Donald Trump has extended a ban on some foreign work visas, including the J1, until the end of March
The outgoing President added an extra three months to the ban to protect American jobs during the pandemic.
The suspension of non immigrant visas to the US had initially been due to expire on December 31st following an executive order made in June.
The ban covers visas popular with Irish people seeking to work in the US, such as the J1 and H-1B.
In 2019, over 3,000 people here took part in the J1 summer programme, which allows third-level students to work in the US legally for up to four months.
Additionally, many students choose to undertake the J1 'graduate visa' programme which allows them to work in the States for a year up to 12 months after they graduate.
J1 programmes
USIT, which oversees the J1 process in Ireland, has opened its summer programme for 2021.
However, its one-year graduate visa programme for 2021 is currently "on hold at the moment".
The company has told interested graduates that they are expecting more clarity from the US State Department "in a few months’ time".
