Terms and Conditions

The following section serves to outline the terms and conditions of your participation on the CIEE 12-Month U.S.A. Intern Work Program. We require that you carefully read the following information, and confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to these terms by signing and dating the last page. If you fail to sign or date this section, we will be unable to process your application.

Applicant Responsibilities

1. The Applicant agrees that all the information provided in the application is true to the best of his or her knowledge, and acknowledges that any false or misleading informa­tion may lead to the rejection of the application or, if discovered later, to immediate dismissal from the program.
2. The Applicant is responsible for considering his or her personal health and safety needs when applying for and participating in the program. If the Applicant suffers from any health or other condition that would create a risk for him or her, or other, while abroad, he or she should not apply.
3. The Applicant agrees to pay all fees in accordance with the procedures outlined by USIT Ireland. Please see the pricing sheet on this link.
4. The Participant agrees to purchase his or her flights to the U.S. from USIT. These can be booked through a USIT branch office or the USIT Call Center. Purchasing tickets online or with another organization will be deemed a violation of program rules and participants will be withdrawn from the program. In this case, full cancellation fees will apply.
5. The Applicant is responsible for submitting all requested documentation to USIT within the timeframes required by USIT for timely processing. USIT/ CIEE cannot be held responsible for any additional costs incurred (including the cost of rebooking or cancelling a flight) by the Applicant due to delays in submitting documentation or delays by the U.S. Embassy in issuing a visa or visa denial.
6. The Applicant must pay the local visa fee to the U.S. Embassy. The Applicant is also responsible for any additional visa fees that might apply at the U.S. Embassy in Dublin, as well as the government SEVIS fee collected as part of the application.
7. The Applicant will need to complete an interview with USIT Ireland in order to participate in the program.
8. The Applicant must supply USIT/CIEE with the name and contact details of next of kin to be contacted in the case of emergency.
9. The Applicant must not submit a program application with the intent to work in the U.S. in prohibited positions including; as an au pair, childcare giver, teacher, teaching assistant, camp counselor, in a private household, as a ship or aircraft crew member, as medical staff having patient contact, or in any unskilled position. This list is not exhaustive. For a complete list of unskilled positions, please refer to the Department of State’s list found here: http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c=ecfr&SID=1f84a79d0473e5d386e757f09fed3bb7&rgn=div8&view=text&node=22:1.0.1.7.35.2.1.3&idno=22
10. USIT/CIEE may issue a DS-2019 Form if the Applicant meets all relevant program requirements. However, USIT/CIEE has no control over the decision of the U.S. Embassy in Dublin to issue a J-1 Visa. Should the Applicant be refused a visa at the US Embassy/Consulate, full cancellation fees will apply.
11. The Applicant recognizes that he or she is entering into this Exchange Visitor Program in order to participate as an Intern as delineated in the DS7002, and not simply to engage in labor or work in the United States.
12. The Applicant understands that approval of this application in no way guarantees approval of applicant’s internship once in the U.S. CIEE can only determine the viability of an internship once a signed DS-7002 has been submitted for review.

Participant Responsibilities

1. The Participant is responsible for reading and carefully considering all materials made available to him or her that relate to safety, health, legal, environmental, political, cultural and religious customs and conditions in the U.S. The Participant must take full responsibility in the event that laws, regulations, or customs are broken, regardless of his or her actual knowledge of these laws, regulations, or customs.
2. In addition to reviewing all program materials, the Participant is required to complete a CIEE orientation and read the Participant Handbook.
3. The Participant must exercise due care once in possession of the legal documentation (DS- 2019, DS-7002, J-1 Visa, etc.) for the program. (The DS2019 document must be on your person upon entering the U.S. and all other documents must be held in care­ful possession during your entire stay.) These documents are difficult to replace and Participant shall bear the cost of replacing these items if they are lost.
4. The Participant is responsible for all of his or her acts along with any resulting loss or damage while on the program. The Participant agrees to indemnify and hold harmless USIT/CIEE for damages or loss to any party caused by his or her conduct.
5. All travel before, during, and after the program is at the Participant’s own risk. Also, if the Participant chooses to operate motorized vehicles, he or she is responsible for obtaining the necessary license, permission, and insurance, and does so at his or her own risk.
6. Once the Participant has commenced his or her travel to the U.S., USIT/CIEE cannot amend the program dates as listed on the DS-2019. It is the Participant’s responsibility to check the program start and end dates prior to traveling to the U.S. to ensure that the dates are correct.
7. If during the course of the program the Participant encounters any difficulties with his or her internship, or with safety, health, or housing, the Participant should notify CIEE as soon as possible by calling CIEE at 1.888.268.6245. In the event of an emergency, the Participant can also reach CIEE at the above number anytime night or day.
8. The Participant is required to comply with all U.S. Government visa and immigration requirements, including the SEVIS requirement as follows:
   a) Confirmation of U.S. home address to CIEE within 10 days of the DS-2019 program start date.
   b) Notification to CIEE of any change in U.S. home address within 10 days of the change.
9. The Participant agrees that he or she will not engage in any activity that would bring the 12-Month U.S.A. Intern Work Program or the U.S. Department of State into notoriety or disrepute, including living in substandard or overcrowded housing. The Participant should contact CIEE for guidance if any proposed activity might cause this result. If the participant engages in such activities, his or her program may be ended prematurely and the participant will be required to return home immediately.
10. The participant agrees to complete an evaluation at the mid-point and end of the program and to assist CIEE in securing mid-point and final evaluations by their intern­ship supervisor.
11. The participant agrees to return to Ireland and not pursue employment under a different visa type at the end of the 12-Month U.S.A. Intern Work Program.

