WHAT YOU GET & PAY
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What You Get! Included in your program fees are:
 DS-2019 Visa Sponsorship: Chilli Adventures operates with a US State Department sponsor to obtain the DS-2019 Visa Sponsorship necessary for you to obtain your J1 visa at the US consulate in South Africa. The DS-2019 costs in the region of $300 and is covered as part of your program fees. This is your work authorization and will, once your J1 is granted, allow you to work for the period of your summer vacation break. Your DS-2019 will be Fed-Ex’d to South Africa once your full program fees have been paid. US J1 Visa Application Completion: Chilli complete all visa paperwork on your behalf, DS-156, DS-157 and DS-158, assist you with supporting documentation and submit your visa paperwork to the US consulate ahead of your appointment. Chilli Adventures have an excellent relationship with the US consulates in South Africa and a 100% visa granted rate. US Consulate Appointment booking: The $10 visa appointment fee is included as part of your program fees and the appointment will be booked for you by Chilli Adventures. Interview with past participant: Your interview will be held with one of Chilli's National Team members who have recently returned from their own adventure in the USA. These guys and girls are a wonderful resource to get first hand information & advise.
Program Application Assistance: Chilli will provide you with full assistance in completing your application as well as receiving regular updates as to the status of your app as it is processed. Comprehensive Medical & Liability Insurance: AAA rated, medical & liability coverage is provided for 3 months. Additional cover is also available R110 for an extra month. Mandatory for longer trips. SEVIS Validation Service: Easy to use online system allowing you to validate your visa upon arrival in the USA (mandatory), and update employment and housing information as necessary. |
GAC (Get a Clue) Sessions: Chilli Adventures run weekly sessions geared to providing you with valuable information on the US; where to go, how to put together the perfect ‘US specific’ CV, how to go about securing employment, as well as info on housing, international travel and local transportation, Social Security processing etc. This is also a great opportunity to connect with past participants, get insiders tips and find which are the hottest spots to head to. Pre-Departure Orientation: Covering essential info vital to a successful trip; Inc. J1 visa, SEVIS Validation, Insurance, Arrival and Travel advice, Housing and Job hunt, Social Security application etc. This is a MANDATORY session. Tax Back: Full US tax processing to ensure that you’re able to claim back any taxes you paid in the USA. Partner Discounts: Pre-departure sessions will be held at Cape Union Mart Stores across the country. All participants will receive 15% discount off merchandise. Other deals include ski gear at wholesale prices, US SIMs, bank cards and more.
Toll Free Customer Service: Trained support staff are on hand to provide you with answers to any program-related question you may have upon arrival.
24 Hour Emergency Support: Available in the event of an emergency - 24/7.
SA Reunion and Focus Groups: A chance to get together once you’re back from the US and exchange stories of your adventures over a drink or two! Chilli strive to continually improve what we do and how we do it, to ensure the best possible experience for you. Your comments and feedback is always appreciated
Chilli National Team: An opportunity to work for Chilli part time (or full time) on return to South Africa. Assist with promotions, interview prospective participants and get paid to tell your stories! |
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WHAT YOU PAY
Remember that expenses can vary dramatically depending on your job. It’s important to ensure that you take along enough cash, to cover your startup expenses. The US government visa suggestion is between $400 & $800 USD, however Chilli Adventures strongly recommends $700 - $1200 USD, depending on your situation. Talk to Chilli Adventures staff to get an idea on how much they spent while on their adventure
TOTAL Program Fees = R6900
1st Deposit = R1500
(Payable prior to interview - refunded if not accepted)
2nd Deposit = R3800
(Payable prior to issue of DS-2019)
Final Payment = R1600
(Payable prior to issue of Insurance)
Additional Costs NOT covered in the Program Fees: Return Flight to the USA (Approx R9000), US Consulate Visa Processing Fee $131, SEVIS ($35), additional insurance if required (extra month = R110) and spending money for use upon arrival. |
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JOB PLACEMENT OPTION - R2000 - Additional
Chilli Adventures have secured a number of positions with US employers. Some of these employers will hire at job fairs across South Africa in August. Other placements will be made following local Interviews conducted by Chilli Staff.This is an easy way to have employment secured prior to departure!
Please be aware - Placement fees are only charged to you after a job offer has been made. Since hiring is done by employers themselves, placement CANNOT be guaranteed. Participants must qualify in terms of availability dates and hiring criteria. |
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BUDGETING
When you add up all the costs, there’s a lot to consider. Most peoples first question is ‘Will I make enough money to at least cover my upfront costs’ (flights, program fees etc). Ultimately, what you make will be up to you, and more specifically, will relate to how much you work.
Of the students polled this past season, most covered their costs in the first 4-6 weeks of working. Extremes at either end of the spectrum however saw students returning having only covered half their upfront costs (but having travelled, shopped and partied!), as well as students returning having covered all upfront costs and with a profit of R70,000 (but having worked 4 jobs and spent very little).
So, think about what the goals are for your trip (to travel, to gain work experience, to party, to make money etc), then take a look through the average costings below and do the maths yourself. We’ll chat more about this at your G.A.C session.
US Salary ($)
Most people work one full time position (40 hours a week) and then try to pick up a second position that allows for tips.
Hourly wage will depend on the employer and region in the US. Range is typically $8-12 per hour (many jobs also provide bonuses and tips). Tipped positions usually pay minimum wage (approx $5.50) but you’ll make tips on top. Tips are typically paid at 15-20% of bills (plus other positions) and so make up a considerable portion of your total wage.
Working at a resort allows you employee perks like free ski passes and staff discounts saving you some serious money on food, equipment, and resort facilities etc.
Expenses to consider:
Housing/Rent costs from $250–$600/month
Food from $100–$250/month
Transportation from $0–$60/month
Housing Deposits (this can be as much as two months rent)
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