IntoEdVenture

WORK and TRAVEL in the USA,

Foreign College/University Students

 

INTO has SUMMER WORK and TRAVEL in the USA for Foreign College and University Students.

INTO, an SEA Alliance Member provides Work and Travel for foreign university/college students, non-college students, and young professionals training that bridge their course of study in their career development.

 

PURPOSE OF THE SUMMER WORK/TRAVEL PROGRAM

The SUMMER WORK AND TRAVEL Program is designed to allow FOREIGN COLLEGE and UNIVERSITY STUDENTS the opportunity to live, WORK & TRAVEL in the United States for a maximum period of 4 months, but within the limits of their official college summer vacation.

IntoEdVentures is working to provide the opportunity to experience life in the United States by sharing in its traditions and cultures by WORK N TRAVEL, an experience that is very different from that of a tourist.

WHY INTO?

Founded in 1989, IntoEdVentures is a non-profit, exchange organization and a designated United States Department of State sponsor for both the High School Program and the Work and Travel Program. INTO provides a highly qualitative WORK AND TRAVEL program that meets all the guidelines of the US Department of State.

INTO MISSION STATEMENT

“Our mission is to encourage the development of mutual awareness, respect, concern and trust among people from different nations. What a great goal to have as our standard of operation in bringing people of the world closer together.”

QUESTION AND ANSWERS: INTO SUMMER WORK AND TRAVEL EXCHANGE PROGRAM

> How does a foreign student participate?
> What is the qualification to participate in the Work and Travel Program?
> When does the Summer Work/Travel program take place?
> What is SEVIS?
> Does SEVIS have a fee?
> What is program validation?
> During the program, can I change residence?
> What if I want to change my place of employment?
> Does INTO allow more than one job while an INTO Summer Work-n-Travel participate?
> Who do I contact if I have questions, concerns or information?
> If I enter the US after the start date on the DS-2019, can I stay longer?
> Is there a Grace Period?
> Students with completed course work, not yet formally graduated eligible for this program?
> Are vocational school students eligible for program?
> When does the INTO Summer Work and Travel Program begin?
> Are participants screened and interviewed to be program participants?
> Must INTO Summer Work N Travel participants have medical insurance?
> Does INTO provide an Orientation?
> What participants receive before their departure for the United States INTO? (Pre-arrival Information)
> What orientation session information is included? (Orientation)
> Must INTO Summer Work/Travel Program have pre-arranged employment before entering the United States?
> Any restrictions on the type of employment for the INTO Summer Work/Travel program?
> How are participants paid?
> Are participants monitored?
> May INTO use Third Parties to administer parts of their program?

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How does a foreign student participate?
The US Department of State designates U.S. organizations to administer exchange programs in several categories and IntoEdVentures is such a program. INTO has partners located worldwide to assist in the participation of this program. To receive information about the INTO Work and Travel Program (Click Here), and submit your completed information form.

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What is the qualification to participate in the Work and Travel Program?
You must be a post-secondary foreign student actively pursuing a degree or a full-time course of study at an accredited educational institution at an educational system.

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When does the Summer Work/Travel program take place?
Foreign exchange college/university students set the duration on the DS-2019 visa request with the dates of participation. This is during the summer break of your college or university. No program time frame can exceed four months. Program extensions are not permitted.

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What is SEVIS?
SEVIS, Student and Exchange Visitor Information System is an Internet-based system that provides tracking and monitoring, with access to accurate and current information on exchange visitors (J visa) participating in the Work and Travel Program. The Form DS-2019, needed to apply for a J visa, can only be issued by a DoS-designated sponsor such as INTO, who has authorized access to SEVIS.

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Does SEVIS have a fee?
The SEVIS I-901 Fee is a fee paid to DHS by all J-1 visa participants. It is used for the maintenance and upkeep of SEVIS. The SEVIS Fee for the Summer Work/Travel program is $35.00. This fee must be paid prior to your visa interview. It is recommended that a copy of your receipt be retained.

