Wednesday, October 14, 2026
By Mark Jurkowitz | Outer Banks Voice on April 20, 2026
With the summer looming, there is considerable uncertainty about how many J-1 Visa international exchange participants will come to the Outer Banks—and when they will arrive—to work at local businesses during the visitor season crunch.
While between 1,500 and 1,900 J-1 students traditionally come to the Outer Banks each summer, “it’s harder and harder to predict the timelines for arrival,” former Outer Banks ISOP Chair Jamie Banjak told the Voice.
There are a number of issues creating that uncertainty about the J-1 program here, including the wait time for applicants to get appointments at U.S. embassies or consulates, which can vary significantly by location and time of year. Global Visa Wait Times Another is the U.S. State Department policy enacted last year that mandates “a comprehensive and thorough vetting” of the applicants’ social media activity.
One additional factor, Banjak pointed out, is the number of people around the world trying to get visas to enter the U.S. for the FIFA World Cup that will be held between June 12-20.
Banjak, who no longer lives on the Outer Banks, told the Voice that she will be here in the next few weeks to hold a meeting about reinvigorating ISOP (the OBX International Student Outreach Program) the community support group for J-1 students that was founded in 2012 and disbanded in 2024. At a meeting in February 2025, Banjak noted that ISOP “Is still a little defunct,” and “we need to rebuild it.” https://www.outerbanksvoice.com/2025/02/11/it-takes-a-community-obx-meeting-seeks-to-revitalize-support-for-j-1-summer-student-program
Discussing the future of ISOP in the Voice interview, she stated that “We need to start a real board. We need a new chairperson, we need some people who can step up into leadership roles.” In addition, she said, the organization needs “interested stake holders” ranging from the Chamber of Commerce to local law enforcement agencies.
Despite the current J-1 challenges, Banjak stressed there’s “still a need for the program [which] is designed particularly for places like the Outer Banks” that experience “massive” seasonal shifts in the number of workers needed for its visitor-driven economy.
For businesses trying to ensure sufficient staffing this summer, the question at this point, Banjak said, is “where’s that workforce coming from?”
Comments
Travis
I’m relatively certain that the FIFA visa situation is quite secondary to the fear these J-1 students have about a negative interaction with ICE. Add to that the United States’ growing unpopularity in the world and it’s a good formula for keeping people away, especially younger people.
But the social media vetting was mentioned and that is no joke. Imagine your acceptance possibly hinging on having never posted anything negative about the US or the current thin-skinned Administration.
Dilbert
What about local kids? Are most too lazy to fill that number of local, seasonal jobs when they’re out of school?
Currituck
We need those workers. have you seen them? I often wonder what the selection process looks like.
Greg
Should be interesting filling the labor need.
M
Just one more reason not to build the bridge and add to the full-time and temporary population of the Northern Beaches.
NoBull
Oh Travis, what a crock of BS. Scared of ICE.
Hire locals. Pay them a fair wage instead of slave labor.
Craig
There wouldn’t be a need for foreign workers if the local population was having more babies. 20% decline in US births over the last 2 decades. For those teens that don’t want to work, you’re missing out. Some of my best memories were made making pizzas and subs, for 3.35$ an hour (minimum wage) at the local sub shop.
Arthur
there are about 1800 HS aged kids on the OBX from Corolla to Cape Hatteras and im sure most of them already work pt jobs. the visa program is for an additional 1900 that are needed to fill more roles. there are no where near the kids who live there to fill all the spots
OBXAndy
Arthur makes a good point. Facts do matter more than some of our thoughts.
M
I live and work in Buxton/Avon area and my boss has all the J1’s we need coming in to work at four businesses. Several of them are repeat summer visitors and are returning for 2026 as well.
Dom Bostich
Travis is a funny chap. ICE…ICE…ICE.
In other words: “Who will we get to pick our cotton?”
Laramy
Those of us born in the USA don’t understand the foreigners’ fear of ICE.
Bill
You get what you vote for.