Hi all!
My last blog post on the subject of visa applications was just getting a tad too long so instead of tacking this on at the end I decided to give it its own space to breathe. This post will cover how to book your visa appointment/interview and pay the associated fee. This information is included at the end of my vlog on the DS-160 application that can be found here (I've made sure it plays from where I start talking about booking the appointment).
So you've completed your DS-160 and you're wondering what to do next? Book an appointment, of course! But first what you have to do is create yourself an account on the ustraveldocs site. Up the top left hand corner of the page there should be a button that says 'Log In'. Even if you don't have an account yet just go ahead and click on it. Underneath where you would normally chuck in your log in details if you were a returning user there should be a link that says 'New user?'. If you click on this it will take you to a page where you can create yourself an account. Just the general username, password type stuff.
When you've finally got your account you should be taken to your account interface. Here there are a whole bunch of blue buttons and a list of links over to the left. Click on the button in the list that says 'New Application/Schedule Appointment'. It should then ask you what kind of visa you are applying for and you again select 'Non-immigrant visa'. You will then be asked what post (consulate) you want to book an appointment at. The form then asks for your visa category (Student) and visa class (J-1).
The next few pages ask for the following information:
- Passport data (E.g. passport number, date of issue, date of expiry, etc.)
- Date of birth
- Nationality
- Name
- Country of birth
- Gender
- DS-160 number (Found on the center bottom of the DS-160 confirmation page)
- Phone number
- Email address
- Address
- SEVIS number (Found in the top right hand corner of the DS-2019 form)
- Exchange/Program number (Found just above the center of the DS-2019 form)
- If you have any dependents
- Are you applying for this visa within 12 months of a previous visa expiring?
After you input all of this information you are then asked to confirm your postal address. Next up it's time to pay.
So you're taken to a page that lists how much the fee is. You have to click 'See Payment Options' to be able to select an option. Chuck in your payment information and make sure it's all correct. You're then given a receipt number. It wouldn't hurt to write this down but once you click the 'Continue scheduling appointment' button it takes you back to the original cost page but the receipt number is already plugged in for you. It might be advisable to write the receipt number down anyway but if the site is working how it should then you won't actually need it.
Once you're back at the cost page and it's recognized your payment you can click continue. You'll be taken to a page where you can select the date and time of your desired appointment. Pick whichever one tickles your fancy and select it. When you've chosen and booked an appointment you'll be taken to a confirmation page for your booking. I strongly advise you to print this out. If for some unknown reason your appointment doesn't show up in their database you'll need that confirmation to prove you're supposed to be there.
If you're now standing there with a SEVIS confirmation page, a DS-160 confirmation page and a consulate appointment confirmation page you are done with the process. There's only one thing left for you to do and that's attend your appointment! My next post will cover the visa appointment so stay tuned for that.
- Lily
Sunday, November 30, 2014
The Important Stuff: Visa Application (Part 2)
Hi all!
This is going to be my second post on the subject of visa applications. This entry is about the second stage of the process, the DS-160 application. If you haven't read my first post and/or you haven't completed the SEVIS (I-901) form yet then go ahead and read that post first. My vlog on this subject is divided slightly differently to how they appear on this blog. The information on how to book an appointment and pay the fee will be in my next post as this one has become too long. To watch my vlog on the SEVIS application the link is here and to watch my vlog on the DS-160 application, which includes how to book an appointment and pay the fee, the link is here.
Before we begin I need to briefly mention a few things about how this is going to work. When applying for the visa there are a few different ways to go about it. You can create a profile on ustraveldocs first and follow the steps from there. You can start an application and then create an account afterward. Apparently you can pay the fee first or you can pay it after. It all depends on what you decide to do. In this post I will describe to you the order in which I completed the steps as my personal experience is my only point of reference. The questions on the form will all be the same and the process itself will be very similar. The only difference between methods will be order and how you navigate the pages.
Secondly, any words/sentences/sections that are in bold are answers to questions that were asked repeatedly on the facebook group when we were all applying. If you're looking for a quick answer to your question check the bold sections first.
Lastly, in your offer letter from Disney there is a link to a 12 page 'Important Immigration Information' document. This document has multiple pieces of information in it that you NEED to fill in your DS-160 application. Repeatedly throughout this post I will refer to sections of that document so it is wise to access that through your offer letter or through this link.
With all the disclaimers out of the way, let's begin!
This is going to be my second post on the subject of visa applications. This entry is about the second stage of the process, the DS-160 application. If you haven't read my first post and/or you haven't completed the SEVIS (I-901) form yet then go ahead and read that post first. My vlog on this subject is divided slightly differently to how they appear on this blog. The information on how to book an appointment and pay the fee will be in my next post as this one has become too long. To watch my vlog on the SEVIS application the link is here and to watch my vlog on the DS-160 application, which includes how to book an appointment and pay the fee, the link is here.
Important Information:
Before we begin I need to briefly mention a few things about how this is going to work. When applying for the visa there are a few different ways to go about it. You can create a profile on ustraveldocs first and follow the steps from there. You can start an application and then create an account afterward. Apparently you can pay the fee first or you can pay it after. It all depends on what you decide to do. In this post I will describe to you the order in which I completed the steps as my personal experience is my only point of reference. The questions on the form will all be the same and the process itself will be very similar. The only difference between methods will be order and how you navigate the pages.
Secondly, any words/sentences/sections that are in bold are answers to questions that were asked repeatedly on the facebook group when we were all applying. If you're looking for a quick answer to your question check the bold sections first.
Lastly, in your offer letter from Disney there is a link to a 12 page 'Important Immigration Information' document. This document has multiple pieces of information in it that you NEED to fill in your DS-160 application. Repeatedly throughout this post I will refer to sections of that document so it is wise to access that through your offer letter or through this link.
With all the disclaimers out of the way, let's begin!
