THIS year's allocation of visas for the J1 student work and travel programme to the US has now been filled and no further applications are being accepted by USIT, which administers the J1 programme in this country.
This year 6,500 J1 visas were offered to Irish students, the largest allocation ever.
Last year a lottery system operated for the allocation of 6,200 J1 visas but, according to a spokesperson for USIT, this year the company was approached in advance of the allocation by students who requested that the visas be distributed on a first come, first served basis.
For those reluctant to stay in Ireland and join the student summer jobs scheme, there are still places available on the Canadian student work programme.
This year, 250 places were allocated to Irish students, of which 50 still remain.
There is no closing date for applications, but USIT advises those interested to submit applications as soon as possible; according to the spokesperson, these visas will also be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
Finally, students are advised not to queue outside USIT overnight. At the very least there's a good chance you're going to get very wet, but worse things can happen on Dublin's quays late at night.
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