2025 J1 Summer Program

Our information packet will be available soon and emailed out in the upcoming months

The Irish Outreach Center offers a J1 Summer Orientation Program with comprehensive assistance and advice to incoming J1 students and covers everything you need for a successful summer in San Diego.

For over 25 years The Irish Outreach Center (IOC) has assisted thousands of J-1 summer students to navigate a new city, comply with visa regulations, start a new job & find accommodation to enable the best J-1 experience.  This has in-part been made possible by the Emigrant Support Program grant, which has been generously provided to our organization by the Irish Government.  
 
If you  plan on traveling in a group/with friends, we ask that each person (that plans to travel to San Diego summer 2025) completes this J-1 summer 2025 intake-form. Please ensure that the email address you provide is correct & current.  
 
Our J-1 2025 information packet (with arrival updates & departure check-list) will be sent to the email address that you provide in the upcoming months.  Additionally upon your arrival, we strongly recommend that you take the time to attend one of our J-1 Orientations (including Social Security, banking & mobile phone set-up and other valuable information about fun summer activities).   
 
For further information & updates Please re-visit this page. The IOC offers assistance to all J-1 visa holders.  We offer ongoing assistance & support during your summer long stay in California.
J1 Work & Travel 2025 is set to resume this Summer.

Services offered at our Orientation:

  • Open a Bank Account.
  • Social Security administration employees will be on hand to process your social security card application. Waiting time for Social Security cards has generally been 7-10 working days in the past number of years.
  • Cell Phone provider will be present with special packages for Irish students as well as basic budget smartphones and sim cards available for purchase.
  • Advice on accommodation, safety, travel, and everything else you need to know to have a successful summer in San Diego.
  • Summer long access to student computers and printing services at our office.

Orientations are free of charge, any donations are gratefully received.

*The Irish Outreach Center is a non-profit organization offering assistance and support to the Irish community in Southern California. We are a member of the Coalition of Irish Immigration Centers (CIIC).

For any enquiries regarding the J1 Summer programme please email us at: [email protected]

J1 Summer Student Testimonials:

“San Diego is by far one of the best cities for Irish people to go to for the summer. … The mix between the beaches and the downtown aspect I found was class as you got a bit of both worlds. The events that were organised between the baseball and the j1 nights out were a great way to meet others ….”

“We would like to thank you for all your help! You have been our “Irish Mammies”. We appreciate everything you did for us.”

“You were very helpful and we appreciated ye thanks so much!!”

“Padres Irish heritage night was highlight of the whole trip. Thank you for organising it.”

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We also had many parents reach out to us as we were their children’s “home away from home” and here is what they had to say:

“…Keep up the good work, you are offering an excellent service and peace of mind for mothers (I just wish I had found you earlier in the week).”

“Thank you so much for your email and for all your help and support over the last few days. Your organisation’s support and assistance to us and especially to [my son] has been invaluable and our one regret is that we had not been in contact with you before [my son] traveled to San Diego. We will promote your organisation here at every opportunity and may one day get to meet you in person and Thank you personally.”

“It is a great comfort for us to know that such a great organization is available to all Irish visitors to your area.”