BSG Interns - Apply for your Pan Atlantic Programme

A guide for BSG Interns applicants

Completing your application successfully

There are various steps to the process - and each must be followed correctly to ensure a correctly completed application.

Please view the slideshow to make sure you understand the application - and make sure you have the correct documents to upload into your account.

Please make sure you read all the instructions and bookmark this page to help ensure your application is completed correctly!

*If you do not yet have all your supporting documents when you start your application, we recommend uploading a blank document and replacing it when you have these to hand. This will allow you to progress through the application and complete the other areas.

Understand the difference between the Programmes

  • J1 Intern

    FULL TIME UNIVERSITY LEVEL STUDENTS OR THOSE STARTING THEIR PROGRAMME IN THE USA WITHIN 12 MONTHS OF GRADUATING

    Your degree or qualification must be hospitality related

  • J1 Trainee

    GRADUATES WITH AT LEAST 12 MONTHS FULL TIME WORK EXPERIENCE IN HOSPITALITY

    If you do not have a degree or related professional qualification you will need to be able to prove at least 5 years full time work experience in hospitality

The Application

The application process is simple to understand and can be done on any computer - but there are some documents you will need to add into your account in order to complete the process!

We recommend having these to hand when completing the application, but if you don't have them yet, don't worry - you can save your progress as you move through the application and enter them in at a later date.

  • Copy of Passport ID Page

  • Confirmation of student status or proof of award/ degree

  • J1 Trainees only: 2 Reference Letters - These can be either from previous employers or academic reference and employers reference showing a minimum of 12 months full time work experience
    If you do not have a degree or equivalent qualification you will need to provide letters confirming at least 5 years full time work experience
    *REFERENCE LETTERS FROM EMPLOYERS BASED IN THE USA CAN NOT BE ACCEPTED.

  • Programme Fees Form: This can be completed online and uploaded to your account. See below

You must ensure these documents are uploaded into your online account.

If any of these are missing, we will not review or move forward with the process

Step 1: Create your account in the Pan Atlantic system

Do not start this step until you have registered above

You will need to create your account on this page

The first time you log in you will need to tick New User

Username: Use something easy to remember

Password: We recommend using a unique password on this website - you should not repeat passwords on different sites if possible!

Email: If possible we advise using a personal email rather than a university one as some university email systems put automated email notifications into spam and junk folders!

Top Tip: If you're doing this on a phone, take a screenshot and email it to yourself with your password. If you're completing it on a computer, you can take a picture of the screen and save this. This may save you time later

A Step by Step guide to completing your online Pan Atlantic application

Click on any of the sections below for instructions and guidance on completing your application.
We strongly recommend you use this as a guide to avoid mistakes and delays!

  • Please read the information on this page and then sign at the bottom.

    If you're on a computer, you'll need to use your mouse to write your signature- we know this is hard (we can't do it very well!), but as long as it's signed, you're OK.

    If you're using a tablet or mobile, just draw on the screen.

    Once you've done this, hit SAVE PROGRESS and then NEXT

  • Your name must be as it appears in your passport
    You will need a Skype ID (this is required for the interview and orientation later in the process! If you don't have a Skype Account, you can create one for free here

    Required Documents in this section:
    Resume/CV
    Offer letter from your US Host Company

    If you are currently in full time education of will start your programme in the USA within 12 months of finishing studies, choose INTERN

    If (at the start date of your program in the US) you are more than 12 months out of full time studies and have at least 12 months full time work experience, choose TRAINEE

    If you do not have a relevant qualification (at least 2 years in duration) you must be able to show at least 5 years full time work experience in your field - choose TRAINEE

    If you do not have these documents yet, please upload a blank file into the boxes and then log back in to your account and replace this as soon as you have them.

  • Enter your home and mailing address here.

    This must be a full address including house/ flat number, street and postcode

    The SAVE PROGRESS and hit NEXT

  • Please read the information on this page carefully.

    Please have your passport to hand for this section!
    You'll need to enter the details exactly as they appear on the ID page of your passport

    *You'll only need to enter the Year of Naturalization if you previously held citizenship and a passport for another country.

    Then please upload a clear image of the ID page of your passport (making sure all the numbers are clear and your picture can be clearly seen.

    SAVE PROGRESS and hit NEXT

  • If you have had a previous J1 Visa, please answer YES (if you have travelled to the US as a tourist/ ESTA or on a different type of visa previously please answer No).

    You will then be required to provide information of this previous J1 Visa, including a copy of your previous DS-7002 Training Plan.

    Please note: Your J1 Sponsor will be the organisation you went through to get your sponsorship (the company that issued your DS-2019 Certificate). It is not the name of your previous employer in the USA

    If you have previously been denied any type of visa to the USA (for example been denied a visa at a US Embassy interview), or have a criminal record in ANY country, please contact our team with details and we will advise accordingly. Email us at bsg@istplus.com

    Save Progress and hit Next

  • Please enter the name and contact details of a family member outside the USA

  • You should enter your most recent university or college first.

    You will also need to upload a proof of student status (in the form of a letter confirming your current student status) OR if you have graduated, proof of your academic award.

    If your degree is not directly linked to hospitality or tourism you will need to provide a letter from your tutor or course leader showing why the internship is integral to your studies, preferably with demonstrable links to academic modules.

    If you have not attended a university or college and are not studying/ have not received an award in your field, please uncheck the "yes" box and choose the "no" box.

    J1 Trainees:

    If you choose "no", you will need to ensure your resume/CV shows at least 5 years full time work experience in your chosen field.