Internship Placement Responsibilities

1. The Participant understands and agrees that it is his or her responsibility to locate a suitable internship position once in the U.S within 90 days. The position must adhere to U.S. State Department guidelines for the 12-Month U.S.A. Intern Work Program as follows:
   • Be no longer than 12-months in total duration
   • Be related to Participant’s field of study
   • Not be in any of the prohibited fields noted above in Section I, 9.
   • Participant must be covered under the Host Organization’s Workers’ Compensation policy unless the Host Organization is exempt by state law
2. The Participant agrees to provide CIEE with the name, location, and full contact details of his or her supervisor for the prospective company immediately upon location of the internship and request a Form DS-7002 template (the U.S. State Department-required documentation of the internship placement) through the CIEE Customer Service Center. Further, the Participant understands that he or she must submit to CIEE the Form DS-7002 fully completed and signed by his or her employer. Finally, the participant understands that he or she should not begin the internship before the DS-7002 is approved by CIEE.
3. If the proposed internship as outlined on Form DS-7002 and submitted by Participant does not meet program requirements, CIEE reserves the right to reject the internship and require that Participant locate another position.
4. If Participant fails to notify CIEE of his or her internship location and/or submit a duly completed and executed Form DS-7002 within 90 days of arrival in the U.S., CIEE reserves the right to withdraw program sponsorship and require that the Participant return home in accordance with U.S. State Department policy.
5. USIT/CIEE cannot guarantee the availability of internship positions once the par­ticipant is in the U.S. Completion of Form DS-7002 by a host organization does not constitute a binding contract between host organization and Participant. Should Participant be let go from his or her internship position at no fault of his or her own, the Participant is authorized to locate a new position.
6. USIT/CIEE are not responsible for any expenses incurred by the Participant if he or she fails to secure an internship.
7. USIT/CIEE are not responsible for a Participant’s inability to obtain an internship position once in the U.S. Any participant who returns to Ireland as a result of not find­ing a suitable position in the U.S. does so at his or her discretion and no refund will be given.
8. The Participant may only intern at the host organization listed on Form DS-7002 and approved by CIEE. If for any reason a change of host organization becomes neces­sary, the Participant must contact CIEE, submit a new DS-7002, and receive written approval from CIEE before changing internships. Casual labor and/or second jobs are not permitted on this visa. Failure to comply with these regulations will result in the Participant’s withdrawal from the program.
9. If the actual internship position deviates significantly from the terms set forth in Form DS-7002, or if the internship environment, for whatever reason, proves unsupportive, the Participant should contact CIEE directly. If warranted, CIEE will endeavor to assist the Participant in finding another position. However, CIEE makes no guarantee that it will be able to do so and, furthermore, makes no representation that it will be able to find an internship position for the Participant in the same geographical area, in the same field, or at the same compensation level. The Participant is free to secure an alternative placement in accordance with Internship guidelines as above.
10. The Participant agrees not to engage in training in any unskilled or casual labor posi­tions, in positions that require or involve child care or elder care, or in any kind of position that involves patient care or contact. Furthermore, Participant also agrees not to engage in training in a position that involves more than 20 percent cleri­cal work.
11. If the Participant’s original internship program, for whatever reason, ends prior to the end date listed on Form DS-2019, it is the Participant’s responsibility to inform CIEE as soon as this is known.

Participant Responsibilities at the Conclusion of the Program

The Participant agrees that he or she intends to return home upon completion of the program and not to attempt to stay in the U.S.

