Welcome to Spirits Online Orientation for the Jobs America Program

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Welcome to Spirits Online Orientation for the
Jobs America Program
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WELCOME

• As a Jobs America participant, you will have the
  opportunity to experience American culture and
  practice English by living and working with
  Americans and other international students. We
  hope you have a wonderful experience!The
  following online orientation will answer the most
  commonly asked questions about the program. You
  will have the opportunity to receive more
  information at the orientation session provided
  by your sending agent and at the Spirit
  orientation offered upon arrival in the USA. We
  recommend that you attend both of these
  orientations, so that you have the opportunity to
  ask questions and meet our staff!
• For specific questions before your arrival to
  the USA, please contact your sending office in
  your home country.

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Spirit Policies
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SPIRIT POLICIES Full Program Accepting a Job
Offer

• If you are a Full Program participant, you have
  the choice to accept or decline your Spirit job
  offer before arrival in the USA.
• By accepting your job offer, you commit to
• The terms of the position as stated on the job
  offer.
• Working at your designated employer for the
  ENTIRE program period.
• The housing terms, including any deposits due
  before or upon arrival.
• Contacting your employer AT LEAST TWO WEEKS
  before the program start date to confirm your
  arrival plans.

Spirit MUST receive your SIGNED acceptance or
decline of the job offer by the indicated
deadline listed on your job offer. If Spirit
does not receive your signed acceptance by the
deadline date, we will assume that you have
rejected the job offer, and the offer will
be cancelled.
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SPIRIT POLICIES Full Program Declining a Job
Offer

• If you decline a Full Program job offer, you have
  two options
• Replacement Job Offer
• Request a replacement Spirit job offer for an
  extra fee within one week of declining your first
  job offer
• Your initial job offer cannot be reinstated.
• Only one replacement job offer will be allowed.
• Find Your Own Job
• You may find your own job and housing before or
  upon arrival in the USA. (Self-placed discount
  is not available.)

It is best if you identify your employer BEFORE
arrival in the USA, as some employers are
hesitant to hire students off the
street without Social Security Numbers.
Receiving your Social Security Card after arrival
in the USA can take 2-12 weeks, so it is best if
you identify employment before arrival in the USA.
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SPIRIT POLICIES Self-Placed Freestyle Programs

• If you are a Self-placed or Freestyle
  participant, your sending office can provide you
  a list of self-placed employers that may be
  interested in hiring international students.
  These employers often require special
  qualifications and do not usually pre-arrange
  housing, so you must be willing to identify your
  own housing after arrival.
• Spirit must receive a copy of your written
  employment offer as soon as it is confirmed.
  Please give it to your sending office before
  departure.
• Freestyle Only If you do not identify employment
  before arrival, you must contact Spirit
  immediately upon arrival in the USA to provide a
  temporary address and contact information until
  you find employment. Once you identify
  employment, you should email your scanned written
  offer to support_at_spiritexchange.com.
• Freestyle Only You MUST check-in with Spirit at
  least once per week until you secure employment
  and housing. Failure to communicate with Spirit
  during this period will result in visa
  termination.

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SPIRIT POLICIES Changing Jobs

• Full Program participants MUST complete their
  entire program period at their Spirit-designated
  employer. Full Program participants who want to
  change jobs after arrival must contact Spirit to
  discuss their situation. No Full Program
  participants may leave their employer without
  Spirit authorization.
• Self-placed and Freestyle program participants
  are allowed to change jobs after arrival in the
  USA, though it is recommended that you provide at
  least one week (preferably two weeks) notice to
  your employer.
• Inform Spirit of any housing or employment
  changes through our online Job/ Housing Change
  Notification located on our website at
  www.spiritexchange.com. Spirit must receive your
  Job/ Housing Change Notification within one week
  of moving locations.