Visa Application (DS-160):
Now that you've got your SEVIS all done it's time to move to the next step, the DS-160. Head on over to www.ustraveldocs.com/au/index.html. Once you get there a little window will pop up asking you if you've ever visited the site or applied for a US visa before. I indicated it was my first time and it took me to a page that asked whether I was applying for an immigrant or non-immigrant visa. The J-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa so click non-immigrant.
The next page shows a list of steps you need to complete to apply for the visa with an 'Apply' button at the bottom. For some reason the 'Apply' button wouldn't work when I clicked on it. To get around this just click on the link in step two that says 'Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) form'. You'll then be taken to a page that has information about the application on it including how long you have before the session times out and other information. Give this a quick read. Down the very bottom of the page there is a link to the online application form. Click on this to proceed.
Here you'll be taken to a separate site that hosts the form. To the right hand side of the page there is a drop down list containing the locations of all the US consulates around the world. In the list you need to choose the consulate you will book and attend an interview at. Once you've selected a location the page will change slightly. Underneath the drop down list there will now be a little box that relates to your visa photo.
The visa photo has different requirements to a passport photo which can be found here. With a little tweaking in the website's provided photo wizard you can turn a passport photo or even an iphone selfie into a visa photo but these guidelines must be followed. In the box there is a link that says 'test your photo' if you click on this link it will take you to the photo wizard. Here you can upload the photo you intend to use and mess around with it by zooming and moving it around to make it fit. You basically just have to make sure that your head fits between the lines and the white background fills the entire space. Once you've got it just right you can click 'continue using this photo' and it will attach this adjusted and saved version of the photo to your application.
When you're done it'll take you back to the original page, kind of like it did when you made a selection in the drop down list. This time the box surrounding the photo information box will be green. As we all know, green means go so you can go ahead and click on the 'start application' button. On the next page you will be given an application ID. Print or take note of this. If your application times out due to inactivity you can use this to get back in. If you do not have this ID you will have to start all over again. To accompany your application ID you also have to choose a security question and answer. These will also be used to get back into your application if you happen to time out.
Now we get to the actual application questions. Instead of doing them in big long paragraphs like I normally do I've just listed them all here:
Personal Details:
- Name
- Other names (maiden name if married, aliases, etc.)
- Telecode (Australia does not have this, if it doesn't apply to you just click 'does not apply')- Sex
- Marital status
- Date of birth
- Place of birth
- Country of origin
- National Identification Number, Social Security Number or Tax ID Number (Again, if this does not apply click 'does not apply')- Home address (This is your address. When they want Disney's address they will ask for your employer's address)
The next page shows a list of steps you need to complete to apply for the visa with an 'Apply' button at the bottom. For some reason the 'Apply' button wouldn't work when I clicked on it. To get around this just click on the link in step two that says 'Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) form'. You'll then be taken to a page that has information about the application on it including how long you have before the session times out and other information. Give this a quick read. Down the very bottom of the page there is a link to the online application form. Click on this to proceed.
Here you'll be taken to a separate site that hosts the form. To the right hand side of the page there is a drop down list containing the locations of all the US consulates around the world. In the list you need to choose the consulate you will book and attend an interview at. Once you've selected a location the page will change slightly. Underneath the drop down list there will now be a little box that relates to your visa photo.
The visa photo has different requirements to a passport photo which can be found here. With a little tweaking in the website's provided photo wizard you can turn a passport photo or even an iphone selfie into a visa photo but these guidelines must be followed. In the box there is a link that says 'test your photo' if you click on this link it will take you to the photo wizard. Here you can upload the photo you intend to use and mess around with it by zooming and moving it around to make it fit. You basically just have to make sure that your head fits between the lines and the white background fills the entire space. Once you've got it just right you can click 'continue using this photo' and it will attach this adjusted and saved version of the photo to your application.
When you're done it'll take you back to the original page, kind of like it did when you made a selection in the drop down list. This time the box surrounding the photo information box will be green. As we all know, green means go so you can go ahead and click on the 'start application' button. On the next page you will be given an application ID. Print or take note of this. If your application times out due to inactivity you can use this to get back in. If you do not have this ID you will have to start all over again. To accompany your application ID you also have to choose a security question and answer. These will also be used to get back into your application if you happen to time out.
Now we get to the actual application questions. Instead of doing them in big long paragraphs like I normally do I've just listed them all here:
Personal Details:
- Name
- Other names (maiden name if married, aliases, etc.)
- Telecode (Australia does not have this, if it doesn't apply to you just click 'does not apply')- Sex
- Marital status
- Date of birth
- Place of birth
- Country of origin
- National Identification Number, Social Security Number or Tax ID Number (Again, if this does not apply click 'does not apply')- Home address (This is your address. When they want Disney's address they will ask for your employer's address)
- Mailing address
- Phone number
- Email address
Passport Details:
- Passport type (Regular, the other types are for diplomats and important people)
- Passport book number (Australian passports do not have these so click 'does not apply')
- Phone number
- Email address
Passport Details:
- Passport type (Regular, the other types are for diplomats and important people)
- Passport book number (Australian passports do not have these so click 'does not apply')
- Passport number
- Passport country of issue
- Passport city of issue (Not listed on the passport, the major city where your passport was processed)- Passport issue date
- Passport expiry date
- Passport country of issue
- Passport city of issue (Not listed on the passport, the major city where your passport was processed)- Passport issue date
- Passport expiry date
- Previous lost or stolen passports?
Visa Details:
- Purpose of your visa
- Date of arrival (It doesn't seem to matter what you put down for this, just explain at the consulate that your check-in date may be different to your date of arrival in the US)- Estimated length of stay (For this most people put 6 months and then explained in their interview that there were opportunities to extend to a full 12 months)- Address you will stay while completing your program (Found on the end of page 11 of the Important Immigration Information document)
- Person or entity funding your trip (NOT Disney, this is whoever is paying for your flights, visa fees, etc.)
