Frequently asked questions for Camp USA

Q. How long after I apply will I hear about my placement?

A. We do our best to find the most suitable camp for each participant. Since camp directors determine placement, we cannot guarantee a time frame. Some participants are matched a week after they are accepted into the program, while others will have to wait several months. You must be prepared to wait until mid-June for a placement.

Q. How many hours can I expect to work each day?

A. Working schedules will vary depending on your position at camp. Counselors generally have at least one hour off per day and then have some free time at night for a few hours. However, some nights you will be required to stay in with your campers to supervise them. Support staff have very long hours and should be prepared to work 10-14 hours per day. In many cases, you will have to wake up early, before the rest of the camp gets up, to prepare for the day. You will get a few hours off during the day, but you might have to work until 8 or 9 at night.

Q. When should I apply for my police background check?

A. Immediately. Even if you are just thinking of coming to camp this summer, you should go ahead and apply for your police background check. In many countries, these can take over a month to process, so be sure to apply for it early.

Q. When should I book my flight?

A. You should wait to book your flight until after the consulate has returned your passport to you with a valid J-1 Visa stamp. Do not book your flight until you are holding your visa in your hand. While we know that it becomes more expensive to buy a ticket at the last minute, you do not want to lose money on a flight that you can not make because of a visa denial, or a delay in getting an appointment at the embassy.

Q. Am I allowed to find camp jobs on my own?

A. If you have already applied to the Global Choices Camp Staff Placement program, then you should leave the placement process to us. If you have not applied to that program, you are free to get in touch with a camp director to see if they will hire you independently. After a camp hires you and sends you a contract, you can Contact Global Choices to obtain your visa.

Q. Can my friend and I go to the same camp?

A. Global Choices believes it is better for you to experience camp on your own. You wil not be able to experience the cultural exchange more fully when you travel alone. For that reason, we do not usually place friends at the same camp. Do not worry, you will make plenty of friends once you arrive at camp.

Q. How long after I apply will I hear about my placement?

A. We try to find a placement for each participant. Since camp directors have the final say on who they will hire, we can not guarantee a time frame. Some participants are matched a week after they are accepted into the program, while others will have to wait several months. You should be prepared to wait until mid-June for a placement.

Q. What is the SEVIS fee?

A. On September 1, 2004, the US Department of State mandated a $35 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee for all camp participants. This fee must be paid before Camp USA is able to print DS-2019 forms. Global Choices will provide applicants with SEVIS receipts, which they must bring to the US Embassy as proof of payment.

Q: How many hours will I work each day?

A: Working schedules may vary depending on your position at camp. Counselors generally have at least one hour off per day and then have some free time at night for a few hours. However, some nights you will be required to stay in with your campers to supervise them. Counselors should also have one 24-hour period off per week. Support staff have very long hours and should be prepared to work 10-14 hours per day. In many cases, you will have to wake up early, before the rest of the camp gets up, to prepare for the day. You will get a few hours off during the day, but you might have to work until 8 or 9 at night.

Q. Can I switch camps if I do not like the one I was placed at?

A. Global Choices will try very hard to place you in a camp that suits your personality and interests. We expect all participants to try their hardest to make their placement work. If you are unhappy at your camp, do not be afraid to speak with your supervisor to discuss how you can improve your situation. If this conversation does not help, call Global Choices to discuss the problem. It is quite rare for us to switch a participant to a new camp. However, in some extraordinary circumstances, we may try to do so. There is no guarantee that we will find you a second placement, and you will have to go home if we can not find you a new job.

Q. What if I am sick or injured at camp?

A. Your camp’s infirmary will be able to help you with most of your problems, but if you need to see a doctor or go to a hospital, remember to bring your insurance card that you received from Global Choices. (Do not go to the emergency room unless it is a serious emergency.) If possible, you should call the insurance company to confirm that the hospital or doctor you are going to see accepts this insurance. Afterwards, make sure you fill out a claim from this and send it in with the original bills you get from the doctor or hospital. Make sure you make copies of anything you send to the insurance company. Do not go to the emergency room unless it is a serious emergency.

Q. How long can I stay in the USA

A. You can stay in the USA for 30 days after the end date on your DS-2019 or until October 15th, whichever comes first. All participants must leave the USA by October 15th.

Q. Can I extend my visa?

A. Unfortunately, no. Extensions are not allowed for participants of the Global Choices Camp USA program. When you sign the back of your application, you agree to return home within 30 days of the end of your program. There are no exceptions. If you do not return home at the end of the program, you will be in violation of your status and subject to arrest and deportation.

Q. How long can I work in the USA?

A. Participants are legally allowed to work at a camp until the end date on their DS-2019 form. After that date, participants CAN NOT legally work in the USA.

Q. Can I find another job after camp ends?

A. You are not allowed to work anywhere other than the camp you were placed at. If you would like us to help you find post-camp work at another camp, please call us about 2 weeks before your camp placement ends. We will let you know what camps are looking for post-camp help and help you get in touch with them. You will be responsible for arranging this job and your stipend. Be sure to inform us where you will be working after your placement. Remember that you can not work at any camp past the end date on your DS-2019 form.

Q. How do I get my taxes back?

A. To get your taxes back, you will need a wage and tax statement (W-2) from your camp and form 1040NR-EZ from the Internal Revenue Service. You should receive your W-2 from your camp by February 15th. You can get the 1040NR-EZ and instructions on the Internal Revenue web site www.irs.gov. Use the information on your W-2 to fill out your 1040NR-EZ and send it to the Internal Revenue Service by April 15th. If you are not sure about filing to get your tax money back, please contact Global Choices and we will assist you.

Q. What do I do if I lost my passport/I-94/DS-2019?

A. To obtain a new passport, you will need to contact your embassy or consulate in the USA. You can find a current listing of embassies/consulates at the back of your Inside the USA Guide. To find embassy locations online, visit www.embassyworld.com. To apply for a new I-94 card, you need to visit a USCIS (Immigration and Naturalization Service [INS]) office and file form I-102. To obtain a replacement DS-2019, email the Camp USA office.

Q. What if I want to work at my camp again next summer?

A. You should speak with your camp director about this before you leave camp! If they would like to rehire you, you can let Global Choices know. If possible, they should give you a written performance evaluation for the past summer for you to include in your Direct Placement application. You may also want to get a contract or signed agreement from the camp to include in your application. If you want to try another camp, you may return as a second year participant.