Welcome to the GeoVisions Work/Travel Program

Welcome to the GeoVisions Work/Travel Program • Here are some key points for you to remember about the program.

Program Benefits - 1 • Cultural Immersion – You will live, work, and experience life in America • Improve Your International English – No matter how well – or how little - you speak English, you can improve if you work at it • Share YOUR Culture – You will learn about America, but this is also an opportunity for you to teach Americans about your country

Program Benefits - 2 • Gain Valuable Experience – Be open to learning, and your work experience will help you in the future • Earn Money – This should not be your major objective, but it’s nice! • Meet people from all around the world – You will! • Travel – Enjoy America on your days off and following your program

Partners in Your ExchangeWe all have responsibilities in making your cultural exchange a success • You • Our Local Partner • GeoVisions • Your Employer

Your Responsibilities • Go to your designatedemployer on time and stay until the date on your job offer • Check in with GeoVisions within 3 days of when you arrive • Check in every month in the USA between the 10th and 15th at mygeovisions.org • Contact GeoVisions with any problems you might have • Report to us online immediately if you move to a new residence … or anything about your job changes • Carry your ID card with you at all times • Obey local, state and US laws

Your Responsibilities • VERY IMPORTANT … GeoVisions will send you an email at least once a month and ask you to respond … there may be a short survey or a couple simple questions. YOU ARE REQUIRED TO CHECK IN WITH GEOVISIONS MONTHLY. • Go to www.mygeovisions.org between the 10th and 15th of every month

Your In-Country Agent’s Responsibilities • Give you accurate information about the program • Prepare you for your trip • Assist you at the Embassy • Help with your travel • Coordinate with GeoVisions

Your Employer’s Responsibilities • Provide good, safe working conditions • Treat you the same as a similar-level American worker • Try to give you … on average … the hours estimated on your job offer • Follow all state and USA labor laws • Pay you at least the minimum wage of US$7.25 per hour • Pay you for overtime IF required by law … not everyone is required to do so • Help you learn about your local area • Make sure you are working with Americans • Keep us informed about your program

GeoVisions Responsibilities • Find you a good employer on our basic program, and approve your employer if you found your own job (or your agent did) • Be here to support YOU if you are having any problems • Know how to contact you at all times • Provide good medical insurance • Give you information about your job • We are YOUR SPONSOR, and your FIRST POINT OF CONTACT IN THE USA • Help you with suggestions about how to learn about the USA • Contact you monthly … you MUST respond

Be Prepared • … for hard work • You may have disappointing and difficult days • You may not get along with co-workers or managers • Be prepared for surprises • Speak English – don’t be afraid – you speak better English than you think you do • Be flexible • Be ready to ask for help from your employer AND FROM GEOVISIONS

You Have Come Here to Learn about the United States • You need to make an effort to learn! • Learn about your local area … government, culture, recreation, customs! • Talk with your co-workers about differences between your country and the USA • The USA is a multi-cultural society. • Keep a Journal of your discoveries and thoughts. You will learn things you like (and maybe some you don’t) about our country.

Contacting GeoVisions • Information is on your ID Card • Call Toll-Free 1-888-830-9455 (24-hour answering service will contact us in emergency) • Call 1-603-363-4187 (9 AM to 4 PM Eastern Time) • Email: visions @ geovisions.org • Website: www.geovisions.org • Fax: 1-603-363-8446

Check in within 3 days • It is Important • It is Easy • Check in by phone • Check in by email • Check in on the GeoVisions website – This is easiest … see the next two pages! • Go to www.geovisions.org

Your GeoVisions ID Card ID# GeoVisions Phone # Insurance Info

Contact Us If You Need To • Try to solve problems on your own, but • If you can't • If you feel discriminated against • If you are threatened physically • If you are threatened with being deported • If you are in danger • If you aren’t getting enough work • If your employer is demanding too much work • THEN PLEASE CONTACT US IMMEDIATELY

You can download the Student Handbook on our website Read it carefully - it has good information on • Travel • Work • Taxes • Health • Contacts • Safety • Culture Shock

Student Handbook Travel Tips • Visit local sites • Use your days off to enjoy travel • If you go out of the US • Your MUST send GeoVisions your DS-2019 first. We need to sign the Travel section to allow you BACK INTO THE US • You need to have employer approval for your trip • You can ONLY travel outside the US - and re-enter the US - between the Start Date and End Date on your DS-2019 … You cannot go out of the US and return during the travel period following your program.

