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54. When do Russian students have an opportunity to go to the USA to work? How long?

RULES & REGULATIONS

Work & Travel USA allows eligible students to work in the USA for a maximum of 4 months and to travel at the end of their working period for up to a maximum of 25 days. All Work & Travel USA participants must note that they can only work and travel within the program dates. There are three seasons (Winter (November 15thApril 15th Southern Hemisphere students only), Spring (Dates vary. Primarily students from Asian countries.) and Summer (June 1st-October 19th European Students and all other students.)) when students are admitted into the program.

The DS2019 Form

You may never have heard of this important bit of documentation before, but once you become a Work &Travel Student, those numbers and letters will become very familiar to you. The DS2019 is the document that permits you to work legally in the U.S. Work & Travel USA participants may only work between the dates shown in box 3 on the DS-2019. Working

Eligibility to Participate on the Work & Travel USA Program

CIEE has been designated by the U.S. State Department to administer Work & Travel USA Program. As a program sponsor, CIEE helps to obtain all necessary work documents, provides supervision and emergency backup service throughout the program.

According to US State Department guidelines, "the selection will be limited to bona fide university students screened for maturity and ability to get maximum benefit from Summer Travel/Work Programs." To be eligible for the Work & Travel USA program, you must:

-According to CIEE rules, be between 18 and 30 years old.

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- Be registered as a full-time student at an accredited university or other state-recognized institution of post-secondary education. The degree/diploma course on which you are registered must be at least 2 years in duration. Students on post-graduate courses which are less than two years can also be accepted (e.g. masters courses). "Gap year" students or high school graduates are not eligible.

- Be able to function in an English-speaking work environment. Before participating on the Work & Travel USA Program, you will be screened for an intermediate/advanced level of English ability. This can be verified by having a Certified English Teacher fill out the English Ability and Reference section of the application form and/or by submitting scores from an accredited English test: TOEFL, TOEIC, Cambridge English Ex-

am (First, Advanced, Proficiency).

arranged job is not required and the aДparticipantИdoes not have a job, US$950 must be available in personal funds upon arrival in the USA.

- Undergo an interview, conducted by a CIEE staff member or a partner organization agent either in person or by telephone.

- Have a pre-arranged job and a minimum of $475 (US dollars)

available in order to support yourself upon arrival in the USA. When a pre-

57. Project task.СVisitиthe CIEE website and print out the samples of the documents necessary for entering the USA (the list is given below). Tell other students about the documents you have found emphasising the main features.

Entering the U.S. - Important Documents

When you enter the U.S. with the Work & Travel USA Program, you are under the status of a "J-1 Exchange Visitor." This gives you the right to work legally in the U.S. under the terms of the program. When coming through immigration at the airport, you will need to show the following documents to the Immigration Officer:

•DS-2019 form (issued by CIEE as your legal sponsor)

•Passport with J-1 Visa (except for Canadian students)

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•I-94 card (This is the white card which you will receive on the airplane; this is a U.S. Government entry document). Do not use the green visa waiver card! Save this card; it is vital when applying for Social Security!

•Employment Offer Agreement Form (EOAF)

•Form 1-797, SEVIS Receipt Fee

Before leaving for the US, be sure to print out these documents:

•Dear Employer Letter (Give this to your employer in the US when you arrive. This letter explains that you are a participant on the Work & Travel USA program through CIEE, and will assist your employer in setting up your paycheck properly.)

•Social Security Application (Be sure to take this completed application to the Social Security office.)

•Dear Social Security Officer (CIEE providesИyou with this letter to help you through the Social Security process. Please take this with you when you apply for your card, and present to theДSocial Security Officer.)

•Legal Opinion Letter (After you have applied for your Social Security

Card, it is legal for you to receive paychecks even if you are still waiting for your card. This letter explainsАthis fact, and is written by an attorney in case your employer has any questions.)

-When you arriveСinиthe U.S., present your DS-2019 form and your J-1 visa in your passport to an officer of the Immigration Officer.

-The Immigration Officer will take a copy of your DS-2019 form and return one to you. Keep your copy of the DS-2019 form safely with your passport at all times. If your DS-2019 is lost or stolen, contact CIEE immediately.

-The Immigration Officer will also stamp your I-94 card. One part of the I-94 will be stapled to your passport and the other copy will be kept by Immigration as a record of your arrival. When you depart the U.S., your I-

94 card will be taken and sent to the USCIS (Unites States Citizenship and Immigration Services). This is a record that you departed the country by58. Along with customs inspectionбpeople entering some other country

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the end of your authorized stay. This card must be with your passport at all times and is almost impossible to replace if lost, so please keep it safe.

And now complete and reproduce the dialogue:

Immigration Officer: Will you show me your passport, please. Passenger: ______________________________

Immigration Officer: What is the purpose of your visit? Passenger: ______________________________

Immigration Officer: ______________________________

Passenger: ______________________________

59. Registration is another important step. SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) has been set up by the government in an effort to keep track of all J-1 participants. Therefore, it is VERY IMPORTANT that you register with SEVIS within 20 days of your arrival. At your orientation session, you will be given precise details about SEVIS. Read the information and answer the following

1.GO TO www.mysevis.com.

2.Call 1-888-COUNCIL (1 888 268 6245), and a Customer Service Representative will assist you.

3.Use the ORANGE POSTCARD you received at orientation. There is no need to provide postage; just fill it out and put it in the mail!

IMPORTANT: PLEASE DO NO REGISTER FOR SEVIS UNTIL YOU ARE IN THE U.S.

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IF YOU DO NOT REGISTER FOR SEVIS, YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR CIEE SPONSORSHIP AND PROGRAM TERMINATION! PLEASE DO NOT FORGET THIS IMPORTANT REQUIREMENT!!!

If you change your address, you will need to update SEVIS with this information. To do this, please call 1-888-COUNCIL or visit the SEVIS web site.

YOU HAVE 10 DAYS FROM THE TIME YOU MOVE TO CHANGE THIS INFORMATION!

http://www.ciee.org/wat/regulations/sevis.html

60. You may be surprised at some of the characteristicsИ you find in

the U.S. workplace. Supervisors may share personal information that

you would normally share only with Дclose friends and may allow you

to call them by their first name. Socializing on the job is common, and your boss will often join in. Despite this friendliness, you are always expected to do your job and act appropriately. To succeed in your job, you will be expected to:

and don't be afraid to ask forбtheir help when you need it. Your employer

may even ask you to perform tasks outside of your job description. This is normal, and will benefit your level of experience!

The ultimate goal in the U.S. workplace is completing the job. Members of a workgroup, including your boss will be very flexible about the work each team member does to achieve that goal.

Be On TimePunctuality!

Being "on time" is essential, and showing up earlier than expected makes a good impression on your employer. Showing up late is unacceptable – if you are late repeatedly, you will be seen as a person who doesn't take their job seriously. You will find that during business hours, conversations are usually short and to the point. You will have plenty of time to get to know your colleagues during breaks.

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