Covid-19 payment to former J1 students may affect ability to return to America 1 month ago


The situation could potentially affect thousands of people.

Former J1 students have received emergency Covid-19 payments from the US government that could potentially threaten their ability to return to the country., a tax advisory company, are reporting calls querying payments which have been mistakenly made to former international students and J1 working holiday makers from Ireland.

The payments have been made as part of the US CARES scheme (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security), which is a stimulus package that aims to support workers in the US (earning less than $75,000 per year) with a one-time payment of $1,200.


It is currently unclear how many Irish people have wrongfully received this payment.

Laura McHugh of explained the situation, saying: "It is not uncommon for Irish J1-visa holders who spent a summer in the US to mistakenly file their end of year return as a ‘resident’.


If you have received these funds in error, you are being urged to return the payment and make an amended tax return.