Why are J1'ers being ripped off?

DeadMoney

I am going on a J1 to new york and booked my J1 with go4less. I was hoping to book with sayit and book my flight on my own but this is the first year that this option is no longer available and now all students going on a J1 must book with flights through the company they choose to go with. I had to get a new passport which I just received today so I was not able to book my flights until now. Anyway I was told in January that booking flights through go4less would be about the same price as they are if you were booking independently. I have been keeping on eye on the prices of flights on Delta which are currently €461 for the dates I want to fly to new york and back.

However through the go4less flight search engine which I have to book through, the cheapest fare I can get is €660 :eek: When the agent from go4less told me this today, I nearly went crazy telling her that they are only €461 if I could book on my own and enquired why the hell they were so much extra. She just gave me some absolute bull about how the airline companies negotiate these fixed rates every year with the agency and they are for the benefit of the students. I am totally sickened by this to be honest and I am not surprised that these companies are ripping off students. It is so typical and the reason they get away with it is because most people who book their J1's have never been on one before and may be a bit naive in general about what they are being asked to pay.

This is my 3rd J1 and I have never paid anything over €450 in the past but I have always been able to book my own flights. Now I'm being told that on top of their over priced insurance, embassy fees, exam failure insurance, I now have to pay €200 more than I should have to pay for flights. €200 could be almost 1 months rent in the states, it is so sickening! And there is nothing that can be done about it as you have no option but to pay these extorted prices if you want the opportunity to work in the USA this summer and get out of this country. Good old rip off Republic at its best!!
Sorry, rant over!

Burial

I just received an email and was told I'd have to pay before Thursday with Go4Less or else they charge me an extra €40, even though the balance isn't due until the end of March. Apparently, Aer Lingus have increased their fuel surcharge.

I asked Go4Less for anywhere online I can see that Aer Lingus have announced this surcharge because I can't find this announcement anywhere but in their email that they sent out. The lady on the phone said they sent out an email to J1'ers saying Aer Lingus' flights booked with them will incur another €40 charge... Which isn't proof of the charge. It basically went on and on like this, with Go4Less not providing any proof of the increase.

I know the taxes and such can go up, but can anyone confirm that Aer Lingus are actually increased their fuel surcharge? I really can't find it anywhere!

*P.S I'm really not accepting another €40 fee on top of the €120 I over-paid because I had to book with them....

DeadMoney

Burial wrote: »

I just received an email and was told I'd have to pay before Thursday with Go4Less or else they charge me an extra €40, even though the balance isn't due until the end of March. Apparently, Aer Lingus have increased their fuel surcharge.

I asked Go4Less for anywhere online I can see that Aer Lingus have announced this surcharge because I can't find this announcement anywhere but in their email that they sent out. The lady on the phone said they sent out an email to J1'ers saying Aer Lingus' flights booked with them will incur another €40 charge... Which isn't proof of the charge. It basically went on and on like this, with Go4Less not providing any proof of the increase.

I know the taxes and such can go up, but can anyone confirm that Aer Lingus are actually increased their fuel surcharge? I really can't find it anywhere!

*P.S I'm really not accepting another €40 fee on top of the €120 I over-paid because I had to book with them....

Yeah that sounds ridiculous. I knew once I heard back in December that you could no longer book flights independently that this sort if **** would happen.It used to be just USIT ripping people off with their over priced J1 flights and insurance but now it is all 3 companies. I've a window open with €441 from Delta flying return to new york and €435 from US Airways the day after. But the cheapest I can get through go4less is €614 and this is provided I fly over a few days earlier than planned. This is also with Delta so why the hell am I paying so much extra? The agent from go4less gave me the most pathetic explanation this morning when I quizzed her and I could tell she knew exactly why I was so angry. She is just an employee though so its not like she could do anything about it. Its just typical lumping all students in to one J1 category and getting the maximim profit they can out of it by arranging a term of contract where by J1ers MUST book flights through the agency.

