Work and Travel U.S.A.

Immediately after arriving in the United States, you should:

1. Have your DS-2019 Form,
2. Register with SEVIS, and
3. Apply for a Social Security Number.

Have your DS-2019 Form

The DS-2019 Form is the document required to apply for the J-1 visa, which permits you to work legally in the U.S.  Work and Travel USA participants may only work between the dates shown in the DS-2019 Form.  IT IS ILLEGAL TO WORK OUTSIDE THESE DATES!  If a participant violates this rule, he or she may be arrested and the full extent of U.S. Law will be applied.

Register with SEVIS

The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) has been created by the U.S. government to keep track of J-1 participants.  Hence, it is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT that you register with SEVIS within 20 days of but not prior to your arrival.  We will provide more details about this in your handbook.  When registering with SEVIS, you will be required to provide the following information:

1. Your DS-2019 number from the DS-2019 form given to you by WISE Abroad.
2. Your address where you will live in the U.S.
3. The address where you are employed in the U.S.
4. Your supervisor's information.
5. Your email address.
   

You will receive information about how to register with SEVIS in your handbook and at the orientation session.

IMPORTANT: Please do no register with sevis until you are in the U.S.  If you do not register with sevis, you are in danger of loosing your wise abroad sponsorship and may be terminated from the program.  Please remember this important requirement!

If You Change Your Address:

If you change your address, you will need to update SEVIS with this information within 10 days.  To do this, please contact us.

You have 10 days from the time you change your living address to update this information!

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Apply for a Social Security Number

In order to work legally in the United States, you must apply for a Social Security Number as soon as possible after entering the country.  This number is used by the government for all U.S. citizens and residents to track tax payments, and is an important form of identification.  Although we will assist you with this process, it is recommended that you find the the nearest Social Security Office by calling toll-free 1-800-772-1213 upon arrival or by visiting the Social Security web site.

When you apply for a Social Security Number, the cards will be mailed to WISE Abroad and we will mail this to you as soon as we receive the card to you permanent address in the U.S.

Other Important Points

The Social Security Administration requires an additional document verification process involving the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) for all J-1 participants applying for a Social Security Number.  This verification will allow your card to get to you sooner.

Once you submit your application and paperwork to the Social Security Office, you should expect the following:

1. The Social Security Office will confirm your point of entry into the US, and verify if the program is registered.  If everything is in order, the Social Security Office will issue you a Social Security Card.
2. If you are not verified at your point of entry, the Social Security Office will contact the Los Angeles Social Security Office to verify that you are registered with SEVIS.  This will take about 2-3 days.  If you are registered properly, the application will go through, and you will receive your card soon thereafter.
3. If you are not registered with SEVIS properly, the Los Angeles Social Security Office will investigate the situation.

How Long Does It Take?

Please be aware that there may be delays in receiving your card.  In general, it may take about to 2 to 3 weeks to
receive your card, or possibly sooner.

In order to insure that you receive the card sooner, you should follow these steps:

1. Make sure you register with SEVIS as soon as you arrive to the U.S.
2. Apply for your Social Security Card at your local office of residence.  In some cases, offices in small towns/cities may process social security numbers more quickly.  To locate the nearest Social Security Office, dial 1-800-772-1213, or visit their web site at www.ssa.gov .
3. When you apply for a Social Security Card, make sure that request for a receipt or proof of application.  This is helpful if your employer demands to see proof of a social security number.  WISE Abroad will also help you address problems if the employer is not willing to make any payments without the card.  If you encounter any problems please
   contact us.  Please let us know the office where you applied and the social security officer that serviced you.

We recommend that you call the toll free Social Security number (1-800-772-1213) about two weeks after you apply for your card to check on the status of your application.  If the Social Security office does not have a record of your application, ask the officer what you must do next.  Be aware that applying more than one time can cause your card not to be issued.  Keep records of your receipts and proof of application.

If an employer refuses to pay you until you show the Social Security card, please contact the WISE Abroad office so we can assist you.

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