — and every single file in this group is handled personally, by name, by the people whose phone number is at the bottom of this page. If you want a program with a decade of graduates behind it, that is a fair thing to want, and it is not us yet.
Your next season can repeat your CV—or rewrite it.