The agency has pre booked seats on a number of flights going on certain dates to certain popular J1 destination (New york, Chicago, Boston, San Diego etc) and they are pocketing a good % of the flights costs. The agent claimed that one of the reasons I must pay more is because they have negotiated with the airlines that if I have to cancel a flight I will get my money back rather than lose it. Lol, this is such bull ****, why the hell should every student going to the USA this summer so have to pay this extra cost to cover the cost of the tiny % of students that for some reason may have to cancel their flights? It makes no sense and as I said earlier most J1 students have never been anywhere this far on their own before so they really don't know what is going on. Everybody just assumes it is all part of the 'J1 package'. The J1 is actually only a DS-2019 form which entitles you to work for 3-4 months and registers you with SEVIS. They also sort an embassy interview which gives you the go ahead for the DS-2019 but everything else is a product of a company and is a complete ****in rip-off!! Shiny posters with 'FREE VISA' or 'FREE STOP-OVERS' and a couple of ditsy D4 girls walking around your college handing out flyers is all part of an over priced product exploiting those who want the opportunity to spend the summer away from home and experience America. It really sickens me and something has to be done imo. These companies have to state clearly where these extra costs are going.

Wow, guess I had another rant in me!

Civilian_Target

If something has to be done then do something. I don't believe they are allowed to legally change the price of the product after they sold it (like increasing the flight price due to a fuel surcharge). If you can show you had an agreed price before, take 'em to the small claims court!

PeakOutput

fuel surcharge can change at any time its clearly stated

also the reason they over charge on the flights is because tehy suck up costs elsewhere like the actual cost of arranging your visa for you

if you want you can apply for your j1 direct to the embassy and then you can arrange your own flights and insurance

it really annoys me that you cant get direct flights to boston every time i get delayed before my connection in either jfk or philly so ****ing annoying when aer lingus fly direct dublin to boston

edit; also small claims court dosnt deal with consumer issues

Valmont

Deadmoney2 wrote: »

Anyway I was told in January that booking flights through go4less would be about the same price as they are if you were booking independently.

I don't know who told you that but they were clearly wrong. Don't tell me it was go4less either because they know perfectly well that their flights cost more.

Deadmoney2 wrote: »

I am totally sickened by this to be honest and I am not surprised that these companies are ripping off students.

It's hardly a rip off; they are offering a service and you have to pay for that. If you can't afford a j1 that's unfortunate but the extra cost works out at around 200 euro which is the cost they charged in the old days for the program itself when you could pick your own flights so it isn't that much different. Fair enough it's a bit misleading with the "free J1" advertisement but seriously, it's very obvious they're making their money on the flights anyway.

Deadmoney2 wrote: »

Now I'm being told that on top of their over priced insurance, embassy fees, exam failure insurance, I now have to pay €200 more than I should have to pay for flights.

Exam failure insurance is optional. That expense is entirely your own. The embassy fees are just that, embassy fees; that revenue goes to the U.S.A. Considering most people will pay for insurance regardless, the go4less prices aren't that much higher. I think you're blowing this 200euro out of proportion. You can hardly expect a completely free service?

edit: I've flown to Alaska twice, once with a 36 hour layover in JFK so you can imagine what I had to pay.

RandolphEsq

PeakOutput wrote: »

fuel surcharge can change at any time its clearly stated

also the reason they over charge on the flights is because tehy suck up costs elsewhere like the actual cost of arranging your visa for you

if you want you can apply for your j1 direct to the embassy and then you can arrange your own flights and insurance

it really annoys me that you cant get direct flights to boston every time i get delayed before my connection in either jfk or philly so ****ing annoying when aer lingus fly direct dublin to boston

edit; also small claims court dosnt deal with consumer issues

You need a recognised 'sponsor' or else they won't look at you. I'm not sure what a 'sponsor' is except that USIT, Sayit and Go4Less are sponsors

Valmont

You used to be able to apply yourself but they did away with that because people almost always messed the forms up. I don't blame them to be honest, those forms are a nightmare.

JennyC

Burial wrote: »

I just received an email and was told I'd have to pay before Thursday with Go4Less or else they charge me an extra €40, even though the balance isn't due until the end of March. Apparently, Aer Lingus have increased their fuel surcharge.