- Are you traveling alone or with travel companions? (Does not include people travelling with you who are doing the same program)
- Have you traveled in the US before?
- Have you had any previous US visas?
- Have you ever been refused a visa?
Visa Details:
- Purpose of your visa
- Date of arrival (It doesn't seem to matter what you put down for this, just explain at the consulate that your check-in date may be different to your date of arrival in the US)- Estimated length of stay (For this most people put 6 months and then explained in their interview that there were opportunities to extend to a full 12 months)- Address you will stay while completing your program (Found on the end of page 11 of the Important Immigration Information document)
- Person or entity funding your trip (NOT Disney, this is whoever is paying for your flights, visa fees, etc.)
- Are you traveling alone or with travel companions? (Does not include people travelling with you who are doing the same program)
- Have you traveled in the US before?
- Have you had any previous US visas?
- Have you ever been refused a visa?
- Have you ever been denied travel to the US?
- Have you ever petitioned to immigrate to the US?
Point of Contact Details:
- US contact person (There is no one person listed as a contact so tick 'do not know')
- Contact organisation (Walt Disney World Co., found on the end of page 11 of the Important Immigration Information document)
- Relationship (Employer)- Employer/Point of contact address (Found on the end of page 11 of the Important Immigration Information document)
- Employer/Point of contact phone number (Found on the end of page 11 of the Important Immigration Information document)- Employer/Point of contact email address (Found on the end of page 11 of the Important Immigration Information document)
Family Details:
- Father's personal details (E.g. Full name, country of birth, etc.)
- Mother's personal details (E.g. Full name, country of birth, etc.)
- Do you have any relatives in the US?
Occupation Details:
- Primary occupation (If you are still studying put student, if you have graduated put your employment)- School/Employer details (E.g. address, phone, weekly income, etc.)
- Description of duties (If you put student list duties such as 'attending class', 'handing in coursework' or leave it as N/A. If you put your employment list duties relevant to your employment)- Previous employment (If you put student as your primary occupation but you also have a part time job you can list that employment here and indicate the end date as being the day before you are completing the visa application)
Security Questions:
These are all yes/no questions relating to your history whether it be medical, criminal or immigration history. The questions below may not be the exact phrasing used on the form but the content of the question should be the same.
- Do you have any diseases, mental/physical disorders or drug addictions that would hinder you from working?
- Have you ever been arrested or convicted of a crime?
- Have you ever violated a law relating to controlled substances?
- Have you ever been involved in prostitution?
- Have you ever been involved in money laundering?
- Have you ever been involved in human trafficking?
- Have you ever assisted in human trafficking?
- Have any of your relations ever assisted or been involved in human trafficking?
- Have you ever been involved in any other illegal activity?
- Have you ever been involve in terrorist activity?
- Have you ever financed a terrorist activity?
- Have you ever been a member of a terrorist organisation?
- Have you ever been involved in genocide?
- Have you ever been involved in torture?
- Have you ever committed and other acts of violence?
- Have you ever been involved in the recruitment of child soldiers?
- Have you ever, while employed as a government official, committed any severe violations of religious freedom?
- Have you ever been involved in the enforcement of population control?
- Have you ever been involved in the coercive transplantation of human organs?
- Have you ever attended a deportation hearing?
- Have you ever entered the US unlawfully OR assisted someone else to enter unlawfully?
- Have you ever failed to show up for deportation?
- Have you ever overstayed a visa or violated the terms of a visa?
- Have you ever withheld the custody of a child?
- Have you ever voted in the US unlawfully?
- Have you ever renounced US citizenship as a tax dodge?
- Have you ever attended a school without reimbursing them? (Certain dates and conditions applied to this question)
Once you've finally made it through the mine field of security questions you can move to the next section. Here you have to provide two additional points of contact from your home country who can vouch for you. These people can not be part of your family but they can be friends, work colleagues, etc. You need their full name, address, phone number and email. Please note that the top of this section mentions something about these contacts confirming your intent to study. IGNORE THIS. Later on in the form you will be asked to indicate whether or not you intend to study. Intent to study is not a requirement of the program or the visa. However, you do still have to provide the points of contact.
On the next page you need to enter your SEVIS ID again (Found in the upper right hand corner of the DS-2019) and the 'Program Number' (The Exchange Visitor Program Number, found just above the middle of the DS-2019). The form also asks if you intend to study in the US. You must click 'No' for this question. Even if you intend to take classes at Disney the Disney University is not a recognized educational institution so your 'study' there will not be in any official capacity.
After that page is complete you move to a page that asks you to confirm your address information. The next page requires you to perform an electronic signature to verify that all of the details entered in this form are correct to the best of your knowledge and you have not lied on the form. The next page is your DS-160 confirmation page. You MUST print the DS-160 confirmation page. If you don't have a copy of this at the appointment you will not be allowed inside.
For information on how to pay your fee and book your visa appointment see my next post here.
- Lily
- Have you ever petitioned to immigrate to the US?
Point of Contact Details:
- US contact person (There is no one person listed as a contact so tick 'do not know')
- Contact organisation (Walt Disney World Co., found on the end of page 11 of the Important Immigration Information document)
- Relationship (Employer)- Employer/Point of contact address (Found on the end of page 11 of the Important Immigration Information document)
- Employer/Point of contact phone number (Found on the end of page 11 of the Important Immigration Information document)- Employer/Point of contact email address (Found on the end of page 11 of the Important Immigration Information document)
Family Details:
- Father's personal details (E.g. Full name, country of birth, etc.)
- Mother's personal details (E.g. Full name, country of birth, etc.)
- Do you have any relatives in the US?
Occupation Details:
- Primary occupation (If you are still studying put student, if you have graduated put your employment)- School/Employer details (E.g. address, phone, weekly income, etc.)
