WORK AND TRAVEL USA
~ What is WAT?
Work And Travel USA is the most popular cultural exchange program, approved by the US State Department.
The program provides a unique opportunity for full-time students to legally reside and work in the United States
during their summer break. Students are allowed to work for a maximum period of 4 months – between May 1st – October 1st , 2010.
If they wish, they can remain for additional 30 days as tourists.
The program gives you a great chance to improve your English skills, to make lots of friends from around the world,
to visit a number of famous attractions, and last but not least, to save some money :)
Work And Travel USA is YOUR chance to be independent, to check your abilities and prove to yourself that you can cope on your own :) Don't miss it!!!
~ Who can take part in WAT
Work And Travel USA is open to all full-time students in Bulgaria, and also Bulgarian students studying abroad.
Foreign students, who have a valid Bulgarian ID card and are currently enrolled at a university or college in Bulgaria,
are free to participate as well!
It is a requirement that students have at least Intermediate level of English and are between 18-28 years of age.
~ How much does it cost and what does the program fee include?
The program fee for MYWAT 2010 is 499 USD.
It is payable in two parts: deposit - after getting approval for partricipation, and payment – when the students apply
for the Certificate of Eligibility for NIV Exchange Visitor (DS2019).
THE PROGRAM FEE INCLUDES:
- The DS2019 form, which allows students to reside and work legally in the United States, and is mandatory when applying for a J-1 visa
- Medical insurance which covers the whole work period of the program
- A set of all application forms required for both DS2019 and J-1 visa
- A pre-departure Orientation Meeting
- Assistance privided by our team throughout the program
- Organizing your trip to USA
- 24h Telephone Help Line in Bulgaria
- Assistance privided by our team during your stay in the USA
- 24h Emergency Line in the USA and assistance on the part of our American partner
THE PROGRAM FEE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
- SEVIS fee – 35 USD
- Visa interview fee - 131 USD
- Airplane ticket
- Medical insurance for the tourist period
~ Step By Step
Step 1: Registration
Registration is made in person and is free of charge. You have to fill in a registration form and answer a few questions.
You can either register for the program at the office or online at: www.mytravel-bg.com
Step 2: Enrollment
Enrolling for the program can be done after getting approval for eligibility. Within 24h after you have registered, you will
recieve an email from us inviting you to visit our office and submit the necessary documents:
- your student book – The original student book plus a copy of all pages which contain information.
(The original is just for comparison!) OR Unofficial transcript;
- Enrollment Certificate OR it's Bulgarian equivalent called 'uverenie';
- a copy of your international passport (the page which contains your personal information and photo);
- a copy of each previous US visa (if any);
- 1 passport-size photo;
If you comply with the eligibility requirements, you get approved for MYWAT 2010:)
Step 3: Deposit
After you have been approved for taking part in the program, and you have submitted all of the required documents,
it is time to pay the program deposit and become an actual participant. The deposit is 150 USD and is deductible from the program fee of 499 USD.
At the time you pay the deposit you also sign a participant agreement.
Step 4: Finding a job
Each participant must have a job-offer from an American employer before departure to the US. There are various ways of searching
for a job-offer – over the internet; through friends of yours who have previously participated in the program; at Job Fairs organized
in Bulgaria.
Most of the students usually find jobs in the field of service and tourism – hotels, restaurants, fast-food restaurants,
amusement parks, water parks, different shops, etc. During your program you are allowed to have more than one job.
It is very important to know that students are not allowed to work any of the following: Au pair/nanny/babysitting; Domestic labor;
Camp counselor/teacher/coach; Medical/veterinary/ pharmaceutical services; Crew member on ships or airplanes, or as pilots; Door to door sales;
Employment through staffing agencies.
Securing yourself a job depends on your will and imagination alone :)
My Travel team will be here for you to help you choose the most appropriate
job position.
Step 5: Applying for DS2019 and paying the rest of the program fee
When the time comes to apply for the DS2019 form (Certificate of Eligibility for NIV Exchange Visitor)
you have to fill in an application form.
The DS2019 form is issued by the American sponsoring organization Intrax.
This is also the time when you pay the rest of the program fee – 349 USD, and also the SEVIS fee of 35 USD
(introduced by the US Government in 2004 for all J-1 visa applicants)..
Step 6: Applying for a J-1 visa
After the DS2019 form is received, you prepare the documents you need to attend the visa interview.
Our team will be at your service to assist you during the visa application process and will thoroughly
check all your documents before they are sent to the US Consulate in Sofia.
Now's a good time to book your ticket to the US :)
Step 7: Airplane ticket
If you have reached this step, it means your visa interview went well and you already have a J-1 visa in your passport
You buy your airplane ticket and prepare for an unforgettable summer in the USA :)
~ Here's a list of the documents you will need in order to book a J-1 visa interview at the US Embassy:
- One recent photograph – 5x5cm
- Passport + copies of any previous US visas that are not in your current passport
- Student book/Official Transcript
- Enrollment certificate
- DS2019 form (provided by My Travel)
- SEVIS receipt (provided by My Travel)
- The yellow copy of the receipt you get at Union Bank when paying for the visa interview.
- Visa application forms – DS-156, DS-157 и DS-158. You can get a set of copies at our office, or online:
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