I asked Go4Less for anywhere online I can see that Aer Lingus have announced this surcharge because I can't find this announcement anywhere but in their email that they sent out. The lady on the phone said they sent out an email to J1'ers saying Aer Lingus' flights booked with them will incur another €40 charge... Which isn't proof of the charge. It basically went on and on like this, with Go4Less not providing any proof of the increase.

I know the taxes and such can go up, but can anyone confirm that Aer Lingus are actually increased their fuel surcharge? I really can't find it anywhere!

*P.S I'm really not accepting another €40 fee on top of the €120 I over-paid because I had to book with them....

Well fuel surcharge is the airline, like theycan hardly put it down as a surcharge and blame the airline!
What was the extra 120€, is that flights aswell? Their flights are so expensive but obviously they have their own markup it is a travel agency they wont give anything to you for free!

lil_lisa

Can I ask someone what the prices are that they are being expected to pay to the East or West coast? When I booked a J-1 two years ago, flights to the West coast were a little over 400e return with the stopovers on the East coast. That's the cheapest I have ever found them to be, and they were booked through the company. What prices are you guys being quoted?

DeadMoney

lil_lisa wrote: »

Can I ask someone what the prices are that they are being expected to pay to the East or West coast? When I booked a J-1 two years ago, flights to the West coast were a little over 400e return with the stopovers on the East coast. That's the cheapest I have ever found them to be, and they were booked through the company. What prices are you guys being quoted?

East coast, about €620+ and I'm not sure about west coast but I assume even more. If you are going I'd get booking now coz they are just gonna go up further.

lil_lisa

I paid less than 400euro about two months ago for one way tickets. I'm over here. Can you try threaten them? Tell them, in a professional manner, that you have found cheaper tickets and you refuse they pay them to deal with any flights unless they want to book at the price you've found? These guys have no input in what how your visa is, they just do all the paper work. You can get them angry!

NavyandBlue

lil_lisa wrote: »

Can I ask someone what the prices are that they are being expected to pay to the East or West coast? When I booked a J-1 two years ago, flights to the West coast were a little over 400e return with the stopovers on the East coast. That's the cheapest I have ever found them to be, and they were booked through the company. What prices are you guys being quoted?

We payed €537 each for return flights to JFK NY. They were booked around the end of January.

lopppy

Were paying 510 return to NY, thats going from shannon to heathrow to washington to new york!

ChairmanMeeow

I haven't yet finalised my J1 but out of convenience I'll have to pick Usit, just the rest are on the other side of the country. I searched return flights for NY going at the end of may and the fare was €350 all in:eek:. Usit is going to be double that according to my mates. I'm really angry that all these companies are charging those higher prices, Its almost like a friggin cartel! :mad:

Valmont

DeadMoney, ChairmanMeow and lil lisa,
Do you guys seriously not understand this?

Go4Less and USIT provide a service which you must pay for. For whatever marketing reasons they have, these companies decided to stop charging a "program fee" of around 250 euro and instead bumped up the flight prices; this is where they make their profit.

There's no cartel, no conspiracy, no rip-off. If you could pick your own cheap flights (like the old days) then you would have to pay them 250 euro for the visa processing so I really don't see why you're all so angry. Come on.
:rolleyes:

ToniTuddle

Fair enough if we could pick our own flights lets say even at €500 return then add on €250 for all the fees,paperwork etc that USIT or whoever asks for.

That's in and around €750.

I just got an email with my price of what I have to pay and it's basically €945 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! With USIT.
Even if I take of the optional price of the exam failure cover which is the €45 it's still flippin €900 euro!!!!
First time doing the whole J1 thing.

Valmont

I don't accept people moaning about exam failure insurance as an expensive overhead; just pass your exams.

lil_lisa

Valmont wrote: »

DeadMoney, ChairmanMeow and lil lisa,
Do you guys seriously not understand this?

Go4Less and USIT provide a service which you must pay for. For whatever marketing reasons they have, these companies decided to stop charging a "program fee" of around 250 euro and instead bumped up the flight prices; this is where they make their profit.

