Costs

Before program begins, intern pays to program:

• Intern pays US$650: $300 for application processing; $350 for orientation.
• NOTE: If intern is not successful in obtaining his visa, then we will refund his orientation costs. See further information on visas.
• The $300 application processing fee is not refundable. Interns who are live in countries with a representative pay the same fees, but must work through the representatives.
  

Before program beings, hosts pays to program:

• $300 application for new hosts
• $200 fee for existing hosts for each subsequent intern
• These fees are also non-refundable.

Before program begins, intern pays to others:

• Intern pays US$100 for SEVIS (data base); paid to US State Department in home country
• Intern pays US$100 to US Embassy; paid to US Embassy in home country
• Intern pays transportation from home to Chicago O'Hare Airport (variable by country); from airport to orientation in Rockford, Illinois (approximately $20)
• Intern pays transportation to host farm from Rockford, Illinois (approximately $100)

While intern is with host farm:

• Host provides intern with housing and reasonable access to transportation.
• Host pays intern $5.15 per hour for the first 60 days, then $6.25 per hour.
• Host deducts from intern's hourly maintenance allowance ALL program fees, educational fees, health insurance, administration.
• Interns pay for their own food, which we estimate at $200 per month. Note: If hosts are providing interns with food, then hosts should deduct $200 per month for their food allowance.
• It is assumed that interns normally work 55 hours per week, with one day completely off per week. Interns are NOT guaranteed any hours over this, although there are times of the year when it is very possible due to harvest or planting conditions.

Total Annual Costs Involved with Program:
Intern BEFORE arriving at farm:

• $100 to US Embassy for visa
• $100 to US State Department for SEVIS
• $1,500 estimate round trip flight
• $100 estimate for travel from orientation to farm
• $300 application fee
• $350 orientation fee
• TOTAL: $2,425 (your plane or bus costs may be less than this)

AFTER arriving at farm--all of these are paid by the host farmers through deductions from intern's hourly maintenance allowance:

• $100/month for administration ($1200 total annual administration)
• $40* estimate for US driver's license (one-time)
• Costs vary slightly by state
• $200/month for Cal Poly & educational fee ($2400 annual educational fee)
• Total costs of Cal Poly course is only $1,350. Interns have the option of using the remaining $1,050 for other educational opportunities OR receiving this money back upon completion of their program and complying with program regulations.
• $450* estimate transportation to and from Cal Poly (Interns make own arrangements, but we will help if they would like)
• $114/month for health insurance (total annual insurance $1,368)
• Insurance typically increases slightly annually
• TOTAL ADMINISTRATION, CAL POLY COURSE, INSURANCE:$4,968
• ADDITIONAL ESTIMATED COSTS: $490

Host Provides Intern

• Housing (private room is not always provided, private bath is not normally given; information on this is given in the host farm's application and training plan). Hosts must provide telephone lines into the intern's housing.
• While most farms have internet access, some do not. All small towns have libraries where interns can access the internet for free.
• Reasonable access to transportation. Interns should expect to be able to go town at least once a week, buy food and other necessities, do banking, etc. (Interns should not expect to go to town nightly.)
• Payments of $5.15 per hour for 60 days and $6.25 per hour for rest of program; 55 hours per week $2,266 and $14,437.50
• TOTAL MAINTENANCE ALLOWANCE:$16,703.50

NOTE: This program is NOT to earn money to take back home. With this amount, interns should be able to cover their participation expenses and live comfortably here in the United States. It is NOT intended to support families back home.

TAXES

Interns DO have to pay federal, state and local taxes according to the tax treaties between the United States and their home countries. In general, most European countries DO have tax treaties... most Latin American and African countries do NOT have tax treaties. Taxes are a percentage of your income, which varies by state. Normally this is a 15% reduction. Hosts are required by law to subtract taxes from wages.

At the end of the year, interns should apply for some of the taxes to be returned through filing with a tax company, such as H&R Block. Interns normally will pay less than $100 for this service.

REFUNDS

If interns leave the program early for any reason, their program fees are NOT returned.

Host:

• $300 one-time application fee; $200 for each subsequent intern
• Maintenance allowance on hourly basis of $5.15 per hour for 60 days, then $6.25; assuming 55 hours per week for 50 weeks/year, $2,266 (first 8 weeks) and $14,437.50 (rest of year)
• $40 estimate new work boots.
• Housing (including local phone in intern's home)
• Reasonable access to transportation*
  TOTAL: $16,743.50**

*"Reasonable access to transportation" means that interns must be able to travel to town, socialize, etc., on a reasonable basis. This figure includes maintenance, insurance, gas, etc. Interns should be able to get into town at least once a week, but not nightly.
**Total does not include housing and reasonable access to transportation, as these figures vary widely. Total also does not include the $300 one-time application fee for hosts new to the program, or the $100 per subsequent intern. If interns put in more hours, then interns will receive additional compensation.

"Thank you for all.  Really, everything has been wonderful througout this program."
Celia , PERU