Students Hand Book For WAT
Packing AdvicePlease remember to pack light, as most airlines have a two-bag check-in and one carry-on piece of luggage limit. We suggest a backpack may be a better option than a suitcase for traveling around. Bring clothing that is appropriate for the season and locality for which you will live. If you know the specific clothing necessary for your work placement, try to bring this with you as well.
Your carry-on bag should include the following:
Passport with J-1 Visa and Form DS2019
Flight ticket and other travel tickets (make copies of all travel tickets)
Traveler's Checks (keep the record slip separately)
Job Offer Document
Insurance materials (Brochure with ID card)
Home country and/or international driver's license
Minimum of two photo identification (ID) cards
Work & Travel identity card
Details of financial arrangements you made with your family and bank for
emergency funds
U.S. cash
Credit card or ATM card (if applicable)
Phone card
Change of clothing (recommended should your luggage be temporarily lost)
Pen and/or pencil
Arrival in the USAImmigration Procedure - Welcome!
While on the airplane a flight attendant will give you a Custom Declaration and Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record. Complete these forms during your flight and submit them to the Customs and Border Patrol Officer at the airport upon arrival. If you have questions about completing the forms you may ask the flight attendant. Please note that you will be asked to write the address in the U.S. where you will stay. If you know your living address, use it. If you do not know your U.S. living address, use your work address. Your work address is indicated on your DS-2019 Form. (U.S. Address)
As a guest in the U.S., it is important that you cooperate fully with the Customs and Border Patrol officer and answer all questions clearly and respectfully. The officer may ask for some general details about your visit. For example you may be asked the reason you have come to the U.S.A. of where your final destination is. Remember you are entering the U.S. as a "J-1 Exchange Visitor" on the Summer Work and Travel Program. You will also show the officer the following documents:
1. Passport
2. Form DS2019
3. J-1 Visa
4. I-94 card (given to you on the plane)
5. Job Offer
When you present your documents at U.S. Customs and Border Patrol the officer will stamp and return your DS2019 Form to you. Please keep this with your passport at all times. The Immigration officer will validate your I-94 card and attach it to your passport. Check to make certain that this was done. A lost I-94 card is difficult and expensive to replace. The I-94 will also be a required document to obtain a Social Security Number. This card is a record of your arrival in the U.S. and it indicates the last day you are authorized to stay in the U.S. legally on the J-1 Visa. The letters "D/S" may be stamped on the card. This means "Duration of Status." It is the dates on your DS2019 Form, program start date through program end date. You will need to depart the U.S. within 30 days of the program end date, otherwise you will be subject to arrest and deportation.
All foreign passport holders are routinely fingerprinted and photographed. There is no reason for worry or concern when this occurs.
Social Security CardsAll participants who have not previously been granted a Social Security Number must apply for a Social Security Number. To apply for your Social Security number you must first have registered with CETUSA. This is very important. Applying for the Social Security Number before registering with CETUSA, or before 10 days after arriving in the U.S. may cause a long delay in the processing of the Social Security Number. To be certain that your Social Security Number is processed quickly and smoothly you must FIRST register your U.S. living address with CETUSA, then WAIT 10 days before applying for your Social Security Number. Although you should wait 10 days, do not delay longer than 14 days. Following this advice is the best way to insure you do not encounter problems in the processing of your Social Security Number.
It is easy to find out where to apply for the Social Security Number. You may look in your local telephone book under “Social Security Administration” or call toll-free 1-800-772-1213. The website is: www.ssa.gov. An office locater, a Social Security Number Application, and a Social Security Fact Sheet are also available online when a student logs in to their CETUSA Account.
You need the following documents to apply for a Social Security card at a local Social Security office:
Completed Social Security Number Application
Employment Offer
Form DS2019
Passport with your J-1 Visa and I-94 card
Program Sponsor Letter
Your Social Security number should be mailed to you within 4-6 weeks from the date of your application. Request a temporary certificate (Form SSA-5028) when you apply for the card. This temporary certificate has no number, but it is proof that you have applied for the card. You may be asked by your employer to show this certificate as evidence of work eligibility.
You must report your Social Security number to your employer immediately after receiving the actual number.
If you do not receive your Social Security number within 6 weeks after applying for it you should call the Social Security Administration office at 1-800-772-1213 to inquire about the status of your application. Or, you may return to the Social Security Administration office and inquire. If you are unable to resolve the problem in this way please contact the CETUSA staff.
I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification Form
Your employer will require you to complete an I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification Form to prove you can work legally. This form must be completed before you begin working. You should complete section 1 of the form. Check the box "an alien authorized to work until" and enter the program end date as indicated on your Form DS2019. You will need to show your Passport, DS2019, and I-94 card to your employer or supervisor, who is witnessing your signature on this document. Sign and date the form.
W-4 FormWhen you begin your job, your employer will ask you to complete a W-4 Form (Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate) to ensure that you are not over-taxed. Your employer will keep this form while you are working there, and will use the information on this form to determine how much tax should be withheld from your paycheck.
If you do not fill out your W-4 Form properly, you may have to pay more tax in the future. The following instructions on filling out your W-4 Form are from IRS Publication 515 (rev. 11-96) "Withholding of Tax on Non-resident Aliens and Foreign Corporations." Please note that you are classified as a "non-resident alien." Therefore, the instructions shown on the W-4 Form do not apply. Please follow the instructions below when completing the W-4 Form.
Check only "Single" marital status on line 3 (even if you are married or
divorced).
Claim only one withholding allowance on line 5, unless you are a resident of
Canada, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, or a U.S. national.
Do not claim "Exempt" withholding status on line 7.
Transportation in the USA
Airplane
Traveling by airplane is the most time efficient and the most expensive way to travel. When searching for the best airfare deals, try: www.travelocity.com or www.priceline. com. You may also want to check the websites of all major airlines.
Bus
Bus travel is a popular and inexpensive way to travel in the U.S. The major bus companies can help you connect to local bus transportation to reach even remote towns. Greyhound Bus Company is the largest bus company in the U.S. Their toll-free telephone number is: 1-800-231-2222. Website: www.greyhound.com
Car
You must have automobile insurance, a valid driver's license from your home country, along with an International Driver's License, available in your home country from motorizing organizations, in order to drive a car in the U.S. To rent a car, most companies require that you be at least 25 years of age. Some rental car companies, however, allow the renter to be 21 years of age and have at least one major credit card. It is unlawful to drive without adequate automobile insurance. Be aware of the rules of the road while you are in the U.S., drive safely, and make sure you carry proof of auto insurance at all times while driving to prevent any problems.
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Train
Amtrak, the national railroad (railway), offers a rail pass similar to Europe's Inter-rail pass. The USA Rail Pass is valid for either 15 or 30 days. There are nationwide passes, and Amtrak has also divided the country into sections for regional travel. You can get passes for the Eastern Region, Northeast Region, Southern Region and Western Region. Please call their toll-free number for prices and more information: 1-800-872-7245. Website: www.amtrak.com
Hitchhiking
It is illegal to hitchhike.
Biking
Many students find that purchasing a bicycle to ride is a convenient way to get around. Please take every precaution such as wearing a bicyle helmut, installing reflectors on the bicycle or wear special clothing with reflector strips to help ensure your safety.
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