There's no cartel, no conspiracy, no rip-off. If you could pick your own cheap flights (like the old days) then you would have to pay them 250 euro for the visa processing so I really don't see why you're all so angry. Come on.
:rolleyes:

Excuse me? Of course I understand it, I had no issue paying everything they asked for because it was worth it. I just think its crazy how either flights have almost doubled in price or how much they have hiked them up themselves, even if it is a program fee, it shouldn't be the same cost as flights to the US. And since the only options are these few companies, you either pay a hell of a lot for this kind of thing or you don't get the opportunity. That's not very fair!

Valmont

lil_lisa wrote: »

Excuse me?

It's only the internet, relax.

lil_lisa wrote: »

Of course I understand it, I had no issue paying everything they asked for because it was worth it.

I'm confused, why are you giving out about the flight prices if you don't have an issue with what they are charging?

lil_lisa wrote: »

I just think its crazy how either flights have almost doubled in price or how much they have hiked them up themselves, even if it is a program fee, it shouldn't be the same cost as flights to the US.

There is no program fee which is why they take their cut from the hiked up flight prices. What's the problem? If they charged you regular flight prices they wouldn't make any money! I've been on two J1s to Alaska and to say that flight prices have actually doubled is a complete exaggeration. Another point I would make is that if you are actually going to be working over there you should have the flights completely covered in a week or two anyway!

lil_lisa wrote: »

That's not very fair!

If you want it you have to pay for it. I don't see anything unfair about that.

lil_lisa

I have an issue if they are charging these people these prices. I was charged less for the West coast than what these people are paying for the East coast, it seems a bit crazy. I'm supporting other people in having a say on what they get charged for. Do you think we should allow companies to put fees on everything as much as they want? Especially when they are just the middle men? I'm not trying to attack any company specifically here, I'm just saying that if people are having issues with what they're being charged, they should talk to the company about it, and if it turns out they're being charged 100% in fees on top of everything they are paying then somethings wrong. This visa is specifically for students, they're already broke.

I've taken three visas with different companies to the same location and never paid such crazy prices. Also, I didn't get a job two of those times. I was stuck with the left over loans. Its all chance, you're not even guaranteed a job at the end of the day. Money may not be an issue for everybody but that doesn't mean that some people shouldn't get the opportunity. That goes against a lot of things our country stands for.

lopppy

I don't understand why people spend so much time posting on this but seem to accept the first price theyre given then compain about it? Surely a phone call to each company asking what their cheapest j1 flights to x location cost would seriously decrease what their paying!

Valmont

lil_lisa wrote: »

I'm supporting other people in having a say on what they get charged for.

They can use a different company if they don't like the prices and if the whole thing is too much then they should take a look at their finances and maybe realise that a J1 isn't within their means.

lil_lisa wrote: »

Do you think we should allow companies to put fees on everything as much as they want?

Yes, we do live within a relatively free market. That is the idea after all. They can charge what they like and no one is forcing you to pay for anything.

lil_lisa wrote: »

and if it turns out they're being charged 100% in fees on top of everything

Nobody is being charged 100% in fees. That is simply not true. The situation is that most students are paying an extra 250/300 euro for their flights that they would have had to pay in the form of a program fee otherwise. Considering these companies perform a service you cannot do yourself they are completely entitled to make a profit on the proceedings.

lil_lisa wrote: »

This visa is specifically for students, they're already broke.Also, I didn't get a job two of those times. I was stuck with the left over loans. Money may not be an issue for everybody but that doesn't mean that some people shouldn't get the opportunity. That goes against a lot of things our country stands for.

So let me get this right, you think the visa should be cheaper for you and other broke students even though you may have spent a summer getting into debt and not working? If money was an issue then you would have pre-arranged employment and not gone otherwise. Visa companies can't be expected to adjust their fees downwards to support your lifestyle.

