J1 and under 21

epiphony

Hey,

so I kind of have two questions for you guys.

Firstly, does anyone have any info on New York or San Francisco in terms of locations for a J1? They are the two places I am trying to decide between so any information would be great.

Also, I am under 21 and a lot of people are telling me not to even bother going on a J1. Is this true? I know going out will be hard, but surely not impossible? Also, don't clubs or bars let you in if you are under 21 but they stamp you or something so you just can't be served?

yourmother10

Hey,

Want to J1 myself this summer, but don't know anyone else doing one!
Also under 21, but that really doesn't bother me..

Piste

Some states have a drinking age that's 19. I heard it's easy to get around the laws there anyway, house parties are the way to go!

cson

Piste wrote: »

Some states have a drinking age that's 19. I heard it's easy to get around the laws there anyway, house parties are the way to go!

Not true afaik. Federal Laws supercede State Laws I think and the 21 restriction applies across the board. Certainly in the places you'd go; New York/New Jersey/Boston/Chicago/California its 21.

Naked Lepper

i live in new jersey and new york for a year while i was 19 and 20

i found in new jersey that with a USIT card and a irish accent that you will get served in most bars (some clubs around the shore will require passport or drivers licence though) and some bars also didnt even ask for ID

when in new york i never really got asked for ID anywhere, go to irish pubs and the irish accent will get you past most bouncers, its only clubs that will ask for ID and even at that, alot of clubs wont bother asking. new york is piss easy to get served in in my experience. it may be worth noting that im a goodlooking ****er too so i guess that helps a lot

shy-tall-knight

21 is the drinking age in all US states including Hawaii and Alaska.....its different in some territories such as Puerto Rico where I think its 19 but dont think anyone will be going there!
In terms of being under 21, New York, generally speaking, is quite easy to get served buy booze etc, I was only 20 there last summer and wasn't even ID'd in most places. I also spent some time in Boston which was a disaster in terms of trying to get alcohol, they're very wise to all the various fake irish id's there and will only accept passports...this applies to cape cod as well which was even more strict than Boston.

In terms of work, you are much better sticking with somewhere on the East coast, I know a lot of people who went to California but had to come home after 6 weeks because they couldn't get work. The state of California has a bigger debt crisis than Ireland so getting a job would be no easy task and would be a significant risk to take going there without something prearranged. I know nobody out of about 20 odd people who J1'd in New York, Boston and Chicago that didnt get work. So my advice would be to start on the east and if you earn enough you might get the chance to chill for your last few weeks in LA or San Fran if thats what you'd really want. Better to play it safe than come home broke after 6 weeks. That's what I plan on doing this summer. (and I'll be 21!!!)

lil_lisa

We cannot give illegal advice on this forum. The only way to go to the US on a J1, under 21, and drink is to live along the Mexican border and pop over for a few drinks there as the legal age there is 18. In saying this, the bordering towns across the border have become quite dangerous and sketchy in the last few years and to go over, with your passport, with the intent of getting drunk is not very ideal or safe.

So, if you don't want to go over the border, the only options you have are to either not drink while there or wait til your 21, sorry!

Hulk Hands

IT's not a strict as its made out to be, as long as you can show something valid.....what did you do before you were 18 in Ireland?

Have you got a brother by the way...cough. Im sure you'd miss him, so i'd expect you might bring a photocopy photo of him for em...keepsake, even if you couldnt bring him or his possessions along with you :pac: