Move your program to 2021? What to remember?
Due to the COVID-19, times of uncertainty, some sponsors and agencies propose to move the Work and Travel program date to 2021. It is an interesting proposition but with lots of areas to be covered. And it’s not for everybody!
What you need to bear in mind, when deciding wheater it is for you or not, are especially:
The global and local situation with COVID-19
Sadly, there is no guarantee that in summer 2021 all the restrictions will be gone, and that the World will shake COVID-19 off. We probably will learn about the situation in the upcoming months. Both scenarios are possible – local (in the US or your country) or global outbreak.
Solution: make sure to have a paragraph about what will happen in such a scenario.
Your Employer
It is the end of March 2020. Most of you have the employer already confirmed. If you decide to move the program to 2021, how will this affect this relation? We want to point out a couple of possibilities you have to be bear in mind.
- Your employer goes out of business
This is a pretty straightforward situation.
- Your employer is struggling financially
With the possible shift in the global economy, the repercussions might be very depressing. From layoffs to moving to fewer hours a week, this will not be a good sign for the program.
- Your employer changed the hiring strategy
Again, the shift in the global economy might cause employers to pick the local workforce over international staff. This makes both senses from the business and PR perspective.
- Your position is unavailable
Due to the new circumstances, your work position might be either filled out or unavailable. Will you be offered another position at that employer? What is best for you? Change of employer or position? You should secure yourself for such a situation.
All of the above might disrupt your application process. When figuring this situation up, you should decide what counts the most for you.
- location,
- type of employer,
- position and/or wage
Solution: set your pain points and don’t go below them. Secondly, make sure you cover all the scenarios in the agreement. Try to secure at least one of the above not to end up disappointed.
Your Sponsor/Agency status
In these difficult times, some of the Agencies or Sponsors (less likely) might bankrupt. Current circumstances create an extraordinary situation that impacts the Work and Travel industry.
- Agencies
If your Agency goes out of business, make sure to have a back-up plan. I could imagine being processed by other agencies in your home country. Just make sure that you will not be charged extra for such a service.
- Sponsors
Worst case scenario – you will not go to the US or will have to apply to other organizations.
Solution: There should be a note that despite the condition of the Agency, the Sponsor will deliver for you. If your visa sponsor bankrupts, you are screwed – try to secure at least a refund.
Your student status
This honestly is up to you. If you lose your student status, you will not be able to obtain a visa.
Solution: Be a good student. And make sure to have some paragraphs describing the situation of losing the student status by you. We recommend refunds.
Your personal situation
This the category, that you know best. In bullet points a couple of things:
- health issues
- financial situation
- LOVE 🙂
- change of plans
- dream job in your home country
And many, many others. Solution? Hard to say. You need to calculate if any of these will happen and make a decision.
Finances
This is yet another area of uncertainty! And a pretty crucial one. Let’s identify what financial aspects you need to take into account when making a decision. The list is open and focuses on the most important ones.
- Exchange rate
Nobody knows what will be the exchange rate at the time of your program. We are talking here about 17 – 20 months’ perspective from today. That is extremely away from now, and in an unstable situation, it is hard to predict this rate.
- Your personal finances
You have no idea what kind of impact COVID-19 might have on you and your family. We keep fingers crossed for the best possible outcome, but you never know. Be prepared for the extreme circumstances in the upcoming months.
- State of the economy in the US
There might be pressure to hire Americans if the crisis hit the economy. Nationalisms, protectionism might be obstacles on the way to the US. We hope not 🙁
- Air ticket
Keep your fingers crossed for the air tickets to remain as cheap as they are right now! Secure yourselves in the agreement on such occasion.
- Other payments
Make sure that no new payments will apply to you. You don’t want to pay double.
Solution: Again, set your limits, and implement it in the agreement.