Seraphine Ngugi from Kenya participated in an 18 month program training in foster care.

CORE PROGRAM

Program Description

The Core Program places international professionals in one of CIPUSA’s eight affiliate cities or in CIPUSA’s headquarters in Cleveland. The program is coordinated by our affiliate offices, which manage participant training experiences, cultural needs and compensation. This program places international professionals in training internships or training sites according to each participant’s interests, learning needs and goals. Training sites include non-profit organizations, government agencies, and businesses throughout the United States.

Trainees live with host families and participate in arranged cultural activities. Our affiliate offices coordinate the arrivals of their Core trainees. This creates a group of international professionals that have the opportunity to socialize, learn from and support each other throughout their programs.

• CIPUSA Core Program Information and Application Process

• Downloadable Forms

• Core Program Placements

• Trainee and CIPUSA Responsibilities

• After submitting an application to CIPUSA

• CIPUSA Core Program Fees

• Acceptance to CIPUSA
  

CIPUSA’s affiliates design quality training programs for Core program trainees in a variety of fields. Training programs are up to 18 months in length. Past training sites include:

Trainee and CIPUSA responsibilities

The trainee is responsible for:

• Roundtrip airfare
• Program administration fee
• ($700-$1,500 depending on the length of the training program)
• Health insurance
• Money for personal expenses (approximately $200-$500 per month)
• Flexibility and commitment to learning and professional development

CIPUSA and its affiliate offices will provide:

• A well designed training plan created by the affiliate and training site
• Sponsorship for the J-1 training visa by arranging the DS 2019 forms
• Health insurance if needed
• Orientation to the U.S. and the affiliate city
• Room/board through host family living (for programs beyond four months apartment living with a roommate is provided)
• A local transportation stipend and in some cases a small living stipend
• Cultural or educational activities
• Evaluations throughout the program
• Support throughout the program

CIPUSA Core Program Information and Application Process
If you would like to participate in CIPUSA’s Core program please download the CIPUSA Core Information packet and CIPUSA Core Application. If you are unable to download the application please email info@cipusa.org to request an application package sent to you by regular mail.

After submitting an application to CIPUSA
Once CIPUSA receives the completed application form and $35 application fee CIPUSA will begin reviewing the application. An approved CIPUSA staff member or recruiter will interview the trainee. The CIPUSA application review process is as follows:

CIPUSA will review the application and if it meets CIPUSA requirements it will be submitted to the affiliate offices for further review. (review takes up to two months) A letter will be sent to all applicants to notify them of the receipt of their application. Letters will also be sent to applicants notifying them of their status throughout the process.

The CIPUSA affiliate offices will review the applications and select those they think are possible for placement in their cities. (review takes up to two months).

If the application is selected the participant will receive a letter stating which affiliate office has selected the trainee. If a participant is not selected, CIPUSA will keep the application on file for one year, if a placement becomes available CIPUSA will inform the participant via letter.

Due to the intensive nature of finding training placements the process for securing Core Program placements can take up to one year. The affiliate office may contact the trainee regularly to get details about the trainee’s placement desires.

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CIPUSA Core Program Fees
CIPUSA Administrative fees for the Core Program are based on a sliding scale to account for differences in general standards of living and are as follows:

Trainee Duration	1-2 Months	3-6 Months	7-18 Months
Developing Country	$700	$800	$1,000
Developed Country	$1,000	$1,250	$1,500

Developing countries are considered those in Africa, South America, Central America, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe. Developed countries are those located in North America, Western Europe, Northeast Asia and Australia. Please contact CIPUSA for further clarification.

In addition to the CIPUSA fee all J-1 trainees are now subject to a $100 USD SEVIS fee. This fee is being imposed to support the U.S. Government Student Exchange and Visitor Information System to maintain accurate and secure information on exchange visitors to the United States. This fee must be paid prior to your U.S. Embassy visit. U.S. Embassies will not issue a J-1 visa until this fee has been paid. CIPUSA will process this fee on behalf of the trainee. For further information about SEVIS please visit the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement web site at http://www.ice.gov/graphics/sevis/index.htm.

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Once an affiliate has secured a placement; the trainee will be notified by email. At this point the trainee will be required to pay $350 USD to CIPUSA to cover a $100 USD SEVIS fee to the U.S. government and part of the participant’s administrative fee. The remainder of the administrative fee will be due upon arrival to the Affiliate Director.

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