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How can a trainee get a visa to come to the U.S.?
Trainees enter the U.S. on the the J-1 exchange visitor
visa. Once a program sponsor, in this case the YMCA, has issued a DS-2019 form,
the trainee can apply for the J-1 visa at the U.S. Consulate in his/her home
country. Having a DS-2019 form does not guarantee the trainee will be issued
the J-1 visa. The U.S. Consul stationed at the embassy makes this decision.
Is a DS-2019 form a visa?
No. The form is a sponsorship certificate which allows
the trainee to apply for the J-1 visa.
How long can a trainee stay in the U.S.? Trainees can stay in the U.S. so long as they maintain
good standing in the program and for thirty days after the end date on their
DS-2019 forms. The maximum length of time the DS-2019 form can cover is eighteen
continuous months.
How are trainees admitted to the
program? Trainees enter the country on a J-1 Exchange Visitor
Visa, which is stamped in their passport. Their exchange visitor category is
“practical trainee.” The International YMCA Branch of the YMCA of Greater New
York administers this Exchange Visitor Program.
Who is the
host site? The host site is the company or institution who
signed an agreement with the YMCA International Career Advancement Program to
provide training according to a pre-approved training program.
Can the International YMCA find me a host site? No, the International YMCA does not act as
a recruitment service. Our job is to sponsor your visa and ensure the quality
of the training program. The trainee is responsible for contacting organizations
with whom they would like to train.
You can give a prospective host site this website address (http://www.internationalymca.org)
so they can learn more about our program.
Likewise, the International YMCA does
not match prospective trainees to host sites. Host sites must have a particular
candidate in mind before they can apply to host a trainee
Who provides housing and
food for the trainee? This should be negotiated with the host
site before applying to the program.
Can the host site be changed? Only in extremely rare cases do we allow host changes.
Can a trainee work outside
the host site? No, work is permitted only as on-the-job training
described in the Training Plan submitted with the YMCA International Career
Advancement Program application. All other work is not permitted by the
trainee's J-1 visa and could result in severe fines for any employer hiring
the trainee outside of activities described on the Training Plan.
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Can I get a refund if my visa is denied or if I leave
the program early?
The
YMCA International Career Advancement Program will refund
50% of the program fee in
the event of cancellation or visa denial. To receive the partial
refund, the host site or trainee must send written notification to
the YMCA International Branch within 15 days of the start date on
the trainee's DS-2019 form. The YMCA will refund any unused portion
of the sickness and accident payment from the date written
notification is received.
Can a trainee leave the U.S. during the program?
Yes. However, the International YMCA must be informed
at least two weeks ahead of time. Here's how trainees can leave the U.S. and
return during the training period:
- The trainee's supervisor should send a letter to
the International Career Advancement Program on official letterhead stating:
- the trainee's name
- the trainee has approval to leave the U.S.
- the departure and return dates
- the trainee is in good standing with the host
site
- The trainee's DS-2019 should be
sent with the letter from the supervisor
- A self-addressed stamped envelope (preferably FedEx,
or registered mail) should be enclosed within the envelope. We will not
send the DS-2019 form back unless this is included.
We will then sign the DS-2019 form and
send it back to the trainee. The trainee will need the signed DS-2019 form to
reenter the U.S..
Do trainees have vacation time? This should be agreed upon with the host site at the time application
is made to the program.
Do trainees get sick time? Sick time policies should be understood by the trainee and the host site
at the time application is made to the program.
Are trainees free during the weekend to travel
in the U.S.? Trainees should negotiate
their schedules with their host supervisors.
Can the J-1 visa be changed to another visa category? No, to change the visa to another visa category,
the trainee must leave the U.S. and apply for a new visa. U.S. Note:
Embassies and Consulates in Canada and Mexico cannot process visa applications
from third country nationals.
What if the DS-2019 form is lost?
Send
a letter explaining where the DS-2019 form was last seen, along with a check
for $75. The YMCA will cancel
the original and send a replacement DS-2019 form. Should the original
DS-2019 form be found, please return it to the International YMCA, so we may
account for it to the U.S. Government.
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If the trainee is here less than eighteen months
can the visa be extended?
If a trainee
or host company would like to extend a training program, a
request must be made in writing to the YMCA, and must include:
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Letter
from host site requesting the extension
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Detailed
amendment to the training plan outlining the new skills,
knowledge and expertise that will be gained during the
extended training period; the plan for supervision during
the extended period; and the financial support to be
provided during the extended period
-
Baseline
and Mid-stay evaluations
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Photocopies of passport ID page, J-1 Visa, and I-94 Card
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Fee of
$300 (non-refundable) payable to International YMCA
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Insurance
fee for the extended period ($13.50 per week)
An extension cannot be used to repeat what has already been
covered in the original training plan, nor can it be used for
“implementation” or “practice” of what was learned in the
original training period. The training program should, from the
start, encompass opportunities for practice and implementation
through on-the-job-training. An extension should not be
necessary to do this.
Can the visa be extended past eighteen months?
No, eighteen months is the maximum length of time
allowed by U.S. Government regulations.
Do I get a new visa, or does it get stamped when
my program is extended?
No, you do not need to get a new visa as long as you remain
in the U.S. for the duration of your training program. When
your extension is approved, you will receive a new DS-2019 form,
which you should keep with your old one, with your passport.
Your new
DS-2019 with the extended dates allows you to remain in the U.S.
and continue training. You do not need a
new visa nor your old visa stamped to continue training in the
U.S.
However, with a program extension, you should not travel outside
the U.S.
Your visa was issued with an expiration date, and may expire
during the extension period. If you leave the U.S. with an
expired visa, you could be denied re-entry as you cannot enter
the U.S. with an expired visa. Officers may require you to go to
the U.S. Embassy in your home country and apply for a new visa
for the extension period. There is no guarantee that a new visa
will be granted.
What is a two-year rule?
Some countries have signed treaties with the United
States to prevent “brain-drain”. These treaties require trainees to return to
their home countries for two years after the conclusion of their J-1 program
before applying for a new visa to the U.S.. To find out if the two year rule
is in effect, trainees should check either with their consulate in the U.S.
or with the U.S. Consulate in their country.
How do I know if the two-year rule applies? If the U.S. Embassy stamped “subject to the two-year
rule” on the J-1 visa the two-year rule is in effect. If the visa does not bear
this stamp, then the chances are the trainee is not subject to this rule.
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