Application Process

PROCESS

New Hosts
✦ Hosts complete an application, and send a $100 non-refundable application fee for initial screening.  
✦ Global Cow contacts host references, and confirms hosts’ suitability for the program. A farm visit may also be required.

Existing Hosts
✦ ALL hosts pay $150 for each confirmed participant placement, plus $25 per month per participant.
✦ To host additional participants, hosts can contact Global Cow for any of the six entries per year.

Participants
✦ Participants send completed application packet to Global Cow.  
✦ Participant calls Global Cow through Skype to test English. An additional test may be required by Experience International.
✦ Upon acceptance, participants pay US $1030 to Global Cow. $500 of this non-refundable; $350 is for the orientation costs, and is refunded if participant does not receive the visa. $180 is the non-refundable SEVIS fee.  (Expo orientation is an additional $40.)

Matching
✦ Global Cow matches participants and hosts according to training goals.  Hosts and participants confirm placement.
✦ Host and participant sign confirmation of placement, and legal agreement.  Hosts also sign a specific DS 7002 training plan.

Visas For Participants
✦ Visa documentation and entry information, including DS 2019 and DS 7002 is sent to the participant, via express delivery.
✦ Participants immediately make their visa appointments.  Participants who cannot make appointments before the orientation date stated in their paperwork may have their DS 2019 and DS 7002 paperwork voided by the program.  
✦ Participants immediately report visa results to Global Cow after their visa interview.

Participant Travel
✦ Participants book flight to arrive in Chicago O’Hare Airport for orientation, and send complete flight information to Global Cow.  Participants should arrive at O’Hare the day orientation begins.
✦ Participants travel to Rockford, Illinois, by bus from O’Hare.  Global Cow presents orientation.
✦ Global Cow makes travel arrangements for the participants’ travel to the host farms.  (Participants pay for their travel.)
✦ Global Cow informs hosts of participants’ arrival times. Hosts pick up participants upon arrival.

At Farm
✦ Global Cow is available to help resolve questions or problems, and sends a monthly newsletter.
✦ Participants and their hosts complete evaluations as noted on their intake schedule.
✦ Hosts help participants obtain a social security card and a driver’s license in their states.
✦ Participants must attend one approved educational course during their year.
✦ Hosts pay hourly wage as described in monetary information, deducting and sending program fees to Global Cow.

DATES

NOTE: For these dates to actually work well for everyone--participants and hosts--paperwork must be signed the same day it is sent.  If there are any delays by hosts or participants, the visa paperwork is slower in being prepared.

FEBRUARY ENTRY:

• November 15: Application deadlines for participant;English tests also all completed by this date
• November 18:  Conditional acceptance decision notification sent to all potential participants
• November 20:  Host farms accept the potential matches; participants also accept the matches
• December 1:  All paperwork is fully signed and returned to Global Cow
• December 15:  Visa documentation sent to potential participants
• mid-February:  Orientation

APRIL ENTRY

• January 15: Application deadlines for participant;English tests also all completed by this date
• January 18:  Conditional acceptance decision notification sent to all potential participants
• January 20:  Host farms accept the potential matches; participants also accept the matches
• February 1:  All paperwork is fully signed and returned to Global Cow
• February 15:  Visa documentation sent to potential participants
• early April:  Orientation

JUNE ORIENTATION

• April 1: Application deadlines for participant;English tests also all completed by this date
• April 3:  Conditional acceptance decision notification sent to all potential participants
• April 10: Host farms accept the potential matches; participants also accept the matches
• April 15:  All paperwork is fully signed and returned to Global Cow
• May 1:  Visa documentation sent to potential participants
• mid to late June:  Orientation

AUGUST ORIENTATION

• June 1: Application deadlines for participant;English tests also all completed by this date
• June 3:  Conditional acceptance decision notification sent to all potential participants
• June 10: Host farms accept the potential matches; participants also accept the matches
• June 15:  All paperwork is fully signed and returned to Global Cow
• July 1:  Visa documentation sent to potential participants
• mid to late August:  Orientation

OCTOBER ORIENTATION

• July 15: Application deadlines for participant;English tests also all completed by this date
• July 18:  Conditional acceptance decision notification sent to all potential participants
• July 30: Host farms accept the potential matches; participants also accept the matches
• August 5:  All paperwork is fully signed and returned to Global Cow
• August 15:  Visa documentation sent to potential participants
• very late September to very early October: Orientation (this is combined with World Dairy Expo)

DECEMBER ORIENTATION

• September 15: Application deadlines for participant;English tests also all completed by this date
• September 18:  Conditional acceptance decision notification sent to all potential participants
• September 20: Host farms accept the potential matches; participants also accept the matches
• September 30: All paperwork is fully signed and returned to Global Cow
• October 15:  Visa documentation sent to potential participants
• early December:  Orientation