Re second bolded point: The fact that you think a j1 is something you are entitled to regardless of finance is patently ridiculous.

lil_lisa

No I think we are entitled to the opportunity. And believe me I wish this "lifestyle" you're talking about was a choice. Like I didn't try to pre arrange jobs, apartments and everything else. We are not all as lucky to land a perfect summer with everything so we make sacrifices. No we didn't get jobs or an apartment, but we believed that instead of throwing the money away and paying extra to cancel everything to chance our arms at getting jobs out there and experiencing it. We ended up living on someones floor and buying $1 meals with the money we earned before hand but we got through it. Everyone is free to complain if they feel they are being over charged or taken advantage of, its called free speech. If you don't have an issue with this then don't make an issue out of it! I'm here to support people who feel they do!

ToniTuddle

Valmont wrote: »

Another point I would make is that if you are actually going to be working over there you should have the flights completely covered in a week or two anyway!

What work did you do over in Alaska to pay it all off in a week or two! I want that job!

lopppy wrote: »

Surely a phone call to each company asking what their cheapest j1 flights to x location cost would seriously decrease what their paying!

USIT gave me a price on the phone next day get the bill and oh would you look at that an extra 100 euro slapped on from the price she gave me.

Alot of them will give you a rough estimate but guaranteed it will always be a €100 extra if not a hell of alot more.

If USIT allowed me to book my flight myself, charged whatever for the various paperwork fees and even threw in their own fee on top-It would still be CHEAPER than what I am having to pay now which is quite crappy.

But I'm going to pay it as I want into America and I want to be legal.
Plenty students will be going over taking a chance and work there illegally but it's not worth it at the end of the day if you get caught.
So I'm annoyed at the price of my price as it seems to be really expensive compared to others online but I'm still going to happily get myself in a bit of debt to get over there

I simply won't drink for the first month and I'll have it paid off

Valmont

lil_lisa wrote: »

No I think we are entitled to the opportunity.

Everyone has the opportunity. They just have to find the money somewhere. The j1 "lifestyle" is a choice and don't expect other people to pay for your holiday just because you think you are entitled to it somehow; you aren't by the way. Your idea of an entitlement here implies that someone else has to pay for your holiday and, well, that's just criminal.

re: Toni. I meant two weeks if I had paid for flights to the east coast. It took me around a month and a half to cover my return flight to AK.

lil_lisa

Where do you get the idea that I feel someone else should pay for my holiday? I just don't want to be ripped off. You're not even hearing what I'm saying so I'm going to stop arguing with you because there's no point.

Back to the point of this thread, people are here to complain about extra prices being dumped on their bills. They have every right to ask questions and find out what exactly they are being charged for and if they feel they are being wrongly charged then they can raise the issue.

Valmont

lil_lisa wrote: »

Where do you get the idea that I feel someone else should pay for my holiday?

You said you were entitled to a j1 and that money issues shouldn't keep someone from taking a j1 visa. It logically follows that you would like someone else to pay for poor students to take j1 holidays. If you can't see the implications of your arguments why make them in the first place?

lil_lisa wrote: »

Back to the point of this thread, people are here to complain about extra prices being dumped on their bills.

I've explained this already, there is nothing extra being dumped on their bills. Everything is accounted for on the invoice they give you.

lil_lisa wrote: »

They have every right to ask questions and find out what exactly they are being charged for

I'm not disputing that.

You are still failing to grasp the fact that the visa companies make their profit from the flight prices which they charge you in lieu of a program fee. I will concede that this is less than transparent and perhaps a bit sneaky but it is not exactly hard to see what they're doing. In fact, it's fairly obvious and considering you have to avail of their services if you want a j1, they have every right to charge a fee of some kind. So hopefully you can see there is nothing inherently wrong about their prices and demanding that you pick your own flights simply takes away their profit and we can't expect any business to do that, no matter how much you feel you are entitled to their service. All I'm asking is that people be reasonable here and understand the reality that a j1 visa is going to cost quite a bit. That isn't going to change anytime soon.

the flananator

Ok guys, so whos cheaper, Go4Less or Usit? Want to book this week-end.

I'm hitting the East Coast btw.

ToniTuddle

the flananator wrote: »

Ok guys, so whos cheaper, Go4Less or Usit? Want to book this week-end.

I'm hitting the East Coast btw.

