Participant Rights, Protections, Expectations

AHA makes it a priority to ensure that all our participants enjoy a safe, healthy and well monitored cultural exchange experience in the U.S.

The following information describes a baseline for conduct that our participants can expect from AHA and their hosts as well as their responsibilities during their visits to the United States. We're happy to say that the majority of our participants and hosts regularly make an extra effort beyond these standards to create a truly memorable, life-changing cultural exchange experience for everyone involved.


During Their Programs, Participants Can Expect:

• A safe, healthy and legal work environment.
• A safe, healthy and legal living situation.
• Opportunities to interact with Americans on a regular basis.
• Protection of their legal rights under United States immigrant, labor, and employment laws.
• Fair treatment and payment practices.
• Right to keep passport and other documents in their possession.
• Right to report abuse without retaliation.
• Right to contact the J-1 Visa Emergency Helpline of the U.S. Department of State.
• Right not to be held in a job against their will.
• Right to end their programs and return to their home countries.
• Right to request help from unions, labor rights groups and other groups.
• For more information: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/temporary-workers.html
• https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/LegalRightsandProtections/Wilberforce/Wilberforce-ENG-100116.pdf

Participants Can Also Expect the Following Support From AHA Throughout Their Programs:

• 24 Hour Emergency Assistance 305-395-8881
• Serving as a reliable resource for general information, support, assistance and mentoring.
• Resources and guidance to help them engage in cultural learning and American daily life.
• At a minimum, monthly contact and monitoring.
• Vetting and conducting due diligence to verify each host employer.
• Acting as a neutral advocate to help resolve any disputes that occur.
• Accident and Sickness insurance that meets or exceeds J-1 Visa regulatory requirements.

Participants in Our Programs Acknowledge That:

• The primary purpose of AHA cultural exchange programs is to interact with U.S. citizens, practice the English language, travel and experience U.S. culture while sharing their culture with Americans.
• They will abide by the laws of the United States.
• They will abide by all rules and regulations applicable to U.S. Department of State Exchange Visitor programs.
• They will abide by all rules and regulations of AHA and host employer.
• They have not come on a J-1 Visa program seeking permanent residency or employment in the U.S.
• They are expected to follow the guidelines of employment provided by their host employer.
• AHA is their visa sponsor. A U.S. host employer is not a visa sponsor.
• Any wages earned during the programs are only meant to help defray living expenses during the programs. Earning money is not the primary purpose of cultural exchange programs and any monies earned may not cover all expenses of the program.
• Host employers may terminate their employment relationship with participants.
• Host employers do not have the authority to cancel the J-1 Visa. Only the U.S. Government or AHA has that authority.
• They must contact AHA in the event of an emergency or if any problems occur during the program.
• They will respond to all requests and inquiries sent from AHA.
• They are required to leave the United States at the end of their programs.