J1 Fees breakdown (including hidden fees)

phishcakes

Hi

Filled out the first page of the j1 application and already fees & handling fees willy nilly for this that and the other, their advertising it as €99 for the visa, €120 for insurance and whatever for flights.

Has anyone actually finished the process and can give a realistic breakdown of prices?

Cheers!

phishcakes

sorry thats with go4less.

Piste

I'm looking into J1 fees over the last few days, what fees are they adding on at the application stage? Is this before you've paid your deposit?
I hate the way insurance is compulsory. I have my own damn insurance!

Folie a deux

I booked my J1 with go4less last week and this is my invoice so far

First Deposit €39.00

Programme Charge €99.00

Embassy Visa Charge €110.00

Insurance 4months €120.00

Sevis Tracking €30.00

Within 10 days of sending in your documents you need to pay €240, which is the price for the Embassy charge, Sevis tracking and then a €100 flight deposit.

I believe the only other charge to be included is the flights. You can check the prices of flights on their website before booking, the dates I am looking at can get flights to Chicago for €511. I think this is a brilliant price, it is the main reason I went with go4less because USIT were giving me a quote of €650.

The final balance is due in March. Hope this helps

Piste

Is the €39 deposit refundable?

Folie a deux

I am not 100% sure but I don't think it is. As I said, I am not sure so could be worth emailing them just to get a definite answer.

Toby_2010

a bit off topic but say for example i go ahead and book my J1 in the morning and then decide i dont want to go in 4 months time... can i get a refund or am i totally screwed for the money i would have paid??

Piste

I emailed go4less and asked about flights and insurance. They said it's compulsory to buy insurance and flights with them, even if you have your own insurance and can find cheaper flights (they quoted over €800 for Dub-San Fran, I found the exact same flights, same airline and flight nos for just over €500). It seems like an utter scam.

Civilian_Target

It is and it isn't...
If you try to get a J1 from any organization over here, they'll quote you at least $600 of admin fees, and the US embassy will add another $200 to that including SEVIS, and then you'll have to buy approved travel and medical insurance. So, I guess any Irish operator is going to get at least that much out of you in any case, be that through upfront or hidden fees.

NewApproach

Is there any reason why you can't organise it yourself?

Are the go4less prices different from the general flight prices on their website?

lil_lisa

NewApproach wrote: »

Is there any reason why you can't organise it yourself?

The only way to get a work visa to the US is by having a sponsor. Be it an organisation who sponsor a H1B, be it a wife or husband who sponsor through marriage, or a mother or father or child, someone or some company has to say, I am responsible for this person going over to the US. They can't just allow people to apply on their own.

For the J1, they have these companies set up to screen for fraud and other things. These companies are basically vouching for you.

Folie a deux

SAYIT are opening their j1 program on Monday. Don't know if they will be any cheaper or not but could be worth a try.

phishcakes

If you get refused a visa do you get back any fees or deposits that you've paid up until that point?

Cheers

madmarie

phishcakes wrote: »

Hi

Filled out the first page of the j1 application and already fees & handling fees willy nilly for this that and the other, their advertising it as €99 for the visa, €120 for insurance and whatever for flights.

Has anyone actually finished the process and can give a realistic breakdown of prices?

Cheers!

ok so im abit confused...just signed up for USIT j1, to get the free keg then realise they make ya take out exam insurance for €69 !!! told them UCD repeats are not on in summer but doesn't matter still have to take it out, Can they do this......??

phishcakes

Folie a deux wrote: »

SAYIT are opening their j1 program on Monday. Don't know if they will be any cheaper or not but could be worth a try.

Sayit seems pretty reasonable, does anyone know what there like to go with? The fact their based in Cork could make it a bit awkward.

Toby_2010

so it looks like the J1 has to be gotten with a package does it?? thats a pity really... might just get a tourist visa then.. but if im getting a j1 ill prob go with sayit.... from what iv heard there spot on.... and im gonna drop into USIT in the am to see what they have to say for them selves!

NU8

madmarie wrote: »

ok so im abit confused...just signed up for USIT j1, to get the free keg then realise they make ya take out exam insurance for €69 !!! told them UCD repeats are not on in summer but doesn't matter still have to take it out, Can they do this......??

