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| Living in the
U.S. |
Tax
Information - Housing - Money
- Phone & Internet - Law
- Transportation
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| Working
in the U.S. |
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| The USA Work & Travel
Program allows you to discover the U.S. in a unique and
challenging way – by temporarily living and working among
Americans on a daily basis. It is important that your expectations
are realistic and practical. A sense of adventure should be
mixed in with a sense of responsibility and respect. Remember:
learning about another culture and meeting new people can be
just as rewarding as earning a wage. |
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| Expectations |
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You will be earning a modest wage. Your earnings in the U.S.
will probably cover most basic living expenses. It is important
to budget your money. Always have money set aside to pay for
housing, meals, and other living expenses.
You will be working in an entry-level position - meaning the
tasks are limited to a specific function and are not necessarily
highly technical. Entry-level workers receive a federally mandated
minimum wage; sometimes the wage may be a little more.
No job, or hours at a job, can be 100% guaranteed. Your job,
whether through CHI's Job Assistance or a job found on your
own, may change or cancel prior to your arrival or after arrival.
If this should happen, you should try to find another job in
the area or call CHI for advice.
During your stay, living and working in a foreign culture can
be difficult and frustrating. You will usually go through stages
in adjusting to a new culture. This is absolutely normal. It
is important for you to be as flexible, open-minded and positive
as possible during your stay in the U.S. |
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| Responsibilities as an Employee |
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| Accepting any job means you are taking on a certain
amount of responsibility as well as making a commitment. |
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Follow through with your work commitment. Employers rely on
their employees and their promise to work until the date that
was agreed upon when hired.
Have realistic expectations and a positive attitude. It is very
important that you clearly understand what your job duties are
before you begin in the workplace. U.S. employers are seeking
flexible, motivated and enthusiastic workers. A positive attitude
goes a long way to making your program a success. Remember that
these are entry level, seasonal jobs and subject to change!
Be punctual. It is imperative that you get to your job on time.
Otherwise, your employer will think that you are not taking
the job seriously or that you are not responsible.
Dress appropriately. Whether you are assigned a company uniform
or bring your own clothes, it is important that you have a clean
and neat appearance.
Drug testing. Many U.S. employers require their workers undergo
testing for the use of drugs. This is completely legal and within
the company’s rights. If you want to work for an employer
who requires such testing, you must comply; otherwise, they
will not hire you. If you test positive for drug use, the company
may disqualify you and not hire you.
Show confidence, not arrogance. A "can do" attitude
demonstrates your willingness to do your best at the job. Try
to interact and communicate as much as possible with your co-workers
and supervisor.
Be a "team player". U.S. employers like workers who
help other employees. This spirit of teamwork is an effort to
create an atmosphere of sharing a goal and completing the job
together.
If you leave your job without pre-agreement with CHI, your visa
will be cancelled, you will be reported to the Department of
State and you will be subject to deportation. |
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| Tax Information |
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All the participants of the USA Work and Travel
Program are required to pay taxes. However, because you are
an exchange visitor and holder of a J-1 visa, you do not need
to pay all of the taxes.
There are two key words to understand what you are obligated
to pay in taxes and what you do not have to pay. "Exempt"
means that you do not have to pay for a certain type of tax.
"Non-Exempt" means you are obligated to pay a certain
tax.
Non-Exempt taxes (you do pay):
• Federal
Income Tax
• State Income Tax
• City Income
Tax
Exempt (you do not pay):
•
Social Security and Medicare Tax (FICA)
• Federal
Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Your employer should not make the deduction of FICA and FUTA
from your paycheck. If these deductions are made in error, they
will appear on your pay stub under the category of "Social
Security" or "FICA/FUTA". If you notice such
a deduction on your paycheck, you should notify your employer
immediately. |
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| Housing |
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Many businesses assist with housing. If you choose
CHI's Job Assistance you will also receive housing options.
If your housing is not arranged, you will have the challenge
of locating your own place to live. Keep in mind housing and
living expenses may vary depending on locations.
During
your housing hunt, consider these points:
1.
Roommates: Since many apartments are expensive to rent alone,
you may want to consider sharing the expenses with a roommate.
2. Furnishings: Most apartments come unfurnished
unless you will be subletting or sharing the apartment with
someone who already has existing furniture.
3. Location:
How close is your housing to your job? Can you walk? Do you
have to use public transportation? How long is the commute?
How accessible are stores, banks and entertainment? Is it a
safe neighborhood?
4. Availability: Ask the
landlord how soon you can move into the rental. Sometimes you
may need to wait until the end of the month or beginning of
the month to move in.
5. Rental Agreements:
If you rent or sublet, make sure you sign a rental agreement
and keep a copy for yourself. Before you sign any rental agreement,
read the contract thoroughly and carefully. Question any terms
that are unclear to you. Only written information on a rental
agreement is legally binding; verbal agreements are not.