Contractual Terms and Other Program-Related Conditions

1. The 12-Month U.S.A. Intern Work Program Application, including this Participant Declaration, is the binding contract between the Participant and the Council on International Educational Exchange and USIT Ireland Ltd, its and their employees, officers, directors and shareholders (collectively, “CIEE”).
2. CIEE makes no representation or warranty of any kind, expressed or implied, as to the suitability of the program for the Participant, and CIEE disclaims all such warranties to the full extent of the law.
3. The conduct of the 12-Month U.S.A. Intern Work Program is subject to U.S. government approval and may change without notice.
4. CIEE does not own or operate any entity which provides goods or services for the program, including but not limited to arrangements for or ownership or control over houses, apartments or other lodging facilities; airline, vessel, bus or other transpor­tation companies; food service; or entertainment providers. All such persons and entities are independent contractors and enter into legal relationships directly with the Participant (and not through CIEE). As a result, CIEE is not liable for any act or failure to act of any such person or entity, or of any third party. Without limitation, CIEE is not responsible for any injury, loss, or damage to person or property, death, delay or inconvenience in connection with the provision of any goods or services occasioned by or resulting from, but not limited to, acts of God, force majeure, acts of war or civil unrest, insurrection or revolt, strikes or other labor activities, criminal or terrorist activities of any kind, or the threat thereof, overbooking or downgrading of accommodations, structural or other defective conditions of houses, apartments or other lodging facilities (or in any heating, plumbing, electrical or structural problem therein), mechanical or other failure of airplanes or other means of transportation or for any failure of any transportation mechanism to arrive or depart timely, dangers associated with or bites from domestic or wild animals, pests or insects, sanitation problems, food poisoning disease, epidemics or the threat thereof, lack of, access to or quality of medical care, difficulty in evacuation in case of medical or other emer­gency, or for any other cause beyond the direct control of CIEE.
5. The Participant agrees that any dispute concerning, relating, or referring to the Internship Placement Plan, the 12-Month U.S.A. Intern Work Program Application, any other literature concerning the program, or the program itself shall be resolved exclu­sively by binding arbitration in the State of Maine, according to the existing rules of the American Arbitration Association. Such proceedings will be governed by State of Maine law. The arbitrator and not any federal, state, or local court or agency shall have exclusive authority to resolve any dispute relating to the interpretation, applicability, enforceability, conscionability, or formation of this contract, including but not limited to any claim that all or any part of this contract is void or voidable.
6. USIT/CIEE reserves the right to refuse sponsorship to any applicant who USIT/CIEE deems does not meet program eligibility requirements or any applicant who USIT/ CIEE does not deem appropriate to accept in the general interests of the program. In the event that USIT/CIEE rejects the Applicant’s application to the program, any appli­cable refund will be made via USIT Ireland.
7. Program participation begins on the day of departure from the participant’s home country and terminates on the day of departure from the U.S. (so long as this occurs within the legal program dates). The maximum length of the internship is 12 months. On this J-1 Visa program, the Participant is permitted to travel within the United States for up to 30 days before the DS start date and up to 30 days after the DS end date (program dates). The exact duration of stay in the U.S. must be confirmed by Participant prior to his or her departure to the U.S.
8. Travel Insurance is mandatory for all participants on the program. Minimum levels of insurance cover are determined by U.S. State Department Regulations and it is a legal requirement of the U.S. Government that Participants have adequate insurance cover for the total duration of their stay in the U.S., including any optional travel. It is the responsibility of the Participant to ensure he or she has the appropriate insur­ance coverage.
   
   Full policy details and options can be obtained by Participant through USIT and as the insured person the Participant must guarantee that he or she complies with the terms and conditions of USIT’s insurance policy and the insurers must be informed of any fact which is likely to influence the Insurers in the acceptance, assessment or continuance of this insurance. Failure to do so may invalidate the insurance leaving the Participant with no right to make a claim.
9. CIEE reserves the right to dismiss the Participant from the program if, in its best judgment, the Participant is deemed to be a danger to him- or herself or to others, or if his or her conduct is deemed to be detrimental to the program in any way. In the event of such a dismissal, CIEE shall not be held responsible for any resulting expenses incurred by the Participant such as airfare, and shall not be required to return any fees paid by the Participant.
10. Once the Participant has departed for the U.S., he or she will receive no refund should he or she choose to withdraw or terminate his or her program. The Participant will also receive no refund should CIEE find it necessary to withdraw sponsorship after the Participant has departed for the U.S. Also, CIEE is not responsible for the refund of any fees paid to third parties (e.g., the U.S. Embassy, SEVIS, airlines, etc.), regardless of the circumstances.
11. CIEE does not provide housing. The Participant will need to arrange his or her accom­modation independently for the program. This will likely require that he or she sign a lease and pay a deposit, which usually amounts to the first and last month’s rent and may include an additional security deposit.
12. CIEE may provide the participant’s contact information to third parties who provide useful services to exchange program participants. Third parties receiving this informa­tion will be required to provide the participant with the opportunity to opt out after the first contact.
13. CIEE retains the right, in its sole discretion, to contact participant’s parents, guardian, and/or emergency contact with regard to health issues or any other matter whatso­ever which relates to participant or participant’s program. These rights transcend any and all privacy regulations that may apply.