- Description of duties (If you put student list duties such as 'attending class', 'handing in coursework' or leave it as N/A. If you put your employment list duties relevant to your employment)- Previous employment (If you put student as your primary occupation but you also have a part time job you can list that employment here and indicate the end date as being the day before you are completing the visa application)
Security Questions:
These are all yes/no questions relating to your history whether it be medical, criminal or immigration history. The questions below may not be the exact phrasing used on the form but the content of the question should be the same.
- Do you have any diseases, mental/physical disorders or drug addictions that would hinder you from working?
- Have you ever been arrested or convicted of a crime?
- Have you ever violated a law relating to controlled substances?
- Have you ever been involved in prostitution?
- Have you ever been involved in money laundering?
- Have you ever been involved in human trafficking?
- Have you ever assisted in human trafficking?
- Have any of your relations ever assisted or been involved in human trafficking?
- Have you ever been involved in any other illegal activity?
- Have you ever been involve in terrorist activity?
- Have you ever financed a terrorist activity?
- Have you ever been a member of a terrorist organisation?
- Have you ever been involved in genocide?
- Have you ever been involved in torture?
- Have you ever committed and other acts of violence?
- Have you ever been involved in the recruitment of child soldiers?
- Have you ever, while employed as a government official, committed any severe violations of religious freedom?
- Have you ever been involved in the enforcement of population control?
- Have you ever been involved in the coercive transplantation of human organs?
- Have you ever attended a deportation hearing?
- Have you ever entered the US unlawfully OR assisted someone else to enter unlawfully?
- Have you ever failed to show up for deportation?
- Have you ever overstayed a visa or violated the terms of a visa?
- Have you ever withheld the custody of a child?
- Have you ever voted in the US unlawfully?
- Have you ever renounced US citizenship as a tax dodge?
- Have you ever attended a school without reimbursing them? (Certain dates and conditions applied to this question)
Once you've finally made it through the mine field of security questions you can move to the next section. Here you have to provide two additional points of contact from your home country who can vouch for you. These people can not be part of your family but they can be friends, work colleagues, etc. You need their full name, address, phone number and email. Please note that the top of this section mentions something about these contacts confirming your intent to study. IGNORE THIS. Later on in the form you will be asked to indicate whether or not you intend to study. Intent to study is not a requirement of the program or the visa. However, you do still have to provide the points of contact.
On the next page you need to enter your SEVIS ID again (Found in the upper right hand corner of the DS-2019) and the 'Program Number' (The Exchange Visitor Program Number, found just above the middle of the DS-2019). The form also asks if you intend to study in the US. You must click 'No' for this question. Even if you intend to take classes at Disney the Disney University is not a recognized educational institution so your 'study' there will not be in any official capacity.
After that page is complete you move to a page that asks you to confirm your address information. The next page requires you to perform an electronic signature to verify that all of the details entered in this form are correct to the best of your knowledge and you have not lied on the form. The next page is your DS-160 confirmation page. You MUST print the DS-160 confirmation page. If you don't have a copy of this at the appointment you will not be allowed inside.
For information on how to pay your fee and book your visa appointment see my next post here.
- Lily
The Important Stuff: Visa Application (Part 1)
Hi all!
This will be the first of three posts about the actual visa application to be followed by a fourth post that will focus on the visa appointment. This particular post will cover the SEVIS application and payment. My vlogs on the visa process are sectioned off in a similar way (the content of the third visa application post has been added on the the end of the second vlog instead of standing alone) and my vlog on the SEVIS application can be found here.
Any bold words/sentences/sections are answers to questions that were asked quite a few times while participants were completing the form. If you're searching for a quick answer to a question check the bold parts first.
Before we get into this post there are a few things I need to make clear. You CAN NOT begin the visa process before you have received the DS-2019 from Disney. You will receive your DS-2019 around 2 to 1 1/2 months before your arrival date. If your intake has two arrival dates, those with the earlier arrival will receive their forms first. You will not receive your DS-2019 until you have completed your first year of post secondary education (as this is a requirement of the visa itself) and have provided Disney with a Proof of Student Status form, signed by your school, that states you fulfill this requirement.
When your DS-2019 is dispatched you will get an email from FedEx informing you that your package is on its way. The email provides you with an estimated arrival time and a tracking number. I encourage you to click the link that takes you to the FedEx tracking page because the estimated arrival time on the website is updated if any changes are made. The information on the FedEx website will be more accurate than the estimate in the email.
When your FedEx package arrives you will either have to sign for it or leave a note giving the courier your permission to leave the package without a signature. If for some reason you miss the delivery then the package will be taken back to the FedEx depot where you will have to go pick it up.
Once your DS-2019 arrives you can start the visa application process. Head on over to www.FMJFee.com. On the home page click on the nice blue button that says 'Submit Form I-901 and Fee Payment'.
The next page is a quick note about needing a DS-2019 (or I-20 but that doesn't apply to you) before you can proceed followed by a list of warnings. Make sure you give these a quick read because they are things you need to be aware of. Once you've taken note of the warnings you'll get to a question at the bottom of the page that asks which form you have out of the DS-2019 or the I-20. Click the DS-2019 check bubble and then click 'OK'.
The next page asks for your name, your SEVIS identification number (found in the top right hand corner of your DS-2019) and date of birth. After clicking enter on this page you will be taken to another page that wants more personal details. You must enter your personal address (not Disney's), gender, city of birth, country of birth, country of citizenship, exchange visitor program number (found on the DS-2019, to the left of the barcode), passport number, exchange visitor category (Summer Work/Travel, listed as item number 4 on the form, just above the middle of the form). After entering all of these details proceed to the next page.
The next page of the form asks you to confirm the details you entered. It is incredibly important that you ensure your details are correct before proceeding.