Student Handbook Work Tips • Be on time - THIS IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT • Follow your Arrival Instructions from your employer • Ask questions if you don’t understand • You can be fired!Make sure you understand what is expected of you. • Your employer may have multiple locations. You can be moved to another location … but YOU NEED TO INFORM US • Have a positive attitude, speak up and smile

Student Handbook - Housing Info • We ALWAYS need to know where you are living. Advise us IMMEDIATELY if you change your housing address. You can do this on our STUDENT CENTRAL website. • Housing rate is on your job offer if your employer is providing housing. • You cannot live in overcrowded or unsafe housing. Call us if you are concerned. • Keep your housing clean. • You may lose a housing deposit if you move. • Respect property … you must pay for damages … and can lose your housing deposit if your property is not left in good condition.

Housing – What To Expect (if your employer provides housing … or you find housing on your own) • Clean rooms • Locks on doors • Convenient transportation to work and shopping • Be careful about inviting others to your home, and be considerate of your roommates • Housing should be well-lit and safe • You are responsible for cleanliness • Return of Deposit depends on how you leave your housing

Student Handbook -Tax Info • Federal, State and Local Income Taxes are the only taxes deducted - You'll have a letter to give to your employer that explains this • Your employer will help you with tax forms • Give employer your mailing address in your country before you leave • They will send you W-2 form in January or February of the next calendar year after you finish work • Most students can get some tax refunded • Contact your In-Country agent if you have questions about filing your taxes

Student Handbook - Health Tips • Your work will be hard - especially in the beginning … so rest well • Eat well • If you are ill get help … CALL GEOVISIONS TO HELP YOU • Your employer will have hygiene and cleanliness standards • You can be drug-tested for illegal substances – failed drug tests result in dismissal from GeoVisions program • If you are ill and will miss work, you MUST call in to advise your employer

Student Handbook -Safety Tips • Protect Your Documents • Be aware of crime … don’t assume you are safe!! • Use bank accounts… guard your PIN number - don't give your PIN number to ANYONE • Keep living areas clean and tidy • Hitchhiking is dangerous • Keep your housing locked • Don’t allow strangers into your room or apartment; make sure you know who is at your door before letting anyone in • 911 is a FREE telephone number you can call if you are in any danger

Important Forms – Protect Them DS- 2019 (keep copy with passport) Passport (have a copy of your identification page and visa in your luggage - leave a copy at home too)

Important Forms – Protect Them • Social Security Card (you need your number if you get an additional job) • If you come back next year, you do not need to re-apply, so keep this card safe, even when you return to your home country

Important Forms – Protect Them • New I-94 Procedures • This form shows how long you can stay in the USA. • Customs and Border Protection are no longer issuing paper I-94 forms. • You will still need to print out a paper form to apply for your Social Security card • Go to cbp.gov/I94 on the internet and print out three copies (one for Social Security, one for you, and one for your employer)

IMPORTANT REMINDER AGAIN!! • Check-in • You can not get a social security number if you do not check-in • Your visa status can be affected if you do not check-in • Check-in by phone, internet, fax, email

Let’s Avoid Problems • The first few weeks • You are being trained and evaluated. Do your best and be sure to show up on time! • You may NOT get as many hours as you expect the first few weeks • Get to know your employer and co-workers • Bring at least US$500.00 with you to the USA • Call us if you are worried about pay!

Let’s Avoid Problems • Estimated Average Hours per week • What does this mean? • It’s on your Job Offer • It’s what you SHOULD get when you are settled in and IF there are no problems regarding work performance or business issues like bad weather • Good workers with a good attitude get more work hours! • Be patient • Call us if you are worried about hours

Let’s Avoid Problems Where’s my Social Security Number? Why did Social Security tell me my record doesn’t exist? This is THE most frequent problem that students have. It’s not YOUR fault … and it’s not OUR fault! Social Security does NOT have real-time access to SEVIS information. So, it can take up to 10 working days AFTER YOU CHECK IN for them to get your information. So … wait 10 days to apply! You can still work! If your employer says you can’t … have them call GeoVisions.

