Welcome to the team! Congratulations on being hired to work at one of our overnight summer camps and day camps this summer! This webpage will be used as a resource to provide important information and answer questions you may have about the visa process.

You will work directly with your Staffing Coordinator at your camp to manage this process. These are the general steps that you will be following in order to succesfully obtain a visa for this upcoming summer. This is a multi-step process that is ever changing as U.S. Embassies around the globe begin to re-open. It is important that you get started with the process right away. If you have any questions, please reach out to your camp’s staffing coordinator directly.

HOW TO OBTAIN YOUR J-1 VISA

Please read the instructions below carefully before beginning the process. It is very important that you move quickly, as sometimes the embassy takes over a month to process your information.

Collect Your Documents

Before begining the J1-Visa process, you will need electronic copies of the following documents:

• CAMP CONTRACT – You MUST sign the contract prior to submitting. Include all pages of your contract as the full dates of employment are needed. If you have a contract for pre-camp and a contract for camp, include all pages of both contracts.

• PASSPORT – Have a digital copy of the biographical page of your passport that includes your name, DOB, photo, passport number, etc. Your passport must be valid for 6 months after your contract end date.

• PROOF OF STUDENT STATUS – For Summer Work Travel ONLY - This may be a January – May course schedule with your name listed or a letter from the university stating you are a full-time student. This document is typically available in February; please provide to your staffing coordinator once secured.

• VISA INFO – Know what kind of Visa you are applying for. During the application process, you will be asked to indicate the type of visa (either Camp Counselor or Summer Work Travel). Camp Counselor – staff working in an activity area and/or as a counselor or Summer Work Travel – staff working in housekeeping, laundry, kitchen, maintenance and a full-time student.

Once you have collected all of your documents, you are now ready to apply for your DS-2019 & I-901 forms. Once you have completed the application, CampGroup, LLC will process the data on your behalf. Please be sure you have access to a working printer as you will need to print documents at the completion of this step.

Please click here to submit the form. You will be asked to enter an authorization code. The code needed is: camp25

Fill out the form and ensure all information is accurate. Please pay close attention to the spelling of your full name and the date of birth: month - day - year. Submit the completed application and print a copy for your records.

Once CampGroup, LLC has received your application, we will process and email your I-901 SEVIS receipt and DS-2019. You must print all pages for the embassy appointment.

Step 1: REVIEW MATERIALS

Once you have received your email, please review all biographical information on the I-901 SEVIS receipt and DS-2019. If any errors, please email: visa@greatcampjobs.com. Corrections can be made quickly; do not let this hold up scheduling your embassy appointment.

Carefully read through all of the information provided in the package and familiarize yourself with the visa application process.

For all Canadian applicants, please click here for further instructions.

Step 2: CREATE YOUR DS-160

Utilizing the information found on your I-901 SEVIS receipt and DS-2019, you must now create your DS-160.

You are responsible to pay the DS-160 fee of $185 US dollars. This fee is non-refundable even if the visa is denied. Non-Immigrant Visa fees are based on “reciprocity” or what another country charges a United States citizen for a similar visa. Some countries may have additional fees during the embassy appointment. You are responsible to pay these fees.

To do so, click here. You should have the following information available for reference:

• Passport
• Program Number (starting with P) on I-901 and DS-2019
• SEVIS Identification Number (starting with N00) on I-901 and DS-2019

After you complete your DS-160, print off the barcode confirmation page. You will need this with you when you go to your embassy interview.

Step 3: SCHEDULE A MEETING WITH YOUR NEAREST US EMBASSY

Once you have electronically submitted your DS-160, you can now schedule your appointment with a US Embassy near you. This process usually takes one week, but may take over a month. So, please do so as soon as possible.

Information for locating the nearest US Embassy can be found here. For anticipated US Embassy wait time, click here.

Important Note for Canadians: Canadians do not need to apply for a visa at a US Embassy. Simply bring your DS-2019 papers and all other necessary materials with you to the border/airport.

Step 4: GO TO YOUR EMBASSY INTERVIEW

Be sure to bring the following documents with you to your embassy interview:

• DS-2019
• I-901 SEVIS Fee Receipt
• Passport Photograph (one photograph 2inx2in on a plain background, front view, full face. Head no smaller than 1in and longer than 1 3/8in. Copies and laser prints are NOT acceptable.)
• DS 160 Barcode Page
• Valid Passport
• Supporting Documents to prove your social, economic, family, and financial ties to your country of residence. Examples of suggested supporting documents include travel itinerary and purpose of the trip, a letter of employment or contract, proof of funds (bank statements), student-status (required for Summer Work Travel applicants).
• Most embassies request that you bring a self-addressed pre-paid envelope to be used to deliver your visa and passport. Your passport may be taken and mailed back to you with your approved visa inside. Processing times vary by country and embassy.

Make copies of all documents you are taking to the embassy, as they will keep copies themselves.

After the embassy approves you, they will send your visa in the mail. Please let your camp know once you have received your visa. If you are denied at the embassy appointment or have any questions, concerns, or need further help, contact your Staffing Coordinator as soon as possible.

If the consular officer denies the visa, you may apply again if there is new evidence to overcome the basis of the refusal. Please let your Staffing Coordinator know as soon as possible if your visa is denied.

Step 5: See you at Camp!

Once your visa is approved, you will receive further correspondence from your Staffing Coordinator about staff arrival dates, staff paperwork, and other important information.

Please be sure to familiarize yourself with the process involved in entering and exiting the United States. Be sure to hand carry (do not put in your checked luggage) the following documents:

• Passport
• DS-2019 (Your DS-2019 form may be sealed in an envelope and attached to your passport. If it is, do not open it.)
• I-901 SEVIS FEE Receipt
• Employment letter or contract

What will happen at the border? Inform the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer that you will be an Exchange Visitor in the United States. Present all of the documents outlined above to the CBP Officer for inspection. Be sure you have signed your DS-2019 form at the bottom if it was not sealed in an envelope. If it was sealed in an envelope, the CBP Officer will open and inspect it. You can sign the form then if you did not do so at the embassy. The CBP Officer will sign your DS-2019 and stamp your passport.