You are taken to a page that asks you to pay. Select either credit card or check/money order (no eftpos). On the next page you are asked for your payment information and billing address which you must submit and then check over again on the next page. The next page, provided your payment was successful, is a payment confirmation. Print this page. You must take it with you to your appointment at the US Consulate.
After you've printed out the confirmation page you're done with the SEVIS application. This is probably the easiest part of the application so don't be lulled into a false sense of security. The next step (DS-160) will bite you in the ass.
- Lily
This will be the first of three posts about the actual visa application to be followed by a fourth post that will focus on the visa appointment. This particular post will cover the SEVIS application and payment. My vlogs on the visa process are sectioned off in a similar way (the content of the third visa application post has been added on the the end of the second vlog instead of standing alone) and my vlog on the SEVIS application can be found here.
Important Information:
Before we get into this post there are a few things I need to make clear. You CAN NOT begin the visa process before you have received the DS-2019 from Disney. You will receive your DS-2019 around 2 to 1 1/2 months before your arrival date. If your intake has two arrival dates, those with the earlier arrival will receive their forms first. You will not receive your DS-2019 until you have completed your first year of post secondary education (as this is a requirement of the visa itself) and have provided Disney with a Proof of Student Status form, signed by your school, that states you fulfill this requirement.
When your DS-2019 is dispatched you will get an email from FedEx informing you that your package is on its way. The email provides you with an estimated arrival time and a tracking number. I encourage you to click the link that takes you to the FedEx tracking page because the estimated arrival time on the website is updated if any changes are made. The information on the FedEx website will be more accurate than the estimate in the email.
When your FedEx package arrives you will either have to sign for it or leave a note giving the courier your permission to leave the package without a signature. If for some reason you miss the delivery then the package will be taken back to the FedEx depot where you will have to go pick it up.
SEVIS (I-901) Application & Fee Payment:
Once your DS-2019 arrives you can start the visa application process. Head on over to www.FMJFee.com. On the home page click on the nice blue button that says 'Submit Form I-901 and Fee Payment'.
The next page is a quick note about needing a DS-2019 (or I-20 but that doesn't apply to you) before you can proceed followed by a list of warnings. Make sure you give these a quick read because they are things you need to be aware of. Once you've taken note of the warnings you'll get to a question at the bottom of the page that asks which form you have out of the DS-2019 or the I-20. Click the DS-2019 check bubble and then click 'OK'.
The next page asks for your name, your SEVIS identification number (found in the top right hand corner of your DS-2019) and date of birth. After clicking enter on this page you will be taken to another page that wants more personal details. You must enter your personal address (not Disney's), gender, city of birth, country of birth, country of citizenship, exchange visitor program number (found on the DS-2019, to the left of the barcode), passport number, exchange visitor category (Summer Work/Travel, listed as item number 4 on the form, just above the middle of the form). After entering all of these details proceed to the next page.
The next page of the form asks you to confirm the details you entered. It is incredibly important that you ensure your details are correct before proceeding.
You are taken to a page that asks you to pay. Select either credit card or check/money order (no eftpos). On the next page you are asked for your payment information and billing address which you must submit and then check over again on the next page. The next page, provided your payment was successful, is a payment confirmation. Print this page. You must take it with you to your appointment at the US Consulate.
After you've printed out the confirmation page you're done with the SEVIS application. This is probably the easiest part of the application so don't be lulled into a false sense of security. The next step (DS-160) will bite you in the ass.
- Lily
The Important Stuff: Police Background Check
Hi all!
In this post we're going to take a look at the police background check required by Disney, how to get it and what to do once you've received it. If you'd like to watch my vlog about this process instead you can find it here.
So let's get started. First of all, what the hell is it? The background check required by Disney is to prove that you don't have a criminal record. Or if you do, that your crimes are of a type that do not prevent you from being employed by Disney. To the best of my knowledge Disney does still hire some people with criminal records but only certain offenses so it's best to clear it up with them beforehand.
Because I am from Australia I can only really give you the low down on the Australian background check. Sadly, if you are from NZ you may have to seek answers elsewhere. Also, in the email Disney sends it advises you to get a state police check. I went for federal so I can only offer advice on the federal check. As far as I know both are accepted by YummyJobs and I've not heard of anyone's check being rejected regardless of whether it was state or federal.
A while after you accept your offer you'll receive an email from Michelle at YummyJobs. YummyJobs is an employment agency that Disney uses for all its recruitment in the UK but for the Australian program they only handle the police checks. The email asks you to send a police background check and some other documents. We'll talk about the police check first and worry about everything else later. Shall we?
First thing's first, you need to head over the the AFP website here. Currently there's a little box on the homepage for 'Quicklinks' that has National Police Checks right there. Click right on it and you're on your way. On the next page there's a list of things you can do to proceed.
You can either click 'Application Portal' in the list of actions and it'll automatically scroll down to the appropriate section for you or you can work those finger muscles and scroll down yourself. Either way you'll be staring at a link that says 'Access the online application or downloadable PDF application through AFP's application portal'. Go ahead and click on it to access the portal.
Next you're taken to a lovely page with a lot of information on it about the check and important things you need to know before getting started. Under the 'Preperation of Identification Documents' headline there is a printable PDF version of the 100 points of identity checklist. I highly recommend having a look at this before you proceed to work out what documents you want to upload. The form may time out if you take too long so working out what documents you need, scanning them onto your computer and labeling them correctly before you proceed will save you time now and reduce the risk of you running out of time later. Once you've given it a thorough reading over scroll down to the bottom of the page, tick the box to say you understand and then click the 'Start New Online Application' button.
The next page is the actual 100 point proof of identity page. Here you need to tick the boxes that correspond to the documents you will upload later. You need to make sure that the documents you intend to upload equal at least 100 points or it will not let you proceed.