Let’s Avoid Problems YES, you can get fired • Students get fired because: • They are late for work • They do not show up for work • They do not call ahead of their shift if they are ill • They steal from the employer (including taking employer property and supplies home) • They give things away to friends • They do not follow instructions • They do not have a good attitude • They fail a drug test

Let’s Avoid Problems What if I get fired? • Call us immediately • If you get an answering service or recording, leave us a message with a number where we can reach you • Do not move from your location … unless you feel unsafe • We will work with you to help you resolve your problems • We may be able to help you find a new employer depending on why you got fired • You cannot start work at a new employer until that employer is approved by GeoVisions

Let’sAvoidProblems Follow US Laws Students are responsible for following the laws in the USA. Remember you can be arrested and jailed for: • Shoplifting (taking something from a store without paying for it.) It does not matter if it is worth $2 or $200. It is still stealing and you will be arrested. • Underage Drinking (US Drinking Age is 21) • Buying alcoholic beverages for others under 21, or serving them • Drinking and Driving

Common Questions and Concerns Where can I meet more Americans? • You should be working with Americans. Call us if you are not. • You will find Americans to be friendly. So don’t be afraid to ask them for information • Go to churches, colleges, watch newspapers for events • Take the initiative to meet people • Be friendly and outgoing • Don’t worry about your English ability. If you are a speaker of English as a second language, you probably speak better than you think you do!

Common Questions and Concerns How can I find a second job? • If you want extra hours of work, ask your employer first. • Good, hard workers will get extra hours first. • Look in local newspapers, store windows, community bulletin boards in supermarkets. • Ask your employer about other jobs in the area • Ask your co-workers • Look on the internet (try www.craigslist.com) • Your second job cannot interfere with your primary job. • Go to our website to see a list of jobs you CANNOT take.

IF YOU WANT AN ADDITIONAL JOB You CANNOT START WORKING at another job UNTIL GeoVisions talks to your new employer and approves your job • Go to the GeoVisions Website (Work and Travel > Students Click Here) and print out a Job Offer Form • Fax it to us (1-603-363-8446) or scan it and email it to us (visions @ geovisions.org). YOU CANNOT START WORKING BEFORE WE APPROVE YOUR JOB. IF YOU ARE WORKING IN AN UNAUTHORIZED JOB IT CAN AFFECT YOUR STATUS ON THE WORK AND TRAVEL PROGRAM.

Your Travel Period • Your visa allows 30 days travel AFTER the end date on your DS-2019 • Use this time to visit people, see famous sites, HAVE FUN! • If you need to get back to school earlier, use your days off during the program to travel. • You cannot re-enter the USA during your 30 day travel period, not even just to catch your flight

Let’s Work Together to Avoid Problems • Our goal is for you to have a good experience in the USA…while following the rules • Program rules are designed to help you have a good, safe program. Make sure you read them AT OUR WEBSITE in the Student Handbook and follow them. OUR RULES MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM OTHER SPONSORS - MAKE SURE YOU READ THEM. • Employers, Students and GeoVisions all work together to solve problems. THIS COOPERATION IS IMPORTANT. • If you are flexible, open minded, have a good attitude and work hard – you can have a great and successful Summer Work and Travel Program.

GeoVisions is here to help • Be flexible • Remember that the USA is different than your home country • Have a positive attitude • Smile a lot • In an Emergency …call us immediately • We are here to help you

Be Prepared for Culture Shock • Everyone is affected – wherever you travel • There will be good times and excitement when you arrive

Be Prepared for Culture Shock • The sad times may follow and you might get: • Depressed • Angry • Homesick • Bored • Sick

Be Prepared for Culture Shock • You can make it better if you do things … and think about what’s happening … AND call GeoVisions if you need help.

Cultural Differences – You will find Americans to be different from people in your country. Some areas we might be different … • Friendship • Greetings • Talking to strangers • Workplace expectations • Many CULTURE SHOCK videos are on YouTube … please watch some

Culture Shock Solutions • Keep Active • Make American Friends • Stay Healthy – Exercise and Eat Well • Work on your English • Meet other International Students • Be Patient! • CALL GEOVISIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS

FINAL CHECKLIST - DID YOU ... • Check local websites of your employer and area you are working … BEFORE YOU ARRIVE • Read the student handbook online • Make copies of your passport and DS-2019 • Get your GeoVisions and Insurance ID Cards • Understand how important it is to Check-In • Give your local agent your travel information • Email your employer

If GeoVisions is providing your Medical Insurance, read the rest of this Orientation Presentation carefully. If you agent has provided Medical Insurance, read your insurance information carefully, and make sure you have an insurance card to present to a Medical Care Provider. If you are not sure about your insurance, CALL GEOVISIONS. Your Medical Insurance In the United States

$100,000 maximum $50 Standard deductible means that YOU pay the first $50 for any illness or injury Bring your GeoVisions ID card to your health care provider. It has your insurance information on it. Do not use the Emergency Room for Non-emergencies. Your deductible will be $250 if you do. You have Excellent Medical Insurance Coverage

Welcome to the GeoVisions Work/Travel Program