Work And Travel USA'07 (Getting the Papers)

Nobody can fly to the States just like that. There is a series of documents one has to get first before he/she is eligible to pass the custom. Depending on by which status you are going with (e.g. tourist, student, employee and etc) there are different types of documents one has to obtain before they get their visa.

After contacting the agent, Yeen from Out of the Box (OOTB), I get to know of the details of this program and the things I have to get done before I can get my Visa.

First of all, I have to be employed. So, me and my course-mate Flora, or more prefered to be known as Poh Ching, went for a CIEE job fair for the Work and Travel Program to look for an employer. Due to our short semester break, there is only 1 company flexible enough to hire us – HMS HOST. The representative, Mr. Sam Chandle was really friendly and gave us valuable suggestions and information regarding our job, wages, location and etc. And so, we were officially hired on the spot.

The proof of our employment.

With this, the agent can now start getting our DS2019 done as well as applying for our insurance. Which also means, we have to start paying the fees (Rm2800) if I don't remember wrongly. Turning back after this means I'll be forfieting the sum. It's time to get serious.

With these and a visa photo, we are all set to go to the US embassy for our visa interview.

The trip to the US embassy was the first time I ever went to any embassy. Without a doubt, it was an eye opener. The securities are really tight. Absolutely no handphones allowed beyond the guard house and of course, strictly no taking photos. The place is clean and beautiful. The situation in there is much about the same like what you'll see in a local goverment administrative building, where people wait for their numbers to be called.

I was interviewed by an American custom officer, who asked me a few casual questions about where will I be staying in the states, what will I be doing over there and when will I be coming back to Malaysia. And finally;

J1 Visa. Well, I admit that I look lousy in that picture, but who cares. As long as I don’t look like a terrorist, I’m good. Hehe~