When you move to the next page you are asked to actually upload the documents you selected on the previous page. Afterward you're taken to a page that asks for some personal details like your name, date of birth, email and purpose for the check.
After filling in your details you need to download and fill in a consent form. This form basically gives the AFP permission to look into your criminal history and compile it into the document that will be sent to you. You then need to fill that puppy out by signing your consent and then you can upload it back to the site.
The next page asks you for a few more details including your country of birth, city of birth, driver's license number, issuing state, country of residence, current residential address and mailing address. Obviously if you don't have a driver's license and you didn't indicate that you were uploading one then they would not ask for the driver's license details. I suspect that the questions asked in this section may vary depending on the documents you choose to upload. You are then asked to check over the details you entered and ensure they are correct.
Once you've checked over all your details it's time to pay. The AFP background check is $42 that you must pay before the check will be processed. After payment you'll receive a number that corresponds with your order so you can check on its progress later on. Your check will begin processing almost straight away and after as little as a few days you'll get an email telling you it's on its way. For some reason the postage takes quite a while though and most of the checks didn't arrive until at least 2 weeks after being sent out. So don't stress if it's taking a tad longer than you'd expect.
Now onto phase two...
In this post we're going to take a look at the police background check required by Disney, how to get it and what to do once you've received it. If you'd like to watch my vlog about this process instead you can find it here.
So let's get started. First of all, what the hell is it? The background check required by Disney is to prove that you don't have a criminal record. Or if you do, that your crimes are of a type that do not prevent you from being employed by Disney. To the best of my knowledge Disney does still hire some people with criminal records but only certain offenses so it's best to clear it up with them beforehand.
Because I am from Australia I can only really give you the low down on the Australian background check. Sadly, if you are from NZ you may have to seek answers elsewhere. Also, in the email Disney sends it advises you to get a state police check. I went for federal so I can only offer advice on the federal check. As far as I know both are accepted by YummyJobs and I've not heard of anyone's check being rejected regardless of whether it was state or federal.
A while after you accept your offer you'll receive an email from Michelle at YummyJobs. YummyJobs is an employment agency that Disney uses for all its recruitment in the UK but for the Australian program they only handle the police checks. The email asks you to send a police background check and some other documents. We'll talk about the police check first and worry about everything else later. Shall we?
Getting Your Background Check:
You can either click 'Application Portal' in the list of actions and it'll automatically scroll down to the appropriate section for you or you can work those finger muscles and scroll down yourself. Either way you'll be staring at a link that says 'Access the online application or downloadable PDF application through AFP's application portal'. Go ahead and click on it to access the portal.
Next you're taken to a lovely page with a lot of information on it about the check and important things you need to know before getting started. Under the 'Preperation of Identification Documents' headline there is a printable PDF version of the 100 points of identity checklist. I highly recommend having a look at this before you proceed to work out what documents you want to upload. The form may time out if you take too long so working out what documents you need, scanning them onto your computer and labeling them correctly before you proceed will save you time now and reduce the risk of you running out of time later. Once you've given it a thorough reading over scroll down to the bottom of the page, tick the box to say you understand and then click the 'Start New Online Application' button.
The next page is the actual 100 point proof of identity page. Here you need to tick the boxes that correspond to the documents you will upload later. You need to make sure that the documents you intend to upload equal at least 100 points or it will not let you proceed.
When you move to the next page you are asked to actually upload the documents you selected on the previous page. Afterward you're taken to a page that asks for some personal details like your name, date of birth, email and purpose for the check.
After filling in your details you need to download and fill in a consent form. This form basically gives the AFP permission to look into your criminal history and compile it into the document that will be sent to you. You then need to fill that puppy out by signing your consent and then you can upload it back to the site.
The next page asks you for a few more details including your country of birth, city of birth, driver's license number, issuing state, country of residence, current residential address and mailing address. Obviously if you don't have a driver's license and you didn't indicate that you were uploading one then they would not ask for the driver's license details. I suspect that the questions asked in this section may vary depending on the documents you choose to upload. You are then asked to check over the details you entered and ensure they are correct.
Once you've checked over all your details it's time to pay. The AFP background check is $42 that you must pay before the check will be processed. After payment you'll receive a number that corresponds with your order so you can check on its progress later on. Your check will begin processing almost straight away and after as little as a few days you'll get an email telling you it's on its way. For some reason the postage takes quite a while though and most of the checks didn't arrive until at least 2 weeks after being sent out. So don't stress if it's taking a tad longer than you'd expect.
Now onto phase two...
Sending Your Check To YummyJobs:
So you get an email from YummyJobs asking you to send in your background check. If you're like me and you couldn't wait to get your background check then you'll already have it. If you have yet to order it, don't stress. Just start the process as soon as you can after receiving the email.
Either way, whenever you are ready you need to have a scanned copy of each of the following:
- Police Check Certificate
Either way, whenever you are ready you need to have a scanned copy of each of the following:
- Police Check Certificate
- Passport Information Page
- Proof of Address (E.g. bill, driver's license, letter from school or government organisation, etc.)
Once you've scanned these and labeled them nicely you just need to attach them to your reply to YummyJobs and send it off into cyberspace.
Once you've scanned these and labeled them nicely you just need to attach them to your reply to YummyJobs and send it off into cyberspace.
I personally received a reply to my email exactly 20 minutes after I sent it. The reply time for this particular email ranged anywhere from a few minutes to a few days but almost everyone received a reply of some kind after YummyJobs got their email. If you do not get a reply it's probably best to send YummyJobs another email to confirm that they got the documents or you may have some issues down the track.
After you receive your reply to confirm you background check and other documents arrived safely then you're done with the background check portion of the process. Tick this off your pre-arrival checklist and get ready for the next exciting step toward arrival.
- Lily
P.s. Sorry it's been so long. I got caught up with final assignments, visa applications and a million and one other things. I'm hoping to get a few posts out of the way every day now so I can get back to some more casual blogging.
