USA - Work and Travel
What is “Work and Travel”?
Program for cultural exchange which gives you the chance to live and work in USA for four months ,to get in touch with the American way of life, to improve your English language, to meet students form other countries , to see the American sights and also to earn some money.
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Requirements for participation
You have to be a full-time student in university or college identified at Bulgarian Ministry of Education. You have to be between 18 and 28 years old , to have at least intermediate level of English.
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Program variations and fees
- SELF PLACEMENT : 550.00$ You have to find employer in USA and job-offer by yourselves (from ex-participants , friends , Job Fairs, personal contacts, internet)
- STANDART PLACEMENT : 675.00$ We ensure your job offer . You can give us your preferences for the type of work, the area or the state where you want to spend the summer .
- PREMIUM PLACEMENT : 720.00$ You can choose form a list of employers , who provide better types of work with higher wages on some of the most famous places in USA.
- FREE STILE PLACEMENT : 610.00$ You can apply for J1 visa without secured job offer form US Employer , after you arrived in USA you can find a job by yourself .
* There is 131.00$ nonrefundable application fee for issue of DS2019 form if you get Visa denial in the US Consulate!
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Money you need
| program fee (depends on what placement you chose) |
550$, 675$, 720$, 610$ |
| fee for the interview at the US Consulate |
131 $ |
| SEVIS fee |
35 $ |
| plane ticket : prices starting from |
530 EUR |
| pocket money |
450 $ |
Total: about 1700-1900$
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The program includes
- DS2019 form – document that you need to obtain J1 VISA
- Medical Insurance that covers the work period of your VISA
- Job offer(for Standard and Premium Placements)
- Orientation in Bulgaria or USA
- Plane ticket booking
- Free phone card for calls from USA
- 24 hour hot line in USA
- Instructions before the interview in US Consulate
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Registration
You can apply personally directly in our office or you can send your documents by post:
- application form for participation
- copy of your student book( the first page and the last certified term)
- university certificate from your university that shows that you are full-time student
- copy of your Passport ( the first page and all stamps and VISAS)
- copy of your ID
- one passport photo
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Participating procedures :
First step: You have to fill in the application form for participation in our office (or send it by post), to bring the copies and the originals of your passport and your student book, an university certificate, your ID and one passport photo. After that you receive incoming number for test and interview in English .
Second step: You have to pass the test and the interview. After you pass them you get the program application form needed for the issue of the DS2019 form. You sign your personal contracts with us and our sponsor organization American Work Adventures(AWA). You have to pay 100.00 deposit for participation .
Third step: You have to bring the filled application forms and to pay the rest of the program fee .After that we send your documents to our sponsor organization AWA in USA, and they start issuing the DS2019 forms.
Fourth step: After we receive your DS2019 form you have to fill in the other set of documents (DS156,DS157 and DS158 form) that you need tî have a fixed date for an interview at US Consulate .You have to pay 35$ SEVIS fee. We book your plane ticket .
Fifth step: Go to the interview at US Consulate
Sixth step: After you pass the interview and you receive your passport with your J1 VISA you have to buy your plane ticket.
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Interview at the US Consulate
It is an individual conversation with the interviewer at the US Consulate.The interview lasts from 5 up to 15 minutes .The interviewer examines the level of your English language and your motives to come back in your country after the program finishes. Here is some of most asked questions:
- Do you have brothers or sisters, how old are they and what do they do ?
- What do your parents work ?
- Where do you study ?
- What is your specialty at university (please give us some details)?
- When do you expect to graduate?
- Why do you want to go to USA ?
- Do you have any relatives outside our country , where ?
- Have you traveled abroad, where and when ?
- Do you plan to stay and work in USA ?
- Where do you want to work after you graduate ?
- What you think about the Americans ?
- What are your positive negative features?
- What do you want to see in USA ?
- What are the reasons that will make you want come back ?
- How do you see yourself after 5 years ?
Second timers
You have to fill in all of the application forms .You do need to pass the test and the interview in English in our office. You receive your DS2019 form and go at the interview in the US Consulate.