Either way you are screwed! Toss a coin

Valmont

I don't think there is much difference between the companies in terms of price. Although I found the staff at go4less very helpful and friendly the two times I went with them if that makes any difference to you.

asterixthegaul

I'm on the us embassy website, and it seems like you can organise a visa yourself without having to deal with sayit/etc.

From the page http://dublin.usembassy.gov/swt.html :

"you may deal directly with the sponsor in the U.S., or alternatively you may go through one of the Irish based administrators which include Go4Less, SAYIT, and USIT who may be able to assist you."

I'd say that sayit/etc. just go through this process for you, throwing on their ridiculous fees because no one is bothered to contact a stateside sponsor themselves.

There's a list of hundreds of stateside sponsors such as http://www.iceoinc.org/

You should try calling some of them if you're really interested in saving money/not letting sayit/etc. rip you off.

I'm going to try and skype call them on monday. I've only just started research into this so let me know if anyone else has tried it.

Valmont

asterixthegaul wrote: »

I'm going to try and skype call them on monday. I've only just started research into this so let me know if anyone else has tried it.

If you trawl through past threads on this forum, there are a good few "Help, trying to do my own j1, can't figure out the forms etc" sort of threads. I've seen two or three for sure.

DeadMoney

asterixthegaul wrote: »

I'm on the us embassy website, and it seems like you can organise a visa yourself without having to deal with sayit/etc.

From the page http://dublin.usembassy.gov/swt.html :

"you may deal directly with the sponsor in the U.S., or alternatively you may go through one of the Irish based administrators which include Go4Less, SAYIT, and USIT who may be able to assist you."

I'd say that sayit/etc. just go through this process for you, throwing on their ridiculous fees because no one is bothered to contact a stateside sponsor themselves.

There's a list of hundreds of stateside sponsors such as http://www.iceoinc.org/

You should try calling some of them if you're really interested in saving money/not letting sayit/etc. rip you off.

I'm going to try and skype call them on monday. I've only just started research into this so let me know if anyone else has tried it.

Sounds good, be sure and let us know who you get in with this.

asterixthegaul

I sent a few emails off to u.s sponsors to see what happens.

I read through a lot of the threads on this forum (all of them I think, but I might be mistaken) there didn't seem to be any concrete information on this.

I'm concerned that none of the sponsors I'm looking at will be reliable, or that it would take them a long time to get around to filing forms.

It'd be great if it did work though, I really hate being ripped off.

Urgh, I've probably left it too late this year, but someone should definitely look into this in the future.

lil_lisa

I tried applying to several sponsors directly last year. I filled out starting forms and a few days later they emailed me or called me and said because I was applying from Ireland I had to go through one of the Irish sponsors, i.e. Sayit, USIT or go4less. I don't think there's anyway of going around it. The only other company I know is iicenter.

ToniTuddle

I never heard of iicenter must check them out now to have an idea for next year.

USIT are bloody fly, well they all are. If they would all be upfront about the cold hard facts of how much exactly it would cost then people wouldn't complain as much.

I rang today about getting my "free" date change.
There is no such thing. They make out like if you wish to change your date to fly out then that is fine no worries and they make out like it is free to do so!! Bollocks.
They said there was no availabilty with the airline I was suppose to be going on and that they would have to transfer to a different airline blah blah blah.
Was going to cost me an extra €100 to fly out 5 days earlier with my so called "free" date change.

The way they word things fools young ones into thinking they are getting an amazing deal. Can't stand that crap. Least I know what is real and what is bollocks for next year.

If you change days you pay extra on whatever flight you rarely get it for less or around the same.
As for the two free stopovers...more bollocks. I'd be swapping about various airports and airlines and just plain old hassle by the ramblings of the lady on the phone. -.-

lil_lisa

Yeah I know, they're basically American companies, every company and ad over here has these loose statements. You really gotta read the small print, the world of business and advertising doesn't mean anything over here anymore, its crazy.

Yeah so anyway, iicenter is a company based in Boston. The only American sponsor company I could find. I spent a month talking to them last year to get a year J visa, they are so nice there and they're much cheaper than anything I found in Ireland. They were about €300 less than anything I could find here and they allowed me to start the process from here in the states. However, last year they were having delays receiving the DS2019 so I couldn't get it fast enough so they sent my paper work to Sayit. Not as cheap but they were so helpful I feel bad for ever going with USIT.