After you receive your reply to confirm you background check and other documents arrived safely then you're done with the background check portion of the process. Tick this off your pre-arrival checklist and get ready for the next exciting step toward arrival.
- Lily
P.s. Sorry it's been so long. I got caught up with final assignments, visa applications and a million and one other things. I'm hoping to get a few posts out of the way every day now so I can get back to some more casual blogging.
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
5 Business Days
Hi all!
I had my visa appointment today and other than a few minor hiccoughs, like them running late and not having record of my appointment in the system, it all went pretty smoothly and they said I should have my passport back by next Wednesday.
I'll be making at least three posts on it because there is SO much to cover that I need to split it up a bit. Hoping to get onto that on the weekend so stay tuned.
- Lily
I had my visa appointment today and other than a few minor hiccoughs, like them running late and not having record of my appointment in the system, it all went pretty smoothly and they said I should have my passport back by next Wednesday.
I'll be making at least three posts on it because there is SO much to cover that I need to split it up a bit. Hoping to get onto that on the weekend so stay tuned.
- Lily
Saturday, November 1, 2014
Track Your Package
Hi all!
Now that I'm finally done with my post about insurance I can post a few more casual things without feeling incredibly guilty about it. I've still got a few more posts coming about police background checks and my birthday but this quick little update is too exciting to wait any longer.
My visa papers are on their way!
On Thursday night/Friday morning, just after 12am I got an email from FedEx telling me that my package is heading to my house. Since then I've been following its progress and this morning it arrived in NSW. It's set to arrive some time tomorrow so I'll be sitting by the mailbox all day waiting.
Well...Actually I'll be inside making my roommate gifts but my ears will be pricked and my eyes will be peeled for that glorious FedEx logo rolling into my driveway.
- Lily
Now that I'm finally done with my post about insurance I can post a few more casual things without feeling incredibly guilty about it. I've still got a few more posts coming about police background checks and my birthday but this quick little update is too exciting to wait any longer.
My visa papers are on their way!
On Thursday night/Friday morning, just after 12am I got an email from FedEx telling me that my package is heading to my house. Since then I've been following its progress and this morning it arrived in NSW. It's set to arrive some time tomorrow so I'll be sitting by the mailbox all day waiting.
Well...Actually I'll be inside making my roommate gifts but my ears will be pricked and my eyes will be peeled for that glorious FedEx logo rolling into my driveway.
- Lily
The Important Stuff: Medical Insurance
Hi all!
So it's time to talk insurance. Having medical insurance is a requirement of the program and in all honesty I'd buy it even if it weren't. The cost of getting medical attention in the US, whether it be a doctor's appointment or a hospital visit, is utterly ridiculous. Being covered in case of emergency is an absolute must. In this post I'm going to talk about the insurance Disney uses and how to get it.
If you're not inclined to read this whole post my video on medical insurance can be found here.
Firstly, let's go over the medical insurance a bit. In previous years Disney would send participants a list of requirements that their medical insurance must cover and then send them into the world to look for a policy that fits the bill. Apparently that didn't work too well because in the last couple of years the policy has changed.
Now participants are sent a link to a company called HTH Worldwide who have three policies tailor made for Disney cultural exchange program participants. Participants can no longer choose which insurer to go with and MUST purchase insurance through HTH Worldwide. But while you cannot choose your insurer you do still have a few options in terms of price and coverage. HTH Worldwide has three policies that participants can choose from all with varying levels of cover and varying prices.
It is recommended that you choose a level of cover that suits you based on policy features rather than cost. For example, if you use prescription medications these may only be covered by one policy so the cheapest policy might save you money but if your prescriptions are being paid out of pocket it may cost more in the long run. Read the PDS for all three policies and decide which is best for you.
But we're getting a bit ahead of ourselves.
The process of purchasing the medical insurance occurs in three distinct stages:
- Choosing and paying for your policy
- Registering your details online
- Printing out your ID card.
We'll go through these one at a time.
So it's time to talk insurance. Having medical insurance is a requirement of the program and in all honesty I'd buy it even if it weren't. The cost of getting medical attention in the US, whether it be a doctor's appointment or a hospital visit, is utterly ridiculous. Being covered in case of emergency is an absolute must. In this post I'm going to talk about the insurance Disney uses and how to get it.
If you're not inclined to read this whole post my video on medical insurance can be found here.
Firstly, let's go over the medical insurance a bit. In previous years Disney would send participants a list of requirements that their medical insurance must cover and then send them into the world to look for a policy that fits the bill. Apparently that didn't work too well because in the last couple of years the policy has changed.
Now participants are sent a link to a company called HTH Worldwide who have three policies tailor made for Disney cultural exchange program participants. Participants can no longer choose which insurer to go with and MUST purchase insurance through HTH Worldwide. But while you cannot choose your insurer you do still have a few options in terms of price and coverage. HTH Worldwide has three policies that participants can choose from all with varying levels of cover and varying prices.
It is recommended that you choose a level of cover that suits you based on policy features rather than cost. For example, if you use prescription medications these may only be covered by one policy so the cheapest policy might save you money but if your prescriptions are being paid out of pocket it may cost more in the long run. Read the PDS for all three policies and decide which is best for you.
But we're getting a bit ahead of ourselves.
The process of purchasing the medical insurance occurs in three distinct stages:
- Choosing and paying for your policy
- Registering your details online
- Printing out your ID card.
We'll go through these one at a time.
Choosing/Paying For Your Policy:
Right after officially accepting your offer you should receive an email entitled 'Mandatory Medical Insurance'.
The email tells you that, as the title of the email suggests, medical insurance is mandatory and you have to purchase insurance to be able to embark on the program. It also lists in detail the requirements of the insurance policy. You don't really need to pay too much attention because all three of the insurance policies provided by HTH Worldwide meet these requirements so it's not actually possible to buy a policy that doesn't fit the bill.
