Happy Fall Everyone! IENA is now accepting Summer 2020 direct placement and returning applications! To some of you, it may feel like Summer 2020 is a LONG way away however, now is the best time to get started on your direct placement and returning applications!
We would like to remind you that our direct placement and returning staff program has a finite number of visas available. We encourage you to complete your application as soon as possible as we issue DS-2019 forms on a first come, first serve basis. Once we utilize all of our forms, we will no longer be able to provide sponsorship for this program. Once started, please make every effort to complete your IENA application by early December to give yourself the best chance of obtaining a place on our program.
The following is a complete outline of all required information and documentation we need for your 2020 application, and the requirements of each. PLEASE give this section a thorough read through, you may find that it answers many of your questions.
- Personal Information:
- This section MUST reflect the information present in your passport. The information presented in this section will be directly pulled from your IENA application to create your Form DS-2019. If something is listed incorrectly in this section, it will be listed incorrectly on your Form DS-2019. If there is incorrect information listed on your Form DS-2019, you will need to have your form corrected and reprinted at a cost of $100 USD.
- We will also need your CITY of birth. Some passports go by County or State. In this case, please go with the city present on your birth certificate.
- The address you provide for your mailing address in your application is where we will send all your visa related documents and information. There is a 30-character limit for your address as anything more will not fit onto a FedEx international priority shipping label. If your address is longer than 30 characters, please try to shorten it using postal abbreviations (ie. Change “number” to “#”) or by using the “additional” line listed on your application.
- Camp Information:
- Please fill this section in with the name of the camp employing you this summer, the name of the director, contact information, and your job type. You can also find this information in your camp contract if you are unsure or want to double check.
- Please fill in if you are a direct placement or a returning applicant (You are a direct placement if you have never been on the camp program before, if you are working in a different role this summer at the same camp, or if you are working at a different camp this summer than from previous summers on the camp program)
- Education: If you are an undergraduate or graduate student, please fill this section in accordingly. If you are not a student, please answer “No”.
- Work Experience: If you are currently employed in your home country, provide the name of the employer, your position, and for how long you have worked there for. If not, answer “No”.
- Camp Experience: If you have WORKED at camp prior to this year make sure this section is filled in with all necessary information.
- If you were a camp counselor (lifeguard, horseback riding instructor, etc.) then you must answer yes to the question of “Were you a camp counselor?“
- If you were maintenance, kitchen staff, office staff, etc., then you must answer yes to the following question of “Were you a Support Staff Member?”
- For name of sponsor, please put the name of the agency that was your visa sponsor. Your Summer Camp employer was not your sponsor. You can find the name of the agency on either you past DS 2019 forms or the previous visa(s) in your passport.
- Please note: if you are working at a different camp from previous summers on the camp program, we require that you provide a reference from your supervisor at your previous camp.
- Visa Information: If you have been to camp before and have had previous visas, please don’t skip over this section.
- Please enter the country where you are currently a legal permanent resident under “Country of Legal Residence”. * Please make sure that this is accurate as this will be pulled directly from your IENA application and used to create your Form DS-2019.
- Also note: as it relates to the International Camp Staff Program – Summer Work and Travel visas are only issued to those participants who have worked as a support staff while at camp. If you have only ever worked as a camp counselor, the number of J-1 Summer Work and Travel visas would be entered as 0.
- Personal Statement:
- This is a very important part of your application. Please fill out this section completely and substantially, at least a paragraph for each question. (Even if IENA was your sponsor last year!).
- Please Note: If you were born in a country different from where you are currently living, please enter the age at which you moved to this country in your personal statement.
- Medical History & other Background info: Answer all questions in this section and provide adequate details when describing any conditions or medications you may take. It is very important that you include any and all diagnosed pre-existing conditions in this section.
- Reference: You are required to provide TWO professional references. These MUST be filled out using IENA’s online reference form; we do NOT accept letters of recommendation. Please also note that these references must be written in English and filled out completely. We will not accept references that contain unanswered questions.
- You can email IENA’s online reference form directly to your professional reference through your online application.
- It must be completed by someone who knows you in a professional capacity – examples include a professor, supervisor, employer, and/or school teacher. It CANNOT be a reference from a coach, a colleague/coworker, a friend, and/or a family member. A reference from your current summer camp employer (Camp Director or any other staff, past or present) will not be accepted as the US Department of State views this as a conflict of interests.
- If you are going to a different camp this year, you will need a reference from your previous camp.
- Photograph: This can be any picture of you. Think of this as your profile picture for your application.
- Camp Contract/Offer Letter From Camp:
- We will need a copy of the offer letter for you from camp. You can upload the copy of the letter yourself, please make sure to upload the signed copy of this document. This can be the last document you receive from camp after being hired and can take some time for you to receive. We recommend that you have the rest of your application completed while you wait for this.
- When uploading this file, you will be asked for your Job start and end date. These dates are the dates that you will be working at camp and must match the start and end date listed on your contract exactly.
- Police Background Check:
- You will need to submit a recent Police Background Check to obtain your visa. We ONLY accept background checks issued from September 1, 2019 onward. Please note: IENA requires a current police background check from every country where you have lived for 3 months or more after your 18th birthday.
- If you are from the UK, please visit this LINK.
- If you are not from the UK, please contact your local police department. Please keep in mind that this document can take up to 2-3 weeks to receive depending on the country and region, so apply accordingly. It may be possible to request an expedited police check with an addition charge – please check with your local police department for country and region-specific rules and regulations.
- Proof of Student Status: This document is only needed for SUPPORT STAFF (Kitchen Staff, Maintenance, Housekeeping Department, or Office Staff.) This is not required for Camp Counselors or Lifeguards.
- Download the form here!
- Both the signature of the school official, and school seal are required. If the official cannot sign our form, they can provide their own. If the school provides their own document, it must be written in English and contain all the information listed on the IENA proof of student status form (summer holiday start and end dates, etc.)
- The work dates listed on your camp contract must fall within the Summer holiday break dates as stated on your proof of student status form.
- Copy of Passport: Upload a clear copy of your passport picture page for your application. Passports must be current and not due to expire while at Summer Camp. Once uploaded, please check to make sure all information can be easily read.
- Health History Form: This is camp specific form meaning that you can either provide IENA’s standard health history form or you can provide camp’s health form. Please check with camp to see which form they would prefer for you to use.
- Copy of Previous Visa(s): If you worked at camp last summer or any previous summer, please upload ALL your previous visas to your account on our site. It can be the Visas in your passport or the previous DS2019 forms.
- Emergency Contact: Please provide someone in your home country that we may contact in case an emergency were to occur, such as a parent, legal guardian, or relative.
- Interview Report: The interview report is a requirement only for direct placement applicants. This is a form completed by camp on their IENA account on the applicant’s behalf. Direct placement applications will not be submitted for review until the interview report has been completed for the applicant by camp.
If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to call (888-724-4292) or email me (justina@iena.org)!