J1 I'm such a mess!

Nala

Well 2 of my friends are going on the J1 and I am supposed to be going with them, but my passport is out of date and I've to take out a loan to pay for all the fees. My friends are booking their flights tomorrow, I'm scared I won't be organised in time and either I won't be able to go on their flights or all the places will be filled. Does anyone know how long it will all take. Does anyone have any advice.

Thanks

Nala

ButtermilkJack

What exactly are you asking? How long will what take?

If it's your passport, then I would imagine anything up to two weeks. When are you going on your J1? If it's the summer then relax. Go book the flights with your friends. Your passport will be back to you in March.

If it's the loan you are worried about then the bank should get the funds to your account 2-3 days after application. Ask your friends to wait until then if you want to book together.

Ag marbh

Passport = A few hours if you go into the office.
Bank loan = 2-3 days.

BrokenArrows

There is nothing to worry about with the passport. They can get it done very fast if you have a legit excuse as to why you need it in a hurry.

Book the flights they can always be changed if anything goes wrong.

Enii

Ag marbh wrote:

Passport = A few hours if you go into the office.
.

A passport will only be issued this fast if you have proof that you are travelling within a day or two.

you can get it done in 10 days throught the post office.

Ag marbh

Enii wrote:

A passport will only be issued this fast if you have proof that you are travelling within a day or two.

you can get it done in 10 days throught the post office.

I had a while before travelling and said this was the only time I could get off work and they done it without a problem.

Nala

Oh and another thing- about the thing where you can get insurance so if you have to repeat any exams you get a free return flight home. I failed one of my January exams but have more exams in the summer. If I told them I only have exams in the summer (and didn't have any in January) would I be able to get this insurance? Is there any way they could find out?

netwhizkid

Nala wrote:

Oh and another thing- about the thing where you can get insurance so if you have to repeat any exams you get a free return flight home. I failed one of my January exams but have more exams in the summer. If I told them I only have exams in the summer (and didn't have any in January) would I be able to get this insurance? Is there any way they could find out?

As for the free flight home, that's called Insurance fraud. I've yet to hear of an Insurance Company listing "failed exams" as terms for them to fly you home. Anyway where abouts you going in the States? I might be able to recommend some places for work/accommodation. A lot of people I've spoken to have lost money on the J1 experience i.e. what they earned working over there did not cover the costs of accommodation and flights and the J1visa. My sister went there last year (to New York) and she lost about €2,000 despite having free accommodation from our relatives there. Then again, I have heard of fellas making anything over $1,000 a week. It all depends on what you go working at, Waitressing and Restaurants pay feck all unless you can get into to a posh restaurant in Manhattan or other City-Centre equivalents. Men tend to be paid more all the same though

caff

netwhizkid wrote:

As for the free flight home, that's called Insurance fraud. I've yet to hear of an Insurance Company listing "failed exams" as terms for them to fly you home.

wrong they do cover. scroll down the page

http://www.sayit.ie/jone.php?id=12

netwhizkid

caff wrote:

wrong they do cover. scroll down the page

http://www.sayit.ie/jone.php?id=12

Yeah, Well I'm pretty sure that all bog standard Travel Insurance don't cover it then.

*yoda*

you can only get the 'failed exam' insurance if you are booking with SAYIT or USIT. you really should call into USIT and ask about repeating exams because i am fairly sure it is only if you fail your summer exams because you usually get them results while you are out there. The January results you have already so I think you are expected to arrange your flight around the repeats.

netwhizkid

Come to think of it, A girl who went with my sister to New York last year failed her exams and had to come home a month early. I'll try and find out what her situation was. (they all booked through USIT, they got the combined flights and J1 Visa package)

Nala

I rang Usit this morning and told them that I only have the provisional results of my January exams and that I still have the other half of my exams to do in the summer. The girl said that she didn't know if I'd be eligible for the insurance and that someone called me back but that was at half 9 this morning. i am thinking maybe i should just pay for the return flight home myself instead of trying to get the insurance. I am also considering going over after my repeats, just for a few weeks for a holiday (not a J1).

i am going (hopefully) to San Francisco (Berkely).

Bah

Nala wrote:

I rang Usit this morning and told them that I only have the provisional results of my January exams and that I still have the other half of my exams to do in the summer. The girl said that she didn't know if I'd be eligible for the insurance and that someone called me back but that was at half 9 this morning. i am thinking maybe i should just pay for the return flight home myself instead of trying to get the insurance. I am also considering going over after my repeats, just for a few weeks for a holiday (not a J1).

i am going (hopefully) to San Francisco (Berkely).

You haven't failed your exams so far. You've only gotten provisional results, which will probbly be combined with your summer results and averaged out for the final result. You wont get your final result and know if you have to repeat until the summer, so just apply, book flights assuming you've passed your exams, and then, if you end up failing something, just claim on the insurance and change your flight details.

*yoda*

Nala wrote:

I rang Usit this morning and told them that I only have the provisional results of my January exams and that I still have the other half of my exams to do in the summer. The girl said that she didn't know if I'd be eligible for the insurance and that someone called me back but that was at half 9 this morning. i am thinking maybe i should just pay for the return flight home myself instead of trying to get the insurance. I am also considering going over after my repeats, just for a few weeks for a holiday (not a J1).

i am going (hopefully) to San Francisco (Berkely).

we are hoping to go to Berkley too. Seems to be loads of people from my course going over so it should be mad craic! dont worry about the insurance thing until USIT officially tell you that you cant. why ruin the rest of the semester worrying