    If you have a relevant qualification, you will need to be able to show at least 1 year of full time work experience in your chosen field in addition to your qualification.

  • Please list your two most recent employers, starting with the most recent first.

    You must include full details including address and phone number.
    If you have more than two prior employers, please ensure that they are listed on the resume that you uploaded earlier in the application.

    If you are a J1 Intern and only have one previous employer, this is fine - only one employer name and detail is required

  • One reference is required but you may need two.

    A reference is a letter of recommendation from an employer or manager for whom you have worked.
    The letter(s) must support at least 1 year of relevant experience (if you have a degree) or 5 years of experience if you do not have a degree.

    These letters must be signed, written on company letterhead, and directly reference the dates you worked for the company as well as your name and the relationship you have had with the person writing the letter.

    Please note we can not accept letters from US based employers (ie previous internships or US work based experience)

    If your letters do not meet the requirements above, your application will be rejected

  • Please upload your signed Fee Form.

    This acknowledges that you have received and reviewed pricing information prior to applying for the J1 program.


    If you are not a NATIVE English speaker (a passport holder of a country where English is the main language) you will also need to upload the English language/ interview form provided to you by BSG Interns in this section

  • We recommend entering a few sentences in each to give the team a more rounded understanding of who you are!

  • This is the final section!

    Please read the information carefully and sign at the bottom.

    DO NOT HIT SUBMIT!
    Please email our team to confirm you have completed your application and are ready to move forward with the process
    bsg@istplus.com

Application Completed - What now?

If your application is complete and ready to move forward, Email us at bsg@istplus.com to confirm or use the contact form at the bottom of this page

You should allow 5-7 working days for an initial review of your application.

Please make sure all your information is correct and all required documents have been uploaded. You may be subject to additional charges if multiple reviews are required as a result of an incomplete application.

When your application is complete we will be able to upload an approved training plan into your online account

At this point we will also request payment of programme fees

These will need to be paid immediately upon receipt of the invoice we send you.

Once we receive confirmation of your payment, we will submit the completed application to Pan Atlantic.

Shortly after this, we will also invoice your US Host Company for their agreed portion of your programmes fees. Please note: If your US Company delays payment of your programme fees we may be forced to delay your legal documentation

Next Steps

Once you have emailed our team to confirm you are ready to move forward with the application, we will email you a payment request.

Once payment has been made, we will be able to submit your completed application to our colleagues in the USA for processing.

Below is an outline of the process - each application is assessed individually however, so timelines and processes vary

We strongly recommend allowing a minimum 6 weeks for this - and significantly more in the busy periods of the year such as the months leading up to June. Embassies are much busier during these times, and wait times for interviews will be much longer!

1: Pan Atlantic receives your application:

As part of the process, Pan Atlantic will review the training plan you've uploaded into your application.

They'll email a copy of this to your supervisor at your US Host Company and once this has been signed, you'll get an email asking you to sign as well.

This email will come from AdobeSign or DocuSign - so keep an eye out for it!

2: Orientation

Completion of a Pan Atlantic orientation is required for all Pan Atlantic Program participants, including repeat participants, and Pan Atlantic will provide a complete orientation program. Pan Atlantic will make orientation available via telephone, Skype or a web-based system.

Orientation completion will be tracked for each participant and failure to complete an orientation may lead to withdrawal of program sponsorship for the participant.

3: After Approval

Once your application has been approved, Pan Atlantic will move forward with issuing your SEVIS ID. You will need this to start the process of booking your face to face interview at your local US Embassy or Consulate

4: Pay Your I-901 SEVIS Fee

You will need to make this payment at least 3 days before your face to face interview. Pan Atlantic will provide you with instructions, but you can also see these on our US Embassy page.
The US Embassy will not accept your application unless you have done this.

Pan Atlantic will email you instructions on how to make payment.

If you are denied a visa based on non-payment of SEVIS, you will not receive any refund of your programme fees

5: Attend you face to face visa interview

At your face to face interview at your local Embassy or Consulate, you will be required to answer some questions about your training plan, your plans for when you return home and other details.

You should ensure you are familiar with all details of your internship or traineeship

You will also be required to provide biometric data (fingerprints).

6: After the interview

Immediately contact your Pan Atlantic representative you inform them of the visa result.

They will advise you on next steps

7: On arrival in the USA

Immediately contact your Pan Atlantic representative to inform them of your arrival and register in SEVIS

Extended “Split” Programmes

An extension to your programme (for example those participants on the "split programme" only extends your eligibility to remain in the USA for the purposes of extending your training.
It does not extend the original J1 visa you were issued by the US Embassy in your home country

As such, any travel outside the United States during a programme extension will require you to apply for a new J1 visa at your local US Embassy in order to gain a new J1 visa that matches the dates of your revised DS-2019 Certificate (showing the extension dates).
If you travel outside the US while on an extended programme, you will not be allowed to re-enter the US without this new J1 Visa.

This all also involve completing a new DS-160, booking an embassy interview (unless you are granted an interview waiver in your home country) and paying a new MRV fee to your local US Embassy.

We strongly advise against travel outside the USA during an extension period, and participants who choose to do this do so at their own risk.

It is also vital that at any time during your programme, should you travel outside the United States for any reason, you inform Pan Atlantic well in advance to allow this period outside of training.

Contact us.

IST Plus
Camberwell Business Centre
99-103 Lomond Grove
London
SE5 7HN

bsg@istplus.com