Please ask your sponsor about this fee and the process for payment. In some case, sponsors pay for the fee up front; in other cases, sponsors require participants to pay the fee.

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What is program validation?
When a Work and Travel participant enters the United States to participate in an exchange visitor program, they must report to IntoEdVentures who issued the Form DS-2019 used to acquire the J-visa. The INTO officials can then record his/her arrival in SEVIS, validating their active participation in the sponsors exchange visitor program. Upon validation, the participant's SEVIS record is changed from awaiting arrival to arrived and reported to sponsor. Failure to report will jeopardize your valid program visa status.

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During my program, can I change residence?
Check with INTO prior to becoming a participant. A change of residence during your exchange program depends on the contract or arrangements you made with INTO or the potential employer. Some pre-arranged employment conditions include accommodations as a part of the employment agreement. In this case, you cannot seek other housing. If housing is not part of your exchange visitor program, you can change housing. You must keep INTO informed of your U.S. address.

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What if I want to change my place of employment?
Check with INTO prior to becoming a participant. Changing your place of employment depends on the contract or arrangements you made with INTO or the potential employer. Some pre-arranged employment will not permit a change. Changing employment without INTO authorization will cause your INTO exchange visitor program to be terminated. INTO will ask you to leave the U.S. immediately. Failure to comply can create legal difficulties for the INTO participant, affecting the ability to travel, study or work in the US in the future.

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Does INTO allow more that one job while an INTO Summer/Work Travel participate?
Check with you INTO prior to accepting a second position. There is no regulatory prohibition against more than one job.

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Who do I contact for questions, concerns, or need information?
INTO is who you contact for answers to any and all questions pertaining to the INTO Summer Work/Travel program. INTO is responsible for your stay in the United States and will assist you.

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If I enter the US after the start date on the DS-2019, can I stay longer?
Into may adjust the program begin and end dates ONLY prior to validation of a participant's record in SEVIS.
NOTE: Keep in mind the return date must not extend beyond the student's summer vacation, and the first day for the new term the student is enrolled for courses at their college or university.

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Is there a Grace Period?
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) provides INTO Summer Work and Travel participants a 30-day travel status period, NOT included on the Form DS-2019, following the completion of their program. This allows participants to travel domestically and/or to depart from the United States. It cannot be used for any other purpose. If you travel outside the US during the grace period; you may not be permitted to re-enter the United States. Employment during the grace period is also prohibited.

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Students with completed course work, not yet formally graduated, eligible for this program?
Not unless they can demonstrate enrollment in another degree program or otherwise demonstrate that they return bona fide student status of their academic institution.

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Are vocational school students eligible for program?
Vocational School Students are not eligible for the Summer Work/Travel program unless they can demonstrate that their study will ultimately lead to a degree from an accredited post-secondary institution.

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When does the INTO Summer Work/Travel program begin?

Foreign nationals Summer Work/Travel program is during their summer vacation at a full-time college or university. It is inappropriate for students to participate outside the summer break provided in their home country's normal academic calendar.

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Are participants screened and interviewed to be program participants?
INTO is required to conduct a personal interview. INTO must ensure that the program is suitable to the participant's background, needs, and experience. Participants must meet all eligibility criteria stated below:

• Student Status

To be eligible, INTO participants must be currant post-secondary school students actively pursuing a degree or a full-time course of study at a home country accredited educational institution. Students with their degree are not eligible students.

• English-Language Proficiency

Prospective exchange visitor participants must possess sufficient proficiency in the English language to participate in their programs.

• Repeat Participation

Students may participate in the INTO Summer Work/Travel program for more than one year.

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Must INTO Summer Work/Travel participants have medical insurance?
Yes. In fact, all exchange visitors are required to have medical insurance. INTO requires coverage that covers the exchange visitor for sickness or accident during the entire period of time.

