by yvonne Su
This summer, while I was flooded with piles of books, busy preparing for graduate school entrance exam, some of my friends chose to spend it in a different way. One was making coffee at a Starbucks in Ohio; another was a cashier in a national park souvenir shop in Colorado, and yet another was working in an amusement park in Atlanta. How did they get the opportunity to work legally in America? By joining a summer job program supported by the U.S. government! The main goal of this special program is to increase multi-culture exchange through work and travel in U.S.A. Students also can experience real American lifestyle and broaden their mind by interacting with people from various places. This program has lasted more than twenty years in Europe. However, it is only the fourth year here due to the over-protective attitude held by most Taiwanese parents in the past. There are four organizations responsible for promoting and arranging it in America; right now two of which have branches in Taiwan – one is Council Exchange, based in New York, and the other is Intrax WorkTravel, based in San Francisco. They are open for college students aged from 18 to 28 all over the world without requirement of specific academic background. Students mostly work in hotels, parks, restaurant, and shops that require more manpower during summer as sales assistants, beverage servers, kitchen staff, cashiers, and housekeeping, laundry, or room attendants. The wage per hour ranges from US$5.75 to 10.00 owing to the diversity of jobs, but at least it is always above the minimum pay regulated by the U.S. labor law. Although there are two agencies available in Taiwan to help you arrange the whole process, some slight differences still exist. The legal working period of Council Exchanges is from June 1st to October 19th, while for Intrax WorkTravel it starts from May 1st to October 31st. Intrax WorkTravel does provide you with a list of jobs to choose from or you can get your own job through other access, but Council Exchanges only tells you where to find job vacancies. Therefore, you have to search for them on your own. The application fee also differs depending on whether it is a self-arranged or agency-provided job. The amount is between NT$18,000 and 30,000. After brief explanation of how this program operates, it is time to talk about the application procedure. You need to pass a writing test first and take an oral test with American counselor to make sure you have the basic English communication skill to work in U.S.A. Once you pass, you should begin looking for a job or simply choose one from what the agency offers. Your future employer must fax an employment document for you to sign (Accommodation and salary are confirmed during this phase.) so that the organizations will be able to process your work permission IAP-66 issued by American government. Then, you can directly go to AIT to apply for J-1 legal work visa. The next step is to plan the itinerary in America, book tickets and arrange other details these agencies remind you. As for personal safety, the most important thing in a foreign country, you will be assisted in obtaining a social security card, buying insurance, and seminars will be held to prepare you for life in U.S.A. When everything is done, just pack your baggage and wait for departure day! For those who are really interested and have already thought about giving it a try, here is where you can get more information: Council Exchanges : www.councilexchanges.org.tw (02) 2364-0228 Intrax WorkTravel : www.soeasyedu.com.tw (02) 2370-4358 Remember! The number of students is limited though there is no specific deadline. Contact them as soon as possible! If you do join the program, be sure to share your experience with us after you come back! #Volume 7 Issue 2 a
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May 2024
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