Program Termination and Cancellation

If you are terminated, your name goes on a list to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  They will check to ensure that you leave the U.S., and if you don't, they can detain and deport you.

If you are terminated, your name goes on a list to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  They will check to ensure that you leave the U.S., and if you don't, they can detain and deport you.

Program Termination

As a guest of the U.S. Government, there are special rules that you must follow. If you break these rules, ERDT must use termination to tell the U.S. Government, “This student cannot be trusted to follow the rules and stay safe. We cannot take responsibility for this student anymore.”

When your program is terminated, several things happen:

  • You must return home immediately, or your name will be put on a list of illegal aliens to be found, detained and deported by U.S. Immigration.

  • A permanent mark is put on your immigration record. This could affect your ability to get a U.S. visa for the rest of your life.

Several of the steps you must take to avoid termination occur in the beginning of your program:

  • You must arrive to your employer within 1-2 days of the program start date on your DS-2019 Form.

    • If you will be more than 1-2 days late for your program, email your employer and ERDT immediately.

    • If you come to the U.S. and go to live or work somewhere that is not listed on your job offer, we will find out, and we will terminate your program immediately.

    • If you arrive in the U.S. and lose your bags / wallet / ticket, get sick, or miss your flight, you may not just stop and stay with friends. Contact ERDT immediately.

  • You must work for your assigned employer for at least 3 weeks.

    • If you arrive in the U.S. and have sudden health problems that prevent you from working at your assigned job, you must visit a doctor in the U.S. and get a note stating why you cannot do that job. Send this to ERDT and we will let you know if you may leave the job early.

    • If you arrive in the U.S. and find that your job or housing is different than was stated on your job offer, contact ERDT for help. Remember that the hours on your job offer are an average, and you may not get this many hours during your first weeks in the U.S. Having lower hours in your first 3 weeks is not a valid reason to leave your job early.

    • If you are fired from your job for poor performance before you have worked there for 3 weeks, it is same as if you quit your job, and your program will be terminated.

    • Read Quitting Your Job or Being Fired for more information.

  • You must complete SEVIS Step 1: Check-In within 24 hours of arrival

  • You must complete SEVIS Step 2: Post Arrival Orientation within 1 week of arrival.

Other reasons ERDT would have to terminate your program:

  • If you do not submit a Housing Request within 1 week after changing your housing.

  • If you begin working or training at a new job or 2nd job before completing a Job Request.

  • If you don't respond to emails from ERDT within 1 week, during your entire program. Be sure that emails from emily@erdtworkandtravel.org and noreply@erdt.hanovercrm.com never go to spam!

Why have ERDT students been terminated recently?

In the past 3 years:

  • 6 students were terminated for not responding to ERDT's emails

  • 4 students were terminated for working at a second job without getting ERDT's permission

  • 1 student was terminated for moving to a new address and not informing ERDT.

  • 3 students were terminated for not working for the employer on their DS form for at least 3 weeks

Don't be a statistic! Know the rules & follow them!

Program Cancellation

Cancellation just means that your program is ending early. Put simply, ERDT would cancel your program if you will no longer be working. Cancellation shows that you have begun the “Travel” portion of your Work and Travel program.

Cancellation is different than termination:

  • The date of cancellation will be your new program end date.

  • You will still have the 30 day grace period after program cancellation in which to travel. This may mean you need to change your flight date so that you are not here illegally.

  • Your record with the embassy will simply show that your program dates changed. This will not affect your future ability to get a visa.

Reasons ERDT would cancel your program:

  • If you decide to quit your job and begin traveling early

  • If you quit your job and cannot find a new job within 3 weeks

  • If you move to a big city

  • If you move to an area without seasonal employment

  • If you move to the home of a relative or family friend, or near to a relative or family friend