1. What is Direct Placement?
A direct placement is defined as a first-time J-1 Camp Counselor applicant who presents Camp America with proof of a confirmed placement (such as an official camp contract, offer letter, or confirmation email stating their position and arrival/departure dates) at the very first point of contact with us.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Prior contact with us: This route is only available if your very first interaction with Camp America happens after you have received your camp placement. If you have already entered our system whether by registering on the website, signing up for email updates, or sharing your details at a fair or event, you will not be able to apply as a direct placement. To qualify, your contract or offer letter must be in hand before you submit any details to us.
- First-time applicants only: This program is strictly for individuals who have never been to camp before and have never applied to Camp America previously.
- Camp Counselor roles only: This route is strictly for counselor positions; Campower (support staff) are not eligible for direct placement.
- Country restrictions: This route is strictly limited to applicants from countries where Camp America currently operates.
2. Your Role and Requirements
Even though you have already secured your placement, you must still complete Camp America’s standard application process to secure your J-1 Visa sponsorship. To make things easy, here is the exact order of how the process works:
- Step 1: Submit the Verification Form Below – Fill out your details and upload your proof of placement (contract, offer letter, or confirmation email). Once we confirm it is a valid direct placement, we will email you the official instructions to formally apply. Do not attempt to start a standard application profile until you get this email.
- Step 2: Pay Your Program Fee – Once approved you will apply to the program, you will pay your full $600 fee upfront.
- Step 3: Complete Your Application & Background Declarations – Next, you will fill out your Camp America online application. During this step, you must tell us about any medical conditions or if you have ever been arrested, convicted, or investigated by the police. Sharing this info is important because these things can affect whether we can move forward with your application.
- Step 4: Interview with a Camp America Interviewer – You will book and attend a mandatory online interview with one of our interviewers. You must successfully pass this interview to move forward.
- Step 5: Upload Referee details, Complete Police Check (DBS) & Medical Form – After passing your interview, you will upload details of two professional references that comply with our reference policy, upload your Camp America Medical Form, and complete your police check (DBS).
- Step 6: Get Your Visa Papers & Visit the Embassy – Once all your documents are checked and approved, we will issue your sponsorship paperwork (DS-2019) needed for your J-1 Visa. You will then book and attend an in-person interview at the U.S. Embassy to apply for the visa.
- Step 7: Book Your Travel & Head to Camp – Once your visa is secured, and your passport has been returner you can book your flights! Direct placement applicants are in charge of booking and paying for their own flights to America, as Camp America flights are not available.
3. Initial Information & Verification Form
Please complete the fields below.
⚠️ Please Note: This form is not your official Camp America application. This is a pre-screening step simply used to verify that you have a valid direct placement. Once our team reviews and approves your contract, we will email you the official steps to start your application process.
