Before applying
Which agency? Which job? Which city?
HOWTOCROSS SUPPORT
Your SWT year,
with fewer unnecessary detours.
HowTo SWT Companion
A year-long practical support program for Chinese university students preparing for Summer Work Travel in 2027.
- SEP 2026 – SEP 2027
- Year-long support
- 12 + 1
- Live sessions
- ¥299
- Per person
Why this exists
SWT is simple to explain.
The year around it isn’t.
New questions keep appearing as the year moves forward. Knowing what comes next makes it easier to prepare without pretending every outcome can be controlled.
Interviews
How should I prepare my English? What should I ask the employer?
Visa
How do I prepare? How do I keep my documents and answers consistent?
Before departure
Housing? Phone? Banking? Entry documents?
In the U.S.
Work issues? Sponsor communication? Money? Travel? Taxes?
HowTo SWT Companion does not replace the decisions you need to make. It helps you understand what comes next before you reach it.
What’s included
A full year, organized around the moments that matter.
Formal live sessions
From October 2026 through September 2027.
Free introductory session
A complete SWT year map in September 2026.
Guest experience shares
Two guest-sharing slots in each of the first five formal sessions; this does not imply ten different guests.
Personal English mock assessments
Individual practice for the moments that matter.
Replay & resources
Replay, checklist, practice or template uploaded within 72 hours after each live session.
Ongoing group support
Questions, focused discussion and practical information updates throughout the journey.
Your SWT year
Four phases. One connected journey.
Sep – Dec
Decide & Apply
Understand the system, compare options and prepare for the conversations that shape your route.
- Free intro: the SWT year from application to return
- Compare jobs and cities beyond hourly wage
- Agency speaking assessment
- Sponsor / employer interview preparation
Jan – May
Visa & Departure
Prepare carefully for official steps, arrival documents and the practical decisions before departure.
- J-1 visa interview preparation
- Optional travel and visa information
- U.S. entry and documents
- The final 30–60 days before departure
- Designing a personal growth goal
Jun – Aug
Live in America
Work through everyday questions, communicate with the right people and make the summer more than a job.
Forming an LLC does not create U.S. work authorization.- Phone, banking and personal-finance basics
- Money & practical life in the U.S.
- Sponsor / employer communication
- Mid-program open discussion
- Foundations of one-person companies, LLCs and cross-border projects
Sep
Return & Reflect
Keep the records you may need, close practical loose ends and turn the experience into something you can carry forward.
- Keep wage, hour and tax records
- Foundations of DIY tax filing
- Account and practical wrap-up
- Complete SWT reflection
- Participant experience sharing
English support
English support
when it actually matters.
Practice is organized around three real decision points—not generic conversation drills.
Agency speaking assessment
Sponsor / Employer interview
Visa interview
2 personal mock assessments20 minutes each
Written listening & speaking feedbackWithin 3 business days
Growth challenge
More than completing SWT.
Choose something you want to build, improve or leave behind during your summer in the United States.
View growth challenge details
Create
Content, product experiments and cross-border ideas.
Connect
Local events, public speaking, conversations and interviews.
Live independently
Cooking, budgeting, travel and solving real-life problems.
Get stronger
Training, running and healthier routines.
Leave something behind
SWT reflections, practical guides and experience sharing.
Who it’s for
This may be for you if...
- Preparing for SWT 2027
- Joining SWT for the first time
- Unsure how to compare agencies, jobs or cities
- Nervous about English interviews
- Want practical preparation for U.S. life
- Want to make SWT more than a summer job
This is probably not for you if...
- Someone to complete the process for you
- Guaranteed visa approval
- Guaranteed job placement
- Guaranteed income
- Guaranteed investment or financial outcomes
Clear boundaries
Support works better when responsibilities stay clear.
HowTo Cross helps with
- Preparation
- Experience sharing
- Mock practice
- Practical information
- Ongoing questions
- Community discussion
HowTo Cross does not act as
- J-1 Sponsor
- U.S. employer
- Guaranteed placement provider
- Immigration law firm
- Tax professional
- Investment adviser
For visa, tax, work-authorization and other professional matters, rely on your Sponsor, official government information and qualified professionals.
Full curriculum
Full 2027 Journey
Free IntroThe SWT Year: From Application to Return
See the complete route before formal sessions begin: decisions, interviews, visa preparation, departure, U.S. life and return.
Session 1Compare Jobs & Cities Beyond Hourly Wage
Compare the whole picture around a role, including location, likely hours, housing, transport and daily costs.
Session 2English I: Agency Speaking Assessment
Prepare a clear self-introduction and practise the listening and speaking situations used in agency assessment.
Session 3English II: Sponsor / Employer Interview
Practise common interview questions, workplace communication and the questions you may need to ask an employer.
Session 4English III: J-1 Visa Interview Preparation
Organize your own information and practise clear, consistent answers without any promise of visa approval.
Session 5Optional Travel & Visa Information
Optional information for students considering additional travel; it is not a core SWT outcome or guarantee.
Session 6U.S. Entry, Check-in & Documents
Review the entry, program check-in and document questions students need to organize before travel.
Session 7Pre-departure, Packing & Entry
Turn the final 30–60 days into a practical checklist for packing, arrival and everyday needs.
Session 8Growth Plan & SWT Challenge
Choose one personal direction to build, improve or document during the summer.
Session 9Phone, Banking & Personal-finance Basics
Understand practical phone, bank-account, budgeting and everyday money questions in the United States.
Session 10One-person Companies, LLCs & Cross-border Projects
Build basic awareness of one-person companies, LLCs and cross-border projects without treating them as investment or employment advice.
LLC registration does not equal work authorization.Session 11Mid-program Open Discussion & Practical Questions
Bring current questions about daily life, workplace communication and where to seek the right official help.
Session 12Return, Tax Basics, Account Wrap-up & Reflection
Keep wage, hour and tax records, understand basic wrap-up tasks and turn the year into a useful reflection.
Join the companion program
HowTo SWT Companion
¥299 / person
Includes
- 12 Formal live sessions
- 1 Free introductory session
- 10 Guest experience shares
- 2 × 20 min Personal English mock assessments
- 72h Replay & resources
- 1 year Ongoing group support
Participation in HowTo SWT Companion does not include SWT program fees, agency fees, visa fees, transportation, accommodation or other third-party costs.
Good to know
Questions before joining.
What is HowTo SWT Companion?
A year-long HowTo SWT Companion preparation and support program for Chinese university students planning to join SWT in 2027.
Is this the SWT program itself?
No. It is a HowTo Cross support program for students preparing for SWT.
Does HowTo Cross sponsor my J-1 visa?
No. HowTo Cross is not a J-1 Sponsor.
Does ¥299 include SWT application or agency fees?
No. The price covers Companion support only, not SWT program, agency or third-party costs.
Will sessions be available as replays?
Yes. Replay and supporting resources are planned within 72 hours after each live session.
Who is it designed for?
Chinese university students preparing for SWT 2027.
Does participation guarantee a visa, employer, salary or income?
No. HowTo SWT Companion provides preparation and support, not guaranteed outcomes.