J-1 visas issued, but number still falls short for OC Beach Patrol

OCEAN CITY, Md. – The Ocean City Beach Patrol fell short on some J-1 visas this summer season.

This year there were less J-1 visas available for Canadian lifeguards who are from the Summer Work and Travel Program.

Last season this group of foreign students made up 10 percent of the beach patrol workforce, which is about 20 lifeguards. This year that number has dropped to ten.

“What happened this year with the Canadian, which had never happened before is some of the returning employees waited kind of late to apply and by the time they applied for their J-1 visas the company they went through in Canada had used up their allotment,” said Butch Arbin, Captain of the Ocean City Beach Patrol.

Captain Butch Arbin said their visa sponsor may set aside a number of J-1 visas for the Ocean City Beach Patrol next season. They hope this will help them have more foreign workers in the future.