J1 Payroll Solutions

Every year, hundreds of thousands of foreign students enter the Unites States as seasonal workers under the Exchange Visitor (J1 Visa) Program. Jobs are typically provided by seasonal businesses like resorts, restaurants, hotels, fishing boats and amusement parks. In order to participate in the Exchange Visitor Program, students must be sponsored by an accredited organization and must obtain a “J1” from the Department of State. Students employed under the “J1” program may stay in the US for the duration of their assignment plus a window of 30 days before and after the work period. Often these windows are used for leisure and travel. Paying J1 employees can be difficult because these employees generally do not possess typical US credentials.

Paying employees under the J1 Visa Program can be challenging
Because these workers come from abroad, they typically do not possess a US bank account. Given current banking security measures, obtaining a bank account is more difficult for J1 workers because they do not yet have a social security number or a permanent address. What’s more, because many workers will be in the country for only three to six months, it often doesn’t make sense to open an account.

Historically, employers have had two practical options when paying seasonal employees, either by check or in cash. Checks, while routine for businesses, can be problematic for J1 employees because they may not wish to open checking accounts. These students are often forced to resort to awkward and expensive methods to cash their checks. Many employers use payroll management providers, and are only capable of compensating their seasonal employees by check or direct deposit into a bank account. In many cases, final salary is often issued after the employee has completed the assignment or even left the country. This can be problematic for both the J1 and the sponsoring agency. Paying in cash is also a poor disbursement option. Both employers and employees simply dislike having to hold a lot of cash, which is subject to loss or theft.

Payoneer J1 Visa Compensation Solutions
Payoneer is a simple and powerful J1 payment solution. Since 2005 our industry specific solutions have securely delivered millions of payments to hundreds of thousands of people around the world. Utilizing a prepaid MasterCard^® card, we enable employers of all sizes to affordably deliver compensation to seasonal employees.

Payoneer offers prepaid MasterCard cards to payees on behalf of our employer customers. These companies can then load the prepaid cards when salaries are due. Employees are then able to withdraw funds from more than one million ATMs in over 210 countries. These prepaid cards can also be used to purchase goods from merchants accepting Debit MasterCard worldwide.

Why J1 employees want the Payoneer Prepaid MasterCard:
J1 employees have a lot of reasons to like the Payoneer Card. First and foremost, our prepaid card is the most convenient and liquid payment instrument available.

• Foreign employees are not required to possess a bank account, social security number or undergo a credit check.
• Workers have access to their funds in as little as two hours after loading.
• Hard cash can be retrieved from over 1 million ATMs worldwide, even after staffers have left the country.
• Cards can also be used to purchase goods from online merchants or retail locations accepting Debit MasterCard throughout the world.
• If a card is lost, remaining funds may be transferred to a replacement card – sometimes within hours.
• Parents or other relatives can load the cards with more cash providing the employee with additional spending money.
• In most cases, the card is protected against fraud and theft.

Why the Payoneer Prepaid MasterCard is ideal for employers:
The Payoneer solution is perfect for employers needing to pay J1 employees. Our system provides a comprehensive end-to-end online payments solution that incorporates registration, issuance, funding, and reporting:

• The Payoneer system provides an extensive, user-friendly online interface to manage the entire compensation process.
• Extensive fraud controls protect payers and payees alike.
• Until spent or withdrawn, all funds reside in the US in US dollars and are protected by Federal Deposit Insurance.
• Holding the card will provide your employees with feelings of independence and status.
• The solution integrates seamlessly with your current payroll provider – direct deposits can be automatically loaded onto the Payoneer Card.
• Tax refunds (“tax back”) can also be loaded onto the card via direct deposit even after an employee is repatriated.
• Cards can be issued in advance and delivered anywhere in the world, so they are ideal for providing workers with salary advances. Cards may also be delivered to the camp in bulk.

An exciting and convenient way to compensate J1 employees:
Perfect for employers, and ideal for staff, the Payoneer solution represents the fastest and most efficient J1 employee payment solution available. Payoneer allows employers and J1 workers to avoid the cost, complexity and security issues associated with traditional bank accounts, check cashing or holding hard cash. Utilizing a prepaid MasterCard card, Payoneer provides employers with a highly functional payment management system, while offering staffers a compensation option with unmatched liquidity.