On a short-term basis, some affordable accommodations options
include: hostels, residence hotels, university/college housing
and low-cost motel chains. Most of these short-term accommodations
have a maximum stay limitation – usually 2 weeks. |
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| Money
Matters |
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While on the USA Work &
Travel Program, it is important that you budget your
money wisely. Always make sure you put money aside for essentials
such as housing, meals and transportation. CHI is not in the
business of loaning money.
Banks
Do not keep your money in your backpack or in your apartment.
Opening a bank account is one way to ensure your money will
be in a safe place. Services and fees vary from bank to bank.
You will need to bring several forms of identification such
as your passport and Social Security card. Banks offer different
types and levels of accounts. Ask about your options.
Banks usually offer an Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) card when
you open an account. This card is also known as a “debit
card”, meaning that any time you use the card for withdrawing
cash or making purchases, the amount is deducted from your account.
Banks may also charge a user fee (USD$1.50-$2.50 per transaction)
each time you withdraw money or make purchases with your ATM/debit
card.
Sales tax
Sales tax varies from city to city and state to state. In some
regions, there is no sales tax added to purchases on merchandise
or a restaurant bill. However, in communities where sales tax
is assessed, be prepared to pay between 3 to 10 percent in addition
to the total bill.
Tipping
In the U.S., it is customary to tip service-oriented workers
– waiters/waitresses, taxi drivers, hair stylists –
15 to 20 percent of the amount owed for the services rendered.
Accessing money from your home country
There are a couple of ways to access money from your home country,
but the most efficient one is Western Union. A friend, relative
or parent can transfer money from your home country to a Western
Union facility in the U.S. The process usually takes 15-30 minutes.
There is a handling charge, which is based on the amount of
money sent. |
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| Phone
and the Internet |
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| Pay phones differ across regions of the U.S. and
dialing procedures depend on the local telephone company. In
general, a telephone number in the U.S. looks like this:
1-415-459-5397
Within USA: "1"
Area Code: "415"
Phone Number: "459-5397"
To make a long distance phone call, dial "1", the
area code and then the number. To make a local call, dial the
last 7 digits. However, recently some communities require you
to dial the 10-digit phone number to make a local call. For
example: 707-555-5555 (no "1" is necessary). If you
have serious problems dialing a phone number, dial “O”
for the operator for assistance.
The best way to make a phone call in the US or call your home
country is to buy a pre-paid phone card. A phone card enables
you to make calls at a lower rate.
Internet
Sending e-mail messages is a quick way to keep in touch with
friends and family back home. As you know, internet has become
an invaluable tool to research information such as housing,
local entertainment activities, etc. Places where you can access
the internet in the U.S. are internet cafes and libraries. |
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| You and
law |
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Although you are a visitor, U.S. laws DO
apply to you. You are expected to obey and respect all U.S.
federal, state and local laws. It is wise that you stay out
of trouble during your stay in the U.S. Illegal behavior only
complicates your stay.
If you do get in trouble with the law, you can call CHI for
limited assistance. Please keep in mind that CHI cannot be held
accountable for your actions if you break the law. You are ultimately
obligated to take responsibility for any crimes or violations
you commit. You are also responsible for any and all expenses
involved with your illegal behavior. CHI can give you references
for legal help such as attorneys or receiving help through your
home country’s Embassy here in the U.S.
You should avoid problems and trouble such as: illegal drug
possession, underage drinking of alcohol, disturbing the peace,
destruction of property and shoplifting. |
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| Transportation |
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At some point during your USA
Work & Travel Program, you will have a need to use
a mode of transportation to get you around the U.S. Whether
you need to travel from the U.S. gateway city to your employment
community or want to take a quick weekend trip outside your
employment community, there are various options open to you.
Airplanes
Perhaps the most time efficient way to travel around the U.S.,
especially long distances, is by air. Of course, depending how
valuable your time is, there is a cost. Obtaining the best fare
is not always easy. The Internet is a good resource for researching
airfare deals. www.travelocity.com,
www.priceline.com,
www.travelscape.com
are popular on-line travel information and airfare sites. Also,
all major airlines have websites that offer special Internet
airfares.
Train
Amtrak is the
national railway system in the U.S. To obtain more information
you can contact them at their toll free number 1-800-872-7245
or visit their web site www.amtrak.com.
Bus
Bus travel is an inexpensive way to travel around the U.S. The
major bus companies can help you connect to local bus transportation
to reach remote towns, if necessary. The Greyhound Bus Company
is the major bus transporter in the U.S. Greyhound offers "Ameripass",
which is a bus pass valid for unlimited travel anywhere in the
U.S. for specified periods of time. There are some restrictions,
so contact Greyhound directly, toll free, at: 1-800-231-2222
or at www.greyhound.com.
Car rentals
U.S. car rental agencies have a minimum age requirement for
renting cars. Most agencies' minimum age requirement is 21 years
of age. Other requirements include: a valid International Driver's
License and at least one major credit card. If you are eligible
and desire to rent a car, you do so at your own expense and
risk. Also, remember that car insurance is required and is in
addition to the car rental fee. If you are with a group of Work
& Travel participants, you may want to consider sharing
the expense of a car rental. |
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