Important Arrival and Travel Information

Before you come for your internship in the United States, you must have a J-1 practical training visa, issued by a United States embassy or consulate. In order to receive your visa, you must have a DS-2019 form and a Training and Internship Placement Plan (DS-7002). These documents will be sent to your national committee after you have returned the necessary documents from the N5 packet and the Department of State required SEVIS Fee. Please remember to return all necessary forms as quickly as possible.

Once you are accepted for training, contact your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country. Please keep in mind that every U.S. embassy or consulate has its own procedures. All will require that you interview with them once you have your DS-2019 (provided by IAESTE United States). Carefully follow the directions that the U.S. embassy or consulate gives you. Visa processing time depends on your home country, so contact your nearest embassy or consulate quickly.

Before your arrival, confirm your arrival details with your host employer and local committee (if there is one in your area). During your trip to the United States, you will have to complete an “I-94 card.” This is an important entry and exit document, and you should always keep it in your passport. At the port of entry to the United States, your I-94 card should be marked with “J-1, D/S.” Make sure you receive this marking on the card.

Within 10 days you MUST contact IAESTE United States to update your arrival and contact information. If you do not contact the office within 10 days, IAESTE United States will be unable to validate you in the U.S. government tracking database, and this could result in your deportation (forced departure from the United States).

Within 30 days of your arrival to the United States, you must send your “initial evaluation” form to IAESTE United States. You will receive this form at the same time that you receive your certificate of eligibility. Failure to return this form to IAESTE United States during the first 30 days of your stay in the United States could result in deportation.

Money:
An IAESTE intern is training in the U.S. on a J-1 Practical Training Visa. This means that all interns MUST have a Social Security number.
Often companies will not pay their trainees until the trainees have Social Security cards. For this reason, you should prepare for a delay in your first payment from the employer. You should come to the United States with enough money to last 4-6 weeks.

Administration while you are in the United States and obtaining a Social Security Card:
Obtaining a Social Security Card is not a difficult process; however it will take some patience. You should apply for a Social Security Card 10 days after you arrive in the United States (applying any earlier than 10 days after your arrival will result in your application being rejected). You will receive information on how to apply for a Social Security Card along with your DS-2019 form. Once you obtain your Social Security card, please give the information to your host employer. The Social Security card is necessary for paying taxes and to open a bank account. Each state has its own taxes, and there are general federal taxes, too. In general, you should expect to have 22% of your paycheck withheld for taxes. You are not responsible for Social Security or federal unemployment taxes, so make sure your employer understands that you do not have to pay those taxes.

For tax questions and help, please visit: www.taxback.com or www.irs.gov.

Also, remember that IAESTE United States and Cultural Vistas are your program sponsors. If you change address or have any other changes related to your internship, please contact us immediately.

For IAESTE positions in the United States the host employer will usually assist you with locating housing. However, you will also be expected to help locate the housing, and the employer will not do all of the searching. Be ready to help in the search, and you might even want to look on the Internet for housing options before your arrival!

Housing costs can vary greatly from one part of the country to another. You can look at the Work Offered form to have an approximate cost of living in your host area.

Working in the United States:
By the time you start your internship, you should have already received a few documents about U.S. culture and daily life. If you have not received such documents, contact IAESTE United States or the IAESTE National Committee in your host country. As you already know, English is the primary language used in the workplace.

Please remember that your host employer expects you to be a productive intern that benefits the workplace. This means you must show up to work on time and follow your host employer’s rules. However, if you experience any difficulties in the workplace, please feel free to contact IAESTE United States and we will try to help resolve the problems. We are here to help!

Drugs, Alchohol & Smoking:
In the United States it is illegal to take any kind of drugs, including marijuana. The legal drinking age for any alcoholic drink, including beer and wine, is 21. For this reason, always be sure that you have photo identification with you when entering a pub or bar. You will be required to show your identification even if purchasing alcohol at a store. In most states, you must be 18 to buy cigarettes, and it is becoming increasing common for public places, including restaurants and bars, to be non-smoking.

The United States is a large country that offers countless numbers of travel opportunities. It is very common for people to travel by plane, and there are many companies that offer good prices.

It is also possible to travel by bus (the largest bus company is called Greyhound) or by train (Amtrak). However, these modes of transportation can be slow and not very useful for traveling long distances.

Automobile travel is very popular in the United States. You can either rent a car or purchase one. It is not difficult to find a reasonably priced used car. Remember you must have insurance and a valid driver’s license before driving. We highly recommend that you have an international driver’s license before coming to the U.S. Once driving, follow the local driving laws. You might notice that each state will have its own speed limit, and you should follow that state’s laws. In the United States, speed limits vary from state to state and are strictly enforced. Please note that being pulled over by a police officer for speeding in not only very expensive, but also endangers you and those around you.

If you plan to travel outside the United States during your internship, you must have your DS-2019 form validated for travel by IAESTE United States. Please contact us for more information. Also, you should not leave the United States for travel if your visa has expired. A valid visa is required for re-entry to the country. Finally, be aware that you have thirty days after the end date of your internship during which you can travel as a tourist in the U.S. You cannot intern during this 30-day period. It is exclusively a travel time.