 Minimum coverage shall provide:

1. Medical benefits of at least $50,000 per accident or illness
2. Repatriation of remains in the amount of $7,500
3. Expenses associated with the medical evacuation of the exchange visitor to his or her home country in the amount of $10,000
4. A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness.

The insurance policy, plan, or contract secured to fulfill the above requirements must meet other standards specified in the Exchange Visitor Program regulations.

INTO shall terminate an exchange visitor's participation if the exchange visitor fails to remain in compliance with the regulations governing insurance coverage.

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Is INTO required to provide an orientation?
Yes, INTO is required to provide both pre-arrival information and an orientation session to all Summer Work/Travel participants.

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What pre-departure orientation information INTO participants receives? (Pre-arrival Information)
INTO participants with secured employment that has been pre-placed/pre-arranged before departure:

1. The name and location of the employer
2. Any contractual obligations related to acceptance of paid employment in the United States. (This should include such information as the dates of employment, the number of hours of work weekly, over time requirement/pay, hourly salary, work hours, whether housing is included by the employer, and at what cost, etc.)

INTO Participants without having a pre-placed/pre-arranged employment:

Items 1 and 2 must be provided prior to their departure for the United States.

Item 3 may be given to participants when they arrive 

1. How to seek employment in the United States
2. How to secure lodging, social security cards, and dealing with cultural issues in the United States.
3. A roster of job listings equal to or greater than the number of not pre-placed participants for whom the sponsoring organization facilitated entry to the United States

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What participants receive before their departure for the United States?

1. The purpose of the Exchange Visitor Program
2. Home-country physical presence requirement
3. Travel and entry into the United States
4. Housing
5. Fees payable to the sponsor
6. Other costs that the exchange visitor will likely incur (e.g., living expenses) while in the United States
7. Health Care and insurance
8. Other information that will assist exchange visitors to prepare for their stay in the United States

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What orientation session information is included?
INTO gives an appropriate Exchange Visitor orientation. Orientation shall include, but not be limited to, information on:

1. Life and customs in the United States
2. Local community resources (e.g., public transportation, medical centers, schools, libraries, recreation centers, and banks) to the extent possible
3. Available health care, emergency assistance, and insurance coverage
4. A description of the program in which the exchange visitor is participating
5. Rules that the exchange visitors are required to follow
6. Address of INTO and the name and telephone number of the Responsible Officer
7. Address and telephone number of the Office of Exchange Coordination and Designation; and a copy of the Exchange Visitor Program brochure outlining the regulations relevant to the exchange visitor.

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Must INTO Summer Work/Travel Program have pre-arranged employment before entering the United States?
No. Students entering the United States without pre-arranged employment must have sufficient financial resources to support themselves during their search for employment. Sponsors are required to undertake reasonable efforts to secure suitable employment for participants who have not found suitable employment within one week of commencing their job search. Therefore participants should contact ISE if they have not located employment within one week of arrival.

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Any restrictions on the employment for the INTO Summer Work/Travel program?
Participants may not be employed as domestic employees in U.S. households (child care, chauffeurs, gardeners, etc.), in positions that require them to invest their own monies to provide themselves with inventory for the purpose of door-to-door sales, or in any employment involving any type of patient care.

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How are INTO participants paid?
Summer Work/Travel participants are to receive the same pay and benefits as U.S. citizens in the same or similar positions. Information about the Federal Minimum Wage requirements should be provided by your sponsor prior to acceptance in the program.

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Are INTO participants monitored?
Yes. INTO is required to ensure that the activity in which their participants are engaged is consistent with the category and activity listed on the exchange visitor's DS-2019. Sponsors are also to monitor the progress and welfare of their participants, as well as maintain their current U.S. addresses and telephone numbers.
Sponsors must also provide to all participants telephone numbers through which they may have 24-hour immediate contact with the sponsor organization/officials. Sponsors are also required to provide appropriate assistance to program participants on an as-needed emergency basis.

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May INTO use Third Parties to administer their program?
INTO may use a third party to provide orientation, U.S. hosting, placement, and/or other support services for program participants.

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