Failure to notify Spirit of ANY employment or
housing changes within one week of the change
will result in visa termination.
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Pre-Departure
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PRE-DEPARTUREChecklist

• Review your job offer housing options
  thoroughly.
• Research the location of your employer.
• Review your employers website and the community
  information website listed on your job offer.
• Communicate your travel plans to your employer.
• Ensure that you have enough money.
• You should have at least 1000 available to you
  upon arrival in the USA to support yourself until
  you receive your first paycheck. Review your
  travel instructions and housing deposit amount to
  ensure that you bring enough money to cover your
  settling-in costs.

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PRE-DEPARTURE What to Expect From Your Employer

• Spirit participants are generally placed in
  unskilled, seasonal jobs, such as in housekeeping
  or kitchen work. Some positions are assigned
  based on English skills and participant
  preference, but you must be prepared to consider
  a position in any industry across the United
  States.
• If you are a Full Program participant, you will
  receive one job offer from a Spirit cooperating
  employer with a list of positions currently
  available.
• Most employers will assign a specific position to
  you after your arrival, when they can best
  determine your skills and where you will fit in
  with their employment needs. However, your
  specific position is subject to change based on
  your performance and the employers needs.
• Some employers prefer to pre-assign positions
  before arrival, which should be noted on the job
  offer. Even in this case, your specific position
  is subject to change based on your performance
  and the employers needs.
• Some employers may deduct the cost of housing or
  meals from your paycheck. Review your job offer
  carefully to fully understand the terms of the
  offer.

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PRE-DEPARTUREFull Program Housing Options

• For Full Program participants, an affordable
  housing option has been identified which is near
  your work location or public transportation.
  Housing options often cost 35 or less of your
  average monthly earnings and are shared with
  other international students or employees.
  Housing may be in university dormitories,
  apartments, or on-site at work place.
• You are responsible for paying housing
  deposits/fees directly to your landlord or
  housing manager. Before arrival, carefully read
  the requirements of your housing arrangements
  listed on your job offer. In order to reserve
  housing, deposits are often required before or
  upon arrival. Failure to follow the
  instructions on your job offer with regards to
  housing confirmations or deposits required before
  or upon arrival may result in loss of housing.
• For any clarification on how to secure housing,
  ask your employer or sending office before you
  arrive in the USA.

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PRE-DEPARTURECommunicate with Employer

• It is VERY important to begin communicating with
  your employer as soon as
• you have signed and accepted your job offer.
• Send your employer your travel plans and your
  expected arrival date and time.
• It is usually best to contact your employer by
  the email address listed on page one of your job
  offer. If you do not receive a response within
  one week, please call your employer.
• Ask your employer any questions you have about
  your job, housing, weather, uniform, etc.
• Make sure that you also communicate your travel
  plans to your sending office!

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PRE-DEPARTUREBudget

• Using your job offer as a guide, make a budget to
  ensure that you will have enough
• money upon arrival in the USA.
• PRE ARRIVAL FEES
• Housing/Administrative Fees Due Before
  Arrival ____________
• POST ARRIVAL FEES EXPENSES
• Housing Deposit Due Upon Arrival ____________
  
• First Months Rent Due Upon Arrival _________
  ___
• Other fees Due Upon Arrival (uniform, key
  deposit, etc). ____________
• Ground Transportation Costs from Orientation to
  Employer (bus/train ticket) ____________
• Money to cover initial expenditures until first
  paycheck (at least 300). ____________

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PRE-DEPARTURE Recommended Packing List

• Swimsuit/ sunglasses/ sunscreen/ towel (summer)
• Warm coat/ gloves/ hat/ scarf/ snow boots/ warm
  shoes (winter)
• Prescription medications
• Basic hygiene items (soap, deodorant, etc)
• Camera
• Money belt (for keeping important documents and
  money safe!)
• International calling card
• Important Documents one copy of each in case of
  loss or theft

Visit your employment communitys website (listed
on job offer) to learn more about the areas
climate, elevation and area attractions. Any
personal items that you forget can often be
replaced after arrival by visiting a local
discount department store near your employer.
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PRE-DEPARTURE Important Documents

• Passport with J-1 visa
• DS-2019
• Job offer with orientation assignment information
  and travel instructions
• Letter from Spirit to the Social Security
  Administration (provided by Sending Agent)
• One copy of the above documents kept separately
  from originals

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Arrival
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ARRIVAL Orientation

• Spirit strongly encourages you to attend your
  assigned orientation session in the USA. Review
  your job offer for details on your orientation
  session date and location.
• You MUST confirm your attendance at the
  orientation session with the sending office in
  your home country as least two weeks before
  arrival. You should plan to arrive to the
  orientation site no later than 1800 on your
  assigned orientation arrival date.
• Orientation topics include
• Working and traveling in the USA
• J-1 visa status
• Social Security application
• Validating Your Visa
• Medical Insurance, taxes, etc.
• Money and safety issues
• Much more!

