Hello Again!

In today's post I thought I would discuss the process of attending my J-1 Visa appointment at the London Embassy as part of my Camp America experience. I know I was almost more nervous about this appointment than I was about the recruitment fair, and I can't be the only one feeling this way! Hopefully this will put some of your minds at ease. 

After receiving my visa documents from CA, I filled in the various forms and documents then got my visa appointment. I was to attend the embassy in March for an interview. The word interview always makes me sweat a little, but this was one of the most efficient interviews I have ever carried out. If you're anything like me, you will be scouring the internet looking for what to take, what isn't allowed into the embassy and anything that may catch you out. Simply follow the directions camp america have sent you and you will be absolutely fine! For reference, here is a list of things I needed to take/ chose to take into the embassy with me (please refer to the embassy website/CA information as things change all the time!):

• Paperwork - you need your passport, a copy of your appointment confirmation, a print out of your DS-160 form, spare visa photos, copy of fee payment receipt, DS-2019 form, SEVIS fee receipt, Camp America support letter, proof of student status/work status/reason to return to the UK. In terms of paper work,  my CA support letter and student status information was never looked at, but each case is different so keep this in mind. 
• Bags - no large bags/luggage are allowed into the embassy and every bag will be checked airport security style. I took a small handbag in with me containing my phone, kindle, bank card, some cash and carried my documents in a clear plastic wallet. 
• Electronics - phones, tablets and e-readers are now allowed into the embassy, but laptops are not. Please keep this in mind.

I arrived at the embassy about and hour and a half too early due to my train times. I decided to go and report to the Camp America staff anyway to confirm that I had attended my appointment and so they could check my documents to keep my mind at ease. I was told they were already letting people in so I joined my first queue of the day. Embassy staff separated and checked my paper work whilst in the queue. At the front of the queue, a lady double checked this, checked I didn't have anything I shouldn't have on me and sent me to join the queue for security. This all happens outside so please be prepared for bad weather - there are places outside to store umbrellas once through security. Security is airport style, I got asked to show that my kindle was working, by bag was sent through a scanner and I walked through a body scanner just like in the airport. Once this was completed, you walk into the embassy. When inside, my documents were scanned and I was given a number. I then sat in a large waiting room and waited for my number to be called. Once called, you are told to go to a specific window, where embassy staff will check your documents again, ask a few questions and take all 10 fingerprints. 

Following this, it was time for interview. I joined another queue where a member of staff was directing people to available windows, just like before. The consulor officer will ask a few questions about why you're going to America and what you will do upon your return. Then, my visa was granted! The officer keeps your passport and DS-2019 which will be returned to you by courier once the visa has been processed.

All in all, I was in the embassy for around 20 minutes - it was quick, easy and the staff were super lovely! I had no reason to be as terrified as I was. 

As always, let me know if you have any questions!

Lucy

Camp America 2017 | Recruitment Fair!

Hello! 

I recently decided that I wanted to document my Camp America experience - this feels like such a once in a lifetime opportunity and I don't want to forget any of it, all the way from the highest highs and lowest lows. To start off, I thought I'd blog about my recruitment fair experience as I feel this is where my journey really began. Hopefully this will help you out if you're attending a fair, or just make for some interesting (ish!) reading. 

On the 17th January 2017 I headed up to Edinburgh for the 1st of 4 Camp America recruitment fairs. Despite this being one of the smaller recruitment fairs in terms of the amount of camps and applicants attending, I knew there was still going to be a lot of camps to speak to and a lot of people going for the same roles as I was. I feel like the most important thing I did before I went was research (although I ended up being employed at a camp I hadn't previously looked into - more on that later).  Camp America post a list of camps that are attending prior to the event. The list includes start dates, age limits and which positions the camps themselves wanted to fill. I was looking to be a general counsellor at a camp that started after the 12th June, therefore I did research into camps that filled this criteria. Unfortunately, I did find that although camps did state they were looking for general counsellors this was not the case - the roles the camps are looking for will be displayed behind their stand inside the fair, so don't be shaken by finding on the day the camp doesn't want to hire someone with your particular skill.

When I arrived at the venue, I was given a sticker to say I'd already had my interview with CA, and that I was ready to be hired instantly. Going into the venue was intimidating, I knew where I wanted to be instantly, so I headed straight to this camp. However, the decided they didn't want to hire general counsellors after all so I didn't sit down to interview. The second camp I went to speak to seemed great on paper but after speaking to the director I learnt it definitely wasn't for me - we didn't hit it off and my skill set wasn't going to be of best use at this camp. I felt shaken at this point, but still carried on. 

The fourth camp I went to speak to ended up being the camp I was hired at. By chance I was walking past and saw they were looking for people with youth work experience. I got talking to a girl who had worked there previously through CA and I decided that I would like to be interviewed. The reason I hadn't researched this camp previously was that they had two separate start dates and only the first had been displayed on the list of attending camps, meaning that I thought I couldn't go. 

I sat with the director of the overnight camp programme and she made me feel at ease straight away; I was asked typical interview questions and then she passed me a green wristband meaning I was hired. I was about ready to cry at this point, I was so excited! There's a few forms to fill in when you're hired, and then you go to be processed by CA staff who take your form off you so they can send you visa documents, take your t-shirt size for your CA shirt and check you've made all the necessary payments for this point in the process.

I feel like the most important piece of advice I can give for attending the recruitment fair is to be positive. Be yourself, and you will find a camp you will be excited to work at and a camp that is excited to hire you. Don't be disheartened if a camp that seems perfect on paper or online is not for you - not everyone is going to be a perfect match for a particular camp! Finally, if you are hired at a recruitment fair, great! If not, you have until May to be placed, and there are THOUSANDS of camps that can access your CA application and only a hundred or so at recruitment fairs. It is highly likely that you will be hired online.


Any questions, feel free to comment or get in touch! 

Until next time,

Lucy