Frequently Asked Questions
How do I obtain the correct visa?
Once it has been determined that you qualify for the J-1 Intern Visa, PMG, together with its Visa Processing Company will guide you through the details of how to obtain your visa. The total time required to process your J-1 sponsorship application depends on how quickly you provide all necessary materials and information.
How much does it cost?
The cost for visa processing and sponsorship is $850.00 USD for a 6-month visa, and $1050.00 USD for a 12-month stay. In addition to these processing costs, there is an additional fee of $180 USD for SEVIS monitoring and $131.00 USD for the visa itself. Once you receive the necessary documents from the visa company, you will need to apply for the J-1 Visa in-person at a U.S. consulate or embassy in your home country.
How long will it take to process my visa?
This process may take anywhere from one day to four or more weeks, depending on the consulate or embassy where you apply. We recommend you submit your application for J-1 sponsorship well in advance (at least 6 weeks) of the desired start date of your training to avoid possible delays. Please remember that securing sponsorship for the J-1 Visa does not guarantee that you will actually be granted the J-1 Visa by a U.S. consulate or embassy.
What is the booking process for travel like?
After you have successfully procured your J-1 Visa, your next step is to book your air travel. Your host company is located in San Diego, California, which is home to San Diego International Airport (SAN). Since air travel will most likely constitute your greatest upfront expense, we recommend purchasing one-way fare on your outbound trip.
How much money to I need to live until payday?
Since your housing deposit will be paid in advance and your host company will arrange airport transfers, your upfront financial preparation is minimal. You will receive your first paycheck within 2 weeks of beginning the internship, so it will be necessary for you to have accessible funds to sustain yourself until payday. We recommend bringing approximately $400.00 USD to cover necessary living costs and have some additional funding to be safe.
Is there time to rest and recover after the long trip?
After a long transcontinental flight, arriving in the USA for the first time can be daunting and exhausting, which is why PMG will meet you at San Diego International Airport and bring you to your living accommodations. Once at your place of residence, you will be given a brief orientation to prepare you for the months ahead. We advise all interns to arrive a 3 days before their start date to be settled and rested for their first day of work.
How can I communicate with family and friends upon arrival?
You will have wireless internet access at your living location. If your computer has WiFi capabilities, then you will be able to access the internet, your email, and other data services. We also suggest using tethered soft-phones to your computer for voice communication over online services such as Skype to communicate with family and friends at home. This will greatly reduce communication expenses while abroad.
What about my cell phone?
A cell phone is a job requirement; therefore, you may bring an unlocked GSM phone with you for usage with the company phone plan. Otherwise the company will supply you with a basic handset for the duration of your stay at a cost of $35/month.
Will I be legally permitted to work in the USA?
PMG will assist you in acquiring a social security number for work in the United States. This number qualifies your host company to legally hire you and will ensure your legal status during your stay. This number is to be kept confidential as social security fraud can lead to extensive personal identity theft, taxation problems, and other fraudulent schemes.
What are the main cultural differences I need to be aware of?
American culture encompasses traditions, ideals, customs, beliefs, values, arts, and innovations developed both domestically and imported via colonization and immigration from the British Isles.
Prevalent ideas and ideals which evolved domestically such as important national holidays, uniquely American sports, proud military tradition, and innovations in the arts and entertainment give a strong sense of national pride among the population as a whole.
It includes both conservative and liberal elements, military and scientific competitiveness, political structures, risk taking and free expression, materialist and moral elements.
It also includes elements which evolved from Native Americans, and other ethnic subcultures; most prominently the culture of African American and different cultures from Latin America. Many cultural elements, especially popular culture have been exported across the globe through modern mass media. A few of the cultural elements have remained rather exclusive to North America.
Is it safe living in the US?
Like any country there are both dangerous and safe neighborhoods. We work with clientele that are home-owners and who live in high-demographic neighborhoods; these areas are traditionally considered very safe. Your accommodations will be situated in close proximity to the host company office. Proper precautions should be taken whenever one is unfamiliar with his/her surroundings. This can reduce the risk of crime greatly. Interns are always kept in groups and within close proximity to one another while canvassing neighborhoods.
Will we get opportunities to travel and see more of the US?
While personal and professional development is the primary focus of this internship, we also understand that for most interns, the opportunity to come to the USA is exciting. Many are desirous to experience a variety of cultural encounters. This is why we structure additional performance incentives that are travel oriented. Our interns have earned time off to spend weekend trips in cities like San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Phoenix and others. Our interns seem to enjoy both working hard and playing hard—in that order.