If its for next year get in touch with them and apply, their website is at www.iicenter.org they are based in Boston but take care of people who are going anywhere in the country. I was talking to a guy called Jude Clarke, he's in charge of all the J-1 stuff.

Good luck!

lil_lisa

Oh, did I mention that the iicenter company in Boston can ensure you a job for extra money? After what I've been through its worth it to get a job secured! The extra cash will be made in a few weeks!

ToniTuddle

lil_lisa wrote: »

Oh, did I mention that the iicenter company in Boston can ensure you a job for extra money? After what I've been through its worth it to get a job secured! The extra cash will be made in a few weeks!

Ensure you a job in Boston...or...in any other cities?
Thanks for all that info I will definitely be looking them up.
But would I need to start getting onto them now for like summer 2011??

I'm paying for my USIT thing tomorrow better to just get it over and done with for this year.

DeadMoney

ToniTuddle wrote: »

I'm paying for my USIT thing tomorrow better to just get it over and done with for this year.

I'm paying my last €535 (barely squeezed it together) to go4less office tomoro, will feel a lot better about it when I touch down in New York on June 1st. **** it at least I'll be in the sun all summer anything is worth getting out of Ireland for a few months.

ToniTuddle

Deadmoney2 wrote: »

I'm paying my last €535 (barely squeezed it together) to go4less office tomoro, will feel a lot better about it when I touch down in New York on June 1st. **** it at least I'll be in the sun all summer anything is worth getting out of Ireland for a few months.

I've to pay €942.90 :mad:
Plus I'll have to fork out for the bus to Dublin which is another €25-30 for a 10 minute interview at the Embassy. Bollocks >.<

I'm landing in NY on the 3rd of June....literally counting down the days!

DeadMoney

ToniTuddle wrote: »

I've to pay €942.90 :mad:
Plus I'll have to fork out for the bus to Dublin which is another €25-30 for a 10 minute interview at the Embassy. Bollocks >.<

I'm landing in NY on the 3rd of June....literally counting down the days!

Yeah I had to pay for the visa/embassy/insurance as well back in December so my total is probably close to your figure. I know embassy interview is such a pain, I have to do a "pre-embassy interview" in go4less within 5 days of my embassy interview also just to pick up some form and ****e. They also have a 'missed appointment fee' of €50 conveniently enough so the whole thing is probably put in place as a money spinner.

The last J1 I went on I never had to do any pre-embassy appointment, its so bogus. Ha, wait until you see the embassy interview, you just walk in and out in 10 mins and all they ask for is your completed DS-2019 form to stamp. Still has to be done unfortunately. Yeah I know what you mean, I am counting down the days too, I just hope go4less don't stop me at the gate of Dublin airport looking for their 'leaving town tax' :pac:

ToniTuddle

Deadmoney2 wrote: »

Yeah I had to pay for the visa/embassy/insurance as well back in December so my total is probably close to your figure. I know embassy interview is such a pain, I have to do a "pre-embassy interview" in go4less within 5 days of my embassy interview also just to pick up some form and ****e. They also have a 'missed appointment fee' of €50 conveniently enough so the whole thing is probably put in place as a money spinner.

The last J1 I went on I never had to do any pre-embassy appointment, its so bogus. Ha, wait until you see the embassy interview, you just walk in and out in 10 mins and all they ask for is your completed DS-2019 form to stamp. Still has to be done unfortunately. Yeah I know what you mean, I am counting down the days too, I just hope go4less don't stop me at the gate of Dublin airport looking for their 'leaving town tax' :pac:

I know they send you on alot of stuff but must look up the websites again or give them buzz later on in week just to sort out the finer details...like that whole registering once you land over and applying for the SS card or whatever!

Pre-Embassy Interview and then the embassy thing...balls!
I'll make note not to go along with them next year.
DAMN....must get those passport sized photos sorted...and they have to be perfect or else there wil be bother
More feicing money.