Armed with fuzzy towels and gobs of sunscreen, Americans flocked to pools and beaches on Memorial Day to kick off the unofficial start of summer.
However, there may be fewer lifeguards perched atop their towers this year as the US tightens its immigration process and bilateral relations shift.
“Our number of BridgeUSA lifeguards is down this year,” Mike Collins, director of International Aquatics at Continental Pools, told Business Insider. “Specifically, many students from Turkey could not participate because they were unable to secure embassy appointments.”
He added, “This is disappointing for us given our long history with Turkish participants, and for the students who remained highly interested in the program but lacked the opportunity to attend.”
BridgeUSA invites full-time university students from around the world to temporarily work in the US through its Summer Work Travel Program. The program, operated by the Department of State, draws about 100,000 international students each summer. To qualify, students must obtain a J-1 visa for work-and-study exchange visitors.
These students make up a vital part of the country’s workforce, often landing in popular tourist hubs, like Ocean City, Cape Cod, the Florida Panhandle, and the Texas coast during the peak summer season. They typically take on a wide spectrum of hospitality and tourism jobs, including theme park attendants, hotel staff, restaurant servers, retail employees, and more.
Continental Pools, which handles pool management and other related services in parts of the Northeast, has hired through BridgeUSA since 1999. This summer, they will employ over 500 students.
“We started hiring through this program to help meet our seasonal staffing needs for outdoor swimming pools in the summer,” Collins said. “While we prioritize hiring as many local lifeguards as possible, our primary domestic candidate pool of high school and college students often cannot work an entire pool season from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day due to their school schedules.”
Without BridgeUSA lifeguards, Continental Pools wouldn’t be able to fully staff their pools for the entire summer.
“This would lead to delayed pool openings or early closings, negatively impacting our customers, their residents, and our overall business,” he said.
At the moment, that’s a reality many small or seasonal companies are facing.
Shifting global dynamics
President Donald Trump has imposed visa suspensions on multiple countries, maintaining his strict stance on immigration. The Trump administration has also added new stipulations for those seeking H-1B and student visas, and has paused the green card lottery.
The US has also tightened its screening process, which can include online presence reviews. Although the J-1 is a non-immigrant visa, United Work & Travel President Kasey Simon said those applicants could also encounter issues. Like Collins, Simon said United Work & Travel, a designated sponsor of the Summer Work Travel program, has also noticed a dip in applicants this year.
“We’re seeing the same number of businesses participate. However, the requested number of supplemental participants might be slightly less,” Simon said. “5% to 10% less overall.”
Simon said some students may face delays at their local US embassies. Uncertainty around America’s immigration policies could also affect some students’ decision to apply.
“There are also certain countries, depending on their relationship with the United States, that may not open appointments or be willing or able to issue as many visas as they once had,” Simon said. “For example, Russia used to be very popular on this program. It’s not as popular as it used to be. Pre- COVID, China was extremely popular, and now it’s just gaining back its popularity.”
While some applicants may be unable to travel due to major events, others may bypass the US in favor of other economies.
“If our economy is not as strong or powerful as it once was, it may impact an individual’s willingness to participate,” Simon said.
The additional hurdles can be difficult for both applicants and US businesses prepping for the summer.
“Each year, we also face uncertainty regarding how many of our participants will be approved or denied a visa, or even the availability of visa interview appointments at the embassy in their country,” Collins said. “This makes finalizing housing and work schedules challenging until just before summer.
Lifeguards deal in public safety, making Continental Pool’s workforce even more specialized.
“Hiring for positions that require successful completion of lifeguard training is naturally more difficult than hiring for a job at the mall, in a restaurant, or at a hotel. This is true both locally and globally,” Collins said.
Even so, Collins believes the program is necessary, and the benefits go beyond staff numbers.
“Beyond filling seasonal gaps, we value the opportunity to host students from around the world. Learning about different countries and cultures and sharing that diversity with our customers is a rewarding experience,” Collins said. “I love hearing from customers and former participants who remain in contact long after the season ends.”
Simon said, “There are significant challenges, but year after year, the program has proven its value.”