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ARRIVAL Orientation Schedule

• Arrival Day
• Arrivals (dinner on your own with provided cash
  allowance)
• Overnight accommodations included
• Next Morning
• Orientation Session (breakfast included)
• Complete Social Security Application
• Afternoon
• Travel to your employer using Spirits
  recommended travel instructions

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ARRIVAL Cant Attend Orientation?

• If you cannot attend orientation in the USA, your
  orientation materials including your insurance
  card and tax filing information will be sent to
  you at your employers address. Please ask your
  employer for this packet upon arrival.
• You are responsible for your own overnight
  accommodations and travel planning if you arrive
  outside of the normal orientation schedule.
• Participants not attending the orientation should
  consult their job offers for instructions on
  where to apply for a Social Security Number.

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ARRIVAL Traveling to Your Employer

• Review the information on traveling to your
  employer listed in your job offer
• Communicate any changes to your travel plans to
  your employer. Your employer expects you to
  arrive within one or two days of your program
  start date.
• You will be at risk of losing your job and your
  visa status if you do not arrive to your employer
  as scheduled. Spirit cannot guarantee placement
  at another employer in this case.
• Spirit encourages you to purchase your ground
  transportation tickets before arrival in the USA.
  Many buses and trains offer advanced purchase
  discounts.
• For more information on ground transportation
  options, go to www.greyhound.com or
  www.amtrak.com

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ARRIVAL Social Security Information

• At your orientation in the USA, Spirit staff will
  assist you to apply for a Social Security Number
  (SSN). If you do not attend orientation, review
  your job offer for instructions on applying for a
  SSN.
• In order to obtain a SSN, you must submit the
  following documents ( one photocopy of each) in
  person at a Social Security Administration
  office
• SS5 Form (Social Security Number Application
  Form)
• Valid passport with J-1 visa
• !94 card issued upon entry to the United States
  (small white card completed on intl flight)
• DS2019 form
• Job Offer
• Letter from Spirit to the Social Security
  Administration (provided to you by your sending
  office)
• Make a copy of all of these documents and keep
  them in a safe place, separate from the
  originals.

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ARRIVAL Social Security Information (cont)

• You can apply for a SSN at any Social Security
  Office. To search for the closest Social
  Security office to your employer, go to
  www.ssa.gov.
• In many cases it is easiest to apply for your
  Social Security Number in the city that you fly
  into (New York, Chicago, etc.). However, you
  should consult your job offer for specific
  instructions on where to apply.
• After applying for your Social Security Number
• You are legal to begin working and receiving
  payment.
• You should receive a receipt of application from
  the Social Security officer, which you can show
  to your employer as proof of application.
• Validate your visa shortly after arrival to your
  employer to ensure faster Social Security Number
  processing.

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ARRIVAL Social Security Information (cont)

• Call the Social Security Office directly at 1 800
  772 1213 (a free call) to check the status of
  your application.
• If Social Security confirms that your number has
  been processed, you may go to any Social Security
  Office with appropriate identification to receive
  your number verbally. Social Security Numbers
  are not released over the phone.
• Please remember that it can take anywhere from 2
  12 weeks for you to receive your Social
  Security Card in the mail.
• The Social Security application process is
  government regulated. Therefore, Spirit cannot
  assist you in speeding up the processing time.
  Makes inquiries about the status of your number
  directly to the Social Security Administration.

