Work and Travel USA ( Rus. Work and Travel to the USA ) is the most popular international student exchange program (the annual Department of State quota for participants in this program exceeds 100,000 places).
Its goal is to provide full-time students of higher education institutions with the opportunity to directly participate in the daily life of the people of the United States of America through travel and temporary work for up to 4 months during the summer holidays. At the end of the program, the participant is given up to 30 days to travel around the country without the right to work (the so-called "grace period").
Content
Terms
According to the requirements of the State Department for students from Russia, the program starts no earlier than May 15 and ends no later than September 15.
To participate in the summer program Work and Travel USA, you must be a full-time student at an accredited educational institution and conscientiously attend classes, as well as speak English at a conversational level (Intermediate Level and above). There are no formal restrictions on the age of the participants, however, students who are older than a “typical” student in Russia — that is, older than 23-33 years old — are at risk for interviews at the US Embassy. Evening students can participate in the program, provided that they attend classes at least 5 days a week (or at least 20 hours a week). Students of recent courses have the right to participate in the Work and Travel program, but must convince the consular officer that they will return to their homeland after the program is completed in due time.
The US Department of State manages the exchange program in accordance with the Mutual Education Ordinance and the Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended. The US Department of State defines organizations for managing international exchange programs in several categories. These organizations are called sponsors. Most sponsors have partners and agents around the world. Obligations for early verification of prospective employers of participants are assigned to sponsors.
SEVIS
SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) is a state-owned electronic system that allows you to track current information about students who have arrived on F or M visas and participants in an international exchange (J visa). SEVIS allows educational institutions and sponsors to send information and notifications over the Internet to the Department of Homeland Security and the US Department of State throughout the stay of students and exchange participants in the United States. SEVIS will receive information on the status of students and participants in the exchange, including (but not limited to) the dates of entry / exit, change of address, extension of the program, work notifications and changes in the educational program. SEVIS will also provide system alerts, event notifications, and reports to educational institutions and sponsors, as well as to the Department of Homeland Security and the US Department of State [1] . US embassies and consulates also have access to the SEVIS system.
Notes
- ↑ A national study examining the impact of SEVIS on international student and scholar advisors - Springer . link.springer.com. Date of treatment December 15, 2013.