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Plane tickets
Specially for the participants in our student programs we offer the lowest possible prices for plane tickets to the airports near your final destination, where you are going to work .To make the things even more easier for the students we make your bookings or the changes for your flights back home .
Plane tickets prices:
destination |
low season |
high season |
|
one way |
round trip |
one way |
round trip |
New York |
240 |
340 |
286 |
352 |
Boston |
264 |
352 |
324 |
362 |
Washington |
264 |
362 |
317 |
395 |
Chicago |
274 |
356 |
342 |
362 |
Atlanta |
286 |
396 |
352 |
406 |
Philadelphia |
305 |
426 |
330 |
432 |
Miami |
324 |
412 |
376 |
422 |
Orlando |
324 |
480 |
376 |
540 |
Tampa |
324 |
452 |
376 |
540 |
Charlotte |
332 |
416 |
372 |
422 |
Huston |
330 |
462 |
392 |
472 |
Detroit |
322 |
462 |
340 |
472 |
Denver |
372 |
446 |
442 |
456 |
Phoenix |
372 |
590 |
442 |
662 |
Las Vegas |
364 |
496 |
442 |
580 |
Dallas |
364 |
496 |
407 |
582 |
San Diego |
372 |
502 |
442 |
582 |
Seattle |
384 |
512 |
450 |
518 |
Los Angelis |
360 |
464 |
462 |
462 |
San Francisco |
360 |
464 |
472 |
462 |
* all of the prices are in EURO, no airport fees included and this are the lowest prices
* the airport fees cost about 190-200EURO , it depends on the airlines you travel with
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F.A.Q.
- What kind of VISA do I get ? – With Work and Travel Program you obtain J1 VISA
- How long does the program continue ? – With J1 VISA you can work legally in USA up to 4 months and after that you can stay 1 month as a tourist
- What can I work ? – You can work in hotels, amusement parks , supermarkets , restaurants , fast food restaurants etc.
- In which states in USA can I work ? You can work in all US states even Alaska
- How much will I get paid ? – The wage will be the same as the wage of the American students. The minimum wage is $ 5.15 per hour .Usually the wage is $ 6-9 per hour .( you can earn $2.77/hour if you work as a waiter, but your total income will be based on your tips )
- What taxes will I have to pay ? – According to the American Government every participant in the program for cultural exchange has to pay: Federal , State and Local tax, and doesn’t need to pay Medical and Social Security taxes. All the taxes you pay in USA can be refunded after the end of the tax year .
- How long is my medical insurance valid for? – Your medical insurance covers your work period for four months, it is shown on your DS2019 form.
- Can I get a second job? – Yes, you can but you need your first employer permission
- Can I change my employer in USA ? – Only with permission of AWA !
- Can I work during my tourist period ? – This month is for travelation and relax , you cannot work legally .
- Do you provide housing for me ? – For Standard and Premium Placement we or your employers provide your housing .The cost of the housing is between $35-100
- How many hours per week can I work ? – Between 30 – 40 hours per week , for hardworking students who have second job – over 60 hours.
- How much pocket money will I need ? – The minimum, that the immigration officers what to show them at the airports is $450
- Can I participate if I am in a gap year or if I have graduated? – No, you can not participate in Work and Travel Program.
- Can I participate if I am in my first or last year at university ? – Yes you can , but you need to have a lot of documents as proofs that you will come back after the program ends.
- What Is SEVIS – Student and Exchange Visitor Information. After September 11, the American Government decided all the the foreign students to be registered in a system that allows the International and Naturalization Services to have actual and exact information about them during their stay in USA
- What is Social Security Number ? – Every student need to apply for SS Number after he arrives in USA. Without this number you cannot work legally in USA.The number is unique and for your entire live.
- Is there a dead line for participation in the program ? – No, there is not but you will need your DS2019 ready until the middle of March in order to be sure that you will not be late for the interview in the US Consulate
- Can I extend my VISA ? – Yes, you can, but only in emergency cases – medical problems etc.
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How much will I lose if I get VISA denial in the US Consulate ? – You will lose $100 nonrefundable application fee, $35 SEVIS tax, $131 tax for the interview in the US Consulate.
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