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ARRIVAL Validating Your Visa

• Shortly after arrival at your employer, validate
  your visa with Spirit by completing the Arrival
  Notification/Visa Validation form located on our
  website at www.spiritexchange.com .
• We recommend that you complete this form
  immediately upon arrival at your employer, as any
  delay in visa validation could delay the
  processing of your Social Security Application.
  

Failure to report to your employer and validate
your visa within two weeks of arrival in the USA
will result in VISA TERMINATION.
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ARRIVAL Money Matters

• You should expect to pay some additional fees
  before and upon arrival in the USA. Housing
  deposit and rental fees, meals, international
  airfare, travel to and from your employer and
  airport transfers to the orientation site are not
  included in the program. Spirit recommend that
  you have at least 1000 available upon arrival to
  cover initial settling in costs.
• Change any home country currency into US dollars
  at the airport at your city of entry into the
  USA. This can be done at most international
  airports. Many small cities and rural areas do
  not offer international currency exchange
  services.
• DO NOT carry large amounts of currency with you
  in one location. Keep part of the money in a
  separate and safe place.
• Spirit recommends that you open a checking
  account at a bank near your workplace where you
  can deposit your checks and keep money safe.
  ATMs are available all over the United States
  and are the easiest way to obtain cash quickly
  from a checking account.

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ARRIVAL Taxes and Tax Refunds

• As a J-1 Work/Travel participant, you are not
  required to pay Social Security or Medicare
  taxes. If your employer takes these taxes from
  your paycheck, please notify your employer
  immediately. You may have to pay US Federal and
  State Taxes, however, which could account for up
  to 30 of your paycheck.
• You may be entitled to a refund of the taxes that
  are taken out of your paycheck. In order to
  receive a refund, you will need to file Federal
  and State tax returns no later than April 15th in
  order to receive any refund due for taxes paid
  through December 31st of the previous year.
• Tax services exist that will assist you in filing
  your tax returns for a nominal fee. Information
  on these tax services will be included in the
  orientation packet you receive after arrival in
  the USA.

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ARRIVAL Medical Insurance

• Medical insurance is provided during your program
  period through AVI International. Coverage
  includes illness, accident and liability
  insurance, and surpasses Department of State
  requirements for the Work/Travel program.
• Information on the medical insurance, insurance
  ID card, personal policy number and coverage
  details will be given to you at your orientation
  in the USA. You can obtain more information
  about your insurance coverage or find a doctor at
  www.avi-international.info. Spirits general
  policy number is FR32/620.004
• Exclusions include, but are not limited to,
  pre-existing conditions. There is also no
  coverage while driving a motorized vehicle unless
  specifically requested through the Spirit office.
  Each participant is responsible for being aware
  of all exclusions to the policy by reading the
  insurance materials provided upon arrival.
• AVIs 24 hour emergency contact number in the USA
  is 1 888 551 9798 (toll free from within the
  U.S.) or 33 1 55 63 33 34 (from outside the
  U.S.). You should call this number to report an
  illness BEFORE you visit a doctor to open a claim
  number and receive a referral to a doctor in your
  area. If you have an emergency, go to the
  nearest hospital emergency room and call AVI as
  soon as possible after your arrival there. Note
  A 100 deductible will apply if you visit the
  hospital emergency room for a non-emergency
  medical issue.
• If you plan to travel after the program, you
  should make sure that you have medical insurance
  to cover your travel time. This can be purchased
  by contacting the Spirit office.

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ARRIVAL Telephone Use

• Normally, you will not be allowed to use your
  employers phone to make personal or long
  distance calls.
• It is recommended that you purchase a telephone
  calling card to make local and international
  calls from the United States.
• Pre-paid phone cards can be purchased upon
  arrival at most youth hostels, currency
  exchanges, grocery stores, and post offices
  throughout the USA.
• Local calls from a payphone in the USA generally
  cost 50 cents. Numbers that begin with 1 800, 1
  888, 1 877 or 1 866 are free calls and can be
  made from any payphone at no charge.