The email should have a link to the HTH Worldwide Disney specific policy options. Our round of emails did not contain the link though. The site can be easily located but plugging 'HTH Worldwide Disney' into Google.
Once you've followed the link or found it on Google it's time to do some serious thinking. As I mentioned above, carefully consider each option and make sure you choose the one that's right for you. While you're looking at each option keep in mind that you MUST pay for your policy in full. The site lists a monthly rate but you cannot pay monthly.
When you've decided what policy you want, click the lovely green 'Enroll Now' button underneath it. You'll be taken to a page that has some generic terms and conditions on it that you agree to and then you can progress.
The next page lists what you need to fill in the application. This page is really important so pay attention. The first thing you need is the dates that you'll be in the USA. It's important to note that this is NOT the dates of your program. So if you're checking in on the 13th but you're arriving in the USA on the 11th you MUST be covered from the day you arrive. Similarly, you MUST be covered until the day you depart the USA rather than the day you check out of the program. If you are planning on extending just buy enough for the initial stay because it is incredibly easy to add more time to your policy.
The second thing that this page says you need is the Disney campus address. Before you start flapping your arms and shouting 'I don't know that!' (don't worry, I did it too) stop, take a breath, and read on. It's actually listed on the page for your convenience. Write the address down so you've got it when you need it and you're done. Feel free to proceed.
The email should have a link to the HTH Worldwide Disney specific policy options. Our round of emails did not contain the link though. The site can be easily located but plugging 'HTH Worldwide Disney' into Google.
Once you've followed the link or found it on Google it's time to do some serious thinking. As I mentioned above, carefully consider each option and make sure you choose the one that's right for you. While you're looking at each option keep in mind that you MUST pay for your policy in full. The site lists a monthly rate but you cannot pay monthly.
When you've decided what policy you want, click the lovely green 'Enroll Now' button underneath it. You'll be taken to a page that has some generic terms and conditions on it that you agree to and then you can progress.
The next page lists what you need to fill in the application. This page is really important so pay attention. The first thing you need is the dates that you'll be in the USA. It's important to note that this is NOT the dates of your program. So if you're checking in on the 13th but you're arriving in the USA on the 11th you MUST be covered from the day you arrive. Similarly, you MUST be covered until the day you depart the USA rather than the day you check out of the program. If you are planning on extending just buy enough for the initial stay because it is incredibly easy to add more time to your policy.
The second thing that this page says you need is the Disney campus address. Before you start flapping your arms and shouting 'I don't know that!' (don't worry, I did it too) stop, take a breath, and read on. It's actually listed on the page for your convenience. Write the address down so you've got it when you need it and you're done. Feel free to proceed.
On the next page you finally get to start actually filling in some forms. The form asks for your name, date of birth, the Disney campus address, your email address, home country, host country and the dates of your arrival in and departure from the USA. Chuck in your deets, check that they're all correct and you're ready to move on.
The next page asks for your payment information so you can pay for your policy. Make sure there's enough money in your account to cover not only the cost of the policy but also the conversion, conversion fee and tax. Once you've checked and double checked your details you can hop on over to the next page which is.....
Payment confirmation! You have just bought yourself insurance for your trip. You should print a copy of this page for your records before you quit the window. You'll also receive an email that confirms your payment and lists your policy details. You've successfully completed stage one of the insurance process.
The next page asks for your payment information so you can pay for your policy. Make sure there's enough money in your account to cover not only the cost of the policy but also the conversion, conversion fee and tax. Once you've checked and double checked your details you can hop on over to the next page which is.....
Payment confirmation! You have just bought yourself insurance for your trip. You should print a copy of this page for your records before you quit the window. You'll also receive an email that confirms your payment and lists your policy details. You've successfully completed stage one of the insurance process.
Registering Online:
After a little while (I waited around an hour) you'll receive another email from HTH Worldwide telling you to register on their website. This email actually contains its own instructions that are quite reliable but I'll continue anyway just in case.
Before you click the link in the email you are told to print a copy of the email. At the moment I'm not 100% sure why this is but it specifically asks you to do it so it's probably best to just listen and print it.
Follow the link to a page that asks for your email address and if you're signing in for the first time. Once you've filled in the right details click 'sign in' to head to the next page. On the next page you are asked for your certificate number, your name and your policy end date. You then have to confirm your login details and address.
Before you click the link in the email you are told to print a copy of the email. At the moment I'm not 100% sure why this is but it specifically asks you to do it so it's probably best to just listen and print it.
Follow the link to a page that asks for your email address and if you're signing in for the first time. Once you've filled in the right details click 'sign in' to head to the next page. On the next page you are asked for your certificate number, your name and your policy end date. You then have to confirm your login details and address.
After you've made sure all of your details are correct you should be done with your registration and stage two of the process.
Printing ID Card:
You'll receive a final email from HTH that confirms your registration and lists a whole bunch of actions you can take now that you have an account. One of the options, and the only one we care about at the moment, is 'Print your ID Card'. If you click this link and log in to your account you'll be taken to a page that lists your policy and its details.
Over to the right, under Print Docs, it lists ID Card as a printable option. Click that and it will open up a PDF version of your ID Card which you can then print. It's also a good idea to save a copy of this to your computer just in case. Once you've printed a physical copy of the card you've completed stage three of the process and you're all done with insurance.
Over to the right, under Print Docs, it lists ID Card as a printable option. Click that and it will open up a PDF version of your ID Card which you can then print. It's also a good idea to save a copy of this to your computer just in case. Once you've printed a physical copy of the card you've completed stage three of the process and you're all done with insurance.
- Lily
P.s. Posts about police checks and my birthday are coming. Eventually.
P.s. Posts about police checks and my birthday are coming. Eventually.
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