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J-1 Program

Trainee/Intern Information

INITIAL FEES

Cost Timing Cost

Initial intake evaluation

  • Discussion about goals, program choices
  • CV assistance, documentation review
  • Oral interview & oral English test
 $0 when considering program $0
Database listing fee (non-refundable) $200 when choosing an applicant $200

Program fee (only partially refundable) 

  • $790 application fee (non-refundable)
  • $960 program fee (refundable if visa denied)
 $1,750 $1,750

Visa fees (paid to US Embassy in home country; non-refundable)

SEVIS Fees (subject to change) 

Amount you can show as available to you when traveling to the USA

$160

 

$220

 

$1200

 

 

 when applying for visa (remember that you should also have $1200 available to you for traveling) $380
Flight to USA, closest airport to host farm (estimated)  $1,000 when arriving to USA $1,000
TOTAL initial fees (prior to arrival) $3,330

UPON ARRIVAL

Transportation (from airport to farm); provided by host $0 upon arrival $0
Work boots for visitor; provided by host $0 upon arrival $0

Hourly payment–first 8 weeks

$7.25/hour for first 8 weeks

  • Must be paid at least federal minimum wage–or state minimum wage, whichever is greater
  • Based on 40 hours/week for calculation
  • At least one day per week completely off
  • Taxes are deducted
  • Overtime is NOT GUARANTEED, nor paid at a higher rate in agriculture.

$7.25/hr

40 hrs x 8 weeks

 during program $2,320

Hourly payment to visitor–remainder of year

$8/hour for remainder

  • Must be paid at least federal minimum wage–oor the state minimum wage, whichever is greater
  • Increase recognizes learning gained by visitor.  If host is not satisfied, host must advise visitor & Global Cow of specific concerns, and a timeline for reaching the increase
  • Overtime is NOT GUARANTEED, nor paid at a higher rate in agriculture.

$8.00/hr

40 hrs x 44 weeks

 during program $14,080

Health insurance

  • Payable monthly
  • Hosts’ responsibility
  • Not deducted from payments to visitor
 $100/month during program $0

Administration

  • Deduction from visitor’s hourly pay
  • Paid directly to Global Cow by host farm
 $200/month during program

-$2,400

 

Housing

Deduction of $100/month, from visitor’s hourly pay.  Hosts are responsible to organize housing, which includes:

  • Bed, chair, desk/table, chest, closet
  • Bedding, towels
  • Bedroom, bathroom, kitchen (can be shared)
  • Safe drinking water
  • Access to cleaning materials (vacuum, broom, etc)
  • Access to washing machine, detergent, dryer
  • Access to necessary storm/safety areas
  • Access to a telephone
  • Smoke alarm, fire extinguisher, carbon monoxide detector
 $100/month during program

-$1,200

 

Transportation

  • Visitor needs to get groceries, supplies, attend local educational events, etc.
  • Pickup and return to airport
 variable during program $0
Food (estimated) $300/month during program -$3,600
Flight home (estimated) $1,000 end of program -$1,000
At end of first year (before taxes are deducted), you could have a positive amount of: $9,260

Refund Policy

 

All fees noted as “non-refundable” are non-refundable. 

The $200 website listing fee does NOT guarantee a placement with a host farm.  Your information will be shown to hosts who are looking at the program. You will remain on the website for as long as you meet the program requirements.

If you are denied a J-1 visa by the US authorities, please understand that there is absolutely nothing that Global Cow can do.  Final visa authority ALWAYS is decided by the US authorities with jurisdiction over the applicant’s permanent residence.

If you are denied the visa, US$960 (minus money transfer fees) will be eligible for a refund to you.  In order to receive a visa-denial refund, you must–within four weeks of visa denial: 

  • Return the original DS-2019 form to Global Cow immediately.
  • Write a request for refunds of fees.
  • Do these two steps within four weeks of the denial.  (If you do NOT comply with these three steps, Global Cow will NOT give you a refund.)

Exchange visitors may leave the program at any time, by advising the program.  However, fees paid into the program are NOT refunded. Also, exchange visitors may not remain in the USA.  

Exchange visitors may not change farms without Global Cow’s approval. The intention is to stay on one farm for the entire year.  If a transfer is necessary, a fee of $1,000 will be charged. 

In order to receive a certificate, exchange visitors must provide proof of departure from the USA to Global Cow.

Complete an application