I'm going with Go4Less for the free American sim card but it doesn't say anything on the USIT J1 website about needing insurance for the free keg. Seems like false advertising. Try complaining or asking for your money back because you applied thinking you were entitled to a free keg?

Dave2k10

NU8 wrote: »

I'm going with Go4Less for the free American sim card but it doesn't say anything on the USIT J1 website about needing insurance for the free keg. Seems like false advertising. Try complaining or asking for your money back because you applied thinking you were entitled to a free keg?

How much did they say the American Sim was worth. I was in NY this year, and you may end up just buying a phone for $50/month which includes everything except for calling Irish Mobiles.

Toby_2010

So I dropped into USIT today.. asked how much does the program cost.. and the lady to be far was lovely and helpfull told me €99 befor xmas.. so that was grand... the I put this to her "how much does it actually cost" and after we chatted about my plans (which is to fly into new york and get my free stopover to LA and the fly home), she said this would cost including fees and all the stuff u cannot see €1200.... now im at the stage where im wondering is getting a j1 worth it.. realistically im not going over to make money... just the whole experience... so i know my self i can do the above for under 700 with out the visa and just go on a visitors visa...

Im really considering doing this and only spending 8 weeks traveling around instead of the j1... cos the working in the states never appealed to me... and if i run out of money just pay the flight change charges and head for home where i know ill have work for the last few weeks!!

opinions??

phishcakes

Toby_2010 wrote: »

So I dropped into USIT today.. asked how much does the program cost.. and the lady to be far was lovely and helpfull told me €99 befor xmas.. so that was grand... the I put this to her "how much does it actually cost" and after we chatted about my plans (which is to fly into new york and get my free stopover to LA and the fly home), she said this would cost including fees and all the stuff u cannot see €1200.... now im at the stage where im wondering is getting a j1 worth it.. realistically im not going over to make money... just the whole experience... so i know my self i can do the above for under 700 with out the visa and just go on a visitors visa...

Im really considering doing this and only spending 8 weeks traveling around instead of the j1... cos the working in the states never appealed to me... and if i run out of money just pay the flight change charges and head for home where i know ill have work for the last few weeks!!

opinions??

you can stay up to 3 months in the states without visa so long as you dont work, so if your not planning on working it makes sense to save the moeny you would otherwise spend on a visa you dont really need.

NU8

Dave2k10 wrote: »

How much did they say the American Sim was worth. I was in NY this year, and you may end up just buying a phone for $50/month which includes everything except for calling Irish Mobiles.

They said €25 but I was going with them anyway. I have heard that the concept of pre-pay phones barely exists in America. Apparently the plans are bizzare with fees for not using it every day etc.
Can you get 3 month contracts which include a handset?

lil_lisa

Yeah, bill pay phones are used by 99% of people here. The best thing is to look up a monthly contract phone company in the area you're going to. I'm in California and I use Cricket. Usually, you'll pay for an entire month in advance and get a set amount (or sometimes unlimited) of calls and texts. Its probably worth doing this. Should only spend about $40 -$50 a month but with credit and top ups you can end up spending $100 or sometimes running out and people can't call you!

Civilian_Target

I have a pay-as-you-go phone here in the USA, and it's fine. I wouldn't even say that it's substantially more expensive than Ireland.

lonestargirl

I had a T-Mobile PAYG phone for the first year, phone + $5 credit cost $20 and $50 credit would last me 2 months.

madmarie

NU8 wrote: »

I'm going with Go4Less for the free American sim card but it doesn't say anything on the USIT J1 website about needing insurance for the free keg. Seems like false advertising. Try complaining or asking for your money back because you applied thinking you were entitled to a free keg?

ya like you get the free keg after u pay a deposit but because ur then going with usit you have to take out their insurance and exam failure insurance which i dont want cost it cost €69 extra !!! i could have got 3 kegs for that price..*

Hatchet89

I have not booked anything yet I'm just researching how much this might cost or what kind of funds I might need in total etc. Funds are very tight at the moment and I dont see this being much different after the next college semester. Is it advisable to take out a loan and if so to what value?

lorraine!

I booked a J1 to Boston on thursday with USIT- bit of a spur of the moment thing. I didnt really do any research before hand. It's costing €1194. - seems to include everything except the embassy fee of €150.