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ARRIVAL Work Hours Wages

• Expect to work 30 40 hours per week paid at or
  slightly above minimum wage. Your hours may vary
  week to week, but should average out to about 35
  hours per week over the course of the program.
  Hours should not fall below 20 hours per week.
• Participants placed in tipped positions should
  expect a lower hourly wage than other workers, as
  it is normal in the USA for tipped workers to
  make most of their salary from tips.
• It may be up to 10 days before you start working
  after your arrival at your employer, even if it
  is after your legal start date.
• Wages are often paid once a week or once every
  two weeks.

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ARRIVAL Traveling to Work

• In most cases, you can walk, bike or travel by
  public transportation from your housing to your
  job. Generally, your work location will be
  within a 30 minute walk or bike ride to work.
  Travel via public transportation, when available,
  can take up to one hour each way.
• Some participants are placed in positions where
  driving is a job requirement or is necessary to
  get to and from work. In this case, Spirit
  requires that the participant purchase additional
  medical insurance coverage for drivers.
• Special auto insurance and additional medical
  insurance is required if you plan to rent, buy or
  borrow a car to use during your program. You can
  obtain information about purchasing this extra
  insurance by contacting Spirit or most insurance
  agents in the USA.

Spirit standard medical insurance will not cover
injuries resulting from accidents caused by
participants driving a vehicle. Supplemental
medical insurance for drivers can be purchased by
contacting the Spirit office.
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ARRIVAL Rules to Follow

• You must abide by all national, state, and local
  laws at all times and must abide by the rules set
  forth by Spirit, its cooperating employers and
  housing facilities.
• Consumption of alcoholic beverages is illegal for
  those under 21 years of age. If you are over 21
  years old, it is illegal to purchase alcohol for
  those under 21 years.
• DO NOT drink and drive and do not drive in a
  vehicle with a driver who has been drinking.
  Previous Spirit participants have lost their
  lives as a result of drunk drivers.
• Open containers of alcohol are not allowed in
  vehicles, even if the driver is not drinking.
• You must have a valid international or US state
  drivers license to drive a motor vehicle. Some
  states do not accept international drivers
  licenses.
• Shoplifting Dont try it you will be
  arrested.

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ARRIVAL Safety Issues

• Traveling and spending time in the USA is fun and
  exciting, but you must make sure that safety
  always comes first!
• Wear your seat belt when riding in a car even
  in the back seat! It could save your life.
• Do not walk alone at night, especially in big
  cities or large towns. It is always safer to
  walk with a friend or group.
• Make sure that you keep your valuables in a safe
  place.
• Do not carry a large amount of cash with you at
  one time.

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ARRIVAL Support While in the USA

• If you need assistance while on the program, the
  Spirit Office is here to help. Contact us for
  assistance with any problems you have big or
  small.
• You can call Spirit toll free at 1 800 390 0978.
  Our office is open Monday Friday, 9am 5pm
  Central Time. Or, email us at support_at_spiritexcha
  nge.com.
• If you have an after-hours emergency that cannot
  wait until the next business day, dial 0-0 when
  you reach our answering machine. You will then
  be connected to our 24 hour answering service.
  Please only use this option in a real EMERGENCY!
• Spirit Office Contact Informationsupport_at_spirite
  xchange.com www.spiritexchange.com1 800 390
  09781 708 763 89401 708 763 8949 (fax)

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Post-Program
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POST-PROGRAM Traveling 30-Day Grace Period

• If you wish to travel in the USA after your
  program ends, your J-1 visa offers a 30 day
  grace period after your program end date to
  travel in the USA.
• You are required to return to your home country
  in time for classes or by the date required by
  the US Embassy in your home country, even if it
  is before the end of the 30-day grace period.
• Limit your travels to within the USA. You will
  not be able to re-enter the USA if you visit
  Mexico or Canada during the 30 day grace period.
• Medical insurance coverage during this 30 day
  grace period is not included in the normal
  program, unless you requested it on your
  application. If you decide that you would like
  grace period insurance coverage after arrival in
  the USA, contact the Spirit office.

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Congratulations!You have completed Spirits
online orientation.Please make sure to pick up
your orientation packet (including your medical
insurance card) either at your orientation site
or after arrival at your employer.