Camp USA International Camp Staff FAQs

Applying to Camp | During Camp | After Camp | Pre-Placed Program

Applying to the Camp USA Program

Q. What countries do you recruit participants from?

A. Camp USA, through one of our partner organizations, works in more than 30 different countries, with at least one partner on every (inhabitable) continent. Examples are Africa (South Africa), Asia (India, South Korea), Australia, Eastern Europe (Russia, Ukraine), Western Europe (Germany, United Kingdom), North America (Mexico), and South America (Brazil, Colombia). Please contact us to see if we work in your country.

Q. How do I apply?

A. Participants interested in our Regular Placement program should contact Camp USA. We will give you the contact information for the international cooperator in your home country, who will help you start the application process. Please note that all Regular Placement applicants must apply through the international cooperator in their home country. Pre-Placed participants who have already found a camp placement can download our Pre-Placed application and send it in to Camp USA or a Camp USA cooperator once it has been completed. Please contact us to see if we work with a cooperator in your country.

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

A. If you have already applied to the Camp USA Regular Placement program, you are not allowed to find a camp on your own. If you have not applied to the Regular Placement 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 apply to Camp USA's Pre-Placed program to obtain your visa.

Q. How good does my English need to be to apply?

A. If you are applying as a counselor, your English needs to be fluent and conversational. You will be working directly with children and need to be able to understand what people say without much clarification, and respond to them clearly and with minimal hesitation. If you are applying as support staff, your English can be at an intermediate level. However, you must be able to understand instructions that are given to you, and be able to get your ideas across to the person you're speaking to. In either case, remember that you will be surrounded by native English speakers at camp. You will not be able to rely on your native language to get by.

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

A. No. Camp USA will not try to place friends at the same camp. Traveling alone will enable you to fully appreciate the cultural exchange experience.

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

A. Camp USA does its 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. What is it like to work at a special needs camp?

A. Special needs campers can include physically and/or emotionally challenged children or adults. Camp directors prefer applicants who have some experience working with special needs populations, though experience is not required. You should be able to deal with campers on a one-to-one basis, as well as in group settings. You should also be comfortable lifting campers, and caring for their personal hygiene.

Q. Can you tell me more about religious camps?

A. There are various types of religious camps, both Christian and Jewish. The level of religious involvement for staff varies from camp to camp. Some religious camps may ask counselors to lead religious activities, and participate in bible study and devotional services. Others may not require staff members to participate in religious activities at all.

Q. What is the SEVIS fee I've heard about?

A. On September 1, 2004, the U.S. 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. Camp USA will provide participants with SEVIS receipts, which they must bring to the embassy as proof of payment.

During Camp

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. Can I switch camps if I don't like the one I was placed at?

A. Camp USA tries very hard to place participants in camps that will suit their personalities and interests. We expect all participants to try their hardest to make their placement work. If you are unhappy at your camp, you need to speak with your supervisor to discuss how you can improve your situation at camp. If this conversation does not help, you must call Camp USA to discuss the problem. In most cases, we will not switch a participant to another camp. However, in some extenuating circumstances, we may try to do so. Participants must realize that if Camp USA decides to try to send them to another camp, there is NO guarantee of a second camp placement. If the participant leaves his/her first camp and we cannot find him/her another placement, the participant must go home.

Q. What happens if I quit or get fired?

A. Call us immediately! We must speak with you and the director before you leave the camp. All participants must come to our New York office right away so we can assess the situation and determine a reasonable solution. Participants who quit or are fired will have to pay a non-completion fee between $300-$800, and will have to cover any fees related to changing their tickets to return home.

Q. How can I switch my flight home?

A. In most cases, you will need to call your airline directly to change the date of your flight. Depending on which cooperator you came through, you can call one of the travel agencies used by your cooperator to change your ticket. If you are planning on changing your ticket home, you should do so towards the end of July. Do not change your ticket when you first get to camp! You will probably end up changing your travel plans within the first few weeks of camp. Remember that prices will quickly increase as the date of your flight gets closer, so be sure to call as far in advance as possible.

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 Camp USA. 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 form (you can download this and a copy of the insurance card here) 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.

After Camp

Q. How long can I stay in the U.S.?

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

Q. Can I extend my visa?

A. No. Extensions are not allowed for participants of the Camp USA program. By signing the back of your application, you are agreeing to the InterExchange Camp USA Program Agreement, which states that 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 U.S.?

A. Participants are legally allowed to work until the end date on their DS-2019 form. After that date, participants CANNOT legally work in the U.S.

Q. Can I find another job after camp ends?

A. Camp USA participants are not allowed to work anywhere other than the camp they 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, and must inform Camp USA where you will be working after your placement. Remember that you cannot work at any camp past the end date on your DS-2019 form.

Q. Do I need a visa to travel to Canada or Mexico?

A. Some participants may need a visa to travel to these countries, and it will depend on what country they are from. To check if you need a visa to visit Canada, visit http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.html. For Mexico, visit http://www.consulmexny.org/eng/visas_fmt.htm

Q. My camp took Medicare and Social Security tax out of my paycheck. How do I get my money back?

A. Tell your camp about the mistake on your paycheck and explain you are not supposed to have Social Security and Medicare taken from your pay. Ask your employer to refund the money to you. If you are not able to get a refund from your camp, you can file a claim for a refund with the Internal Revenue Service. Use form 843 Claim for Refund and Request for Abatement.

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, there are companies that will file for you. One company is TaxBack.com. They charge 10 percent of your refund for processing your taxes.

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 U.S. 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 BCIS (Immigration and Naturalization Service [INS]) office and file form I-102. To obtain a replacement DS-2019, contact the Camp USA office at 1-800-597-1722.

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 apply to our Pre-Placed program for the following summer. If possible, they should give you a written performance evaluation for the past summer for you to include in your Pre-Placed application. You may also want to get a contract or signed agreement from the camp to include in your application.

Pre-Placed Program

Q: Since I’m already hired, do you really need information about my past work experience and what my job at camp will be?

A: Yes. Your application must be filled out completely or we will not process it. Participants who applied to the Pre-Placed program in previous years must also fill out the application again. We will not accept copies of your old application.

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 can I send in my Pre-Placed application?

A: As early as possible. We encourage participants to send in their applications as soon as they are complete. We print DS-2019 forms in the order that the applications were received. The earlier you send it in, the earlier you will get your paperwork. However, we recommend that you send in your application at least 2 months before you are supposed to be at camp to ensure that you have enough time to receive the paperwork, get a visa appointment, and find a flight to get you to camp on time.

Q: How long will it take to process my application?

A: Once we receive your completed application and confirm your placement with your camp, you will get your DS-2019 and SEVIS receipt within 3 weeks. Often, applications are held up because something is missing from the application, we are missing payment, or we are unable to confirm the placement with your camp. Be sure to send in a complete application with full payment and remind your camp director to fill out the Pre-Placed Camp Director’s Form as soon as he or she receives it. Our 3-week guarantee does not apply to applications we receive after the deadline.

Q: I applied for my police background check but I’m still waiting for it to arrive. Can I send in my application with a receipt for the police background check so you can begin processing it? Can I just send my police background check from last year?

A: No. We cannot accept a receipt from the police station as a valid police background check. Please wait to send in your application until you have the actual police background check. Do not send in your application without it to try to make the deadline. If the application arrives on time but the police background check comes in after the deadline, the application is still considered late. Your police background check must be dated within the last 6 months, so even if you have one from last summer, you must apply for a new one. Also, be sure to include a translation of your police background check if it is not in English.

Q. Can I fax you my Pre-Placed application or the parts of it that are currently missing?

A. No. Please do not fax any part of your application, as faxes are too difficult to read. If you have to, you can send those documents of which we only need a photocopy or printout (passport copy or police background check) as attachments in an email to CampUSA@InterExchange.org.

Q: Should I pay the extra $20 to have my DS-2019 shipped via FedEx?

A: In general, we ship DS-2019 forms via Global Priority Mail. We also use Express Mail for countries where Global Priority mail is not available (please see http://pe.usps.gov/text/Imm/immc2_016.html for a list of countries that accept Global Priority mail). In general, both of these methods are extremely reliable and DS-2019 forms usually arrive within 2-3 weeks. However, Global Priority is completely non-trackable, and Express Mail is only minimally trackable. The advantage of FedEx is that your DS-2019 will arrive more quickly (usually within 3-4 days) and we can track it should a problem arise. Please remember that if you have a P.O. Box in your address, we cannot ship your paperwork via FedEx.

Q: What is the SEVIS fee and why is it non-refundable?

A: SEVIS (the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) was created by the U.S. Department of State to track student and exchange visitors entering and exiting the country. All J-1 Visa applicants must pay this fee. It is non-refundable, because InterExchange Camp USA must pay the $35 to the government before the SEVIS receipt is issued. Therefore, this fee must be paid before any of your paperwork can be printed, and we cannot return SEVIS receipts to the government for a refund if you are unable to come on the program.

Q: Can I send in my application after the April 23rd deadline?

A: Yes, but InterExchange Camp USA cannot guarantee that we will process it. Also, if the application is going to arrive after the April 23rd deadline, you must include the appropriate late fee. We are allotted a certain number of DS-2019 forms to distribute each season, and we may run out after the initial deadline. Be sure to apply early to avoid this problem. Our 3-week guarantee does not apply to applications we receive after the deadline.

Q: I mailed in my application this week and I have my embassy appointment next week. Can you send me my DS-2019 form as soon as you receive my application?

A: No, for two reasons. First, as stated above, we process applications in the order we receive them. Second, aside from our processing time, we are communicating with the U.S. Government to obtain your paperwork, which is a lengthy process. You must schedule your visa appointment within a realistic timeframe. Remember that while we will process applications as quickly as possible, we will send your paperwork out within 3 weeks of receiving your complete application and confirmation of placement from your camp.

Q: When should I make my visa appointment?

A: You will receive an email from us when all of your paperwork has been processed and sent out to you. You should plan to have your interview about 2 weeks after you receive this email, unless you are paying the $20 FedEx shipping fee (which means you could make a slightly earlier appointment). However, you should do some research into how long it will take to get an interview at the embassy as wait times for interviews vary from country to country. You should check visa wait times at http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/wait/tempvisitors_wait.php. You may also want to try calling the embassy to see how long it will take for you to get an interview. This is especially important during May and June, as embassies are very busy during this time of year. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT! There have been many participants in the past who have waited until late May to try to schedule an interview and were not able to get an appointment in time for them to get to camp.

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 don’t want to lose money on a flight that you can’t make because of a visa denial, or a delay in getting an appointment at the embassy.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/brochures_1229.html#p