JET Program - Official Website (USA)


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	Application Timeline JET PROGRAM INFO SESSIONS: September-November JET Program representatives visit college career fairs and hold on-campus information sessions. This is an opportunity for applicants to learn more about the Program from alumni who have experienced life on JET Program and can answer questions about the application process. Check the calendar for listings of career fairs or information sessions near you. APPLICATION BECOMES AVAILABLE: October/November The 2013 JET Program application is now available. You will find more information on how to prepare the application on the Application Information page. Please read all instructions carefully APPLICATION DEADLINE: November/December Please note that this is NOT a "post-marked by" deadline date. A complete package of all application materials must be mailed or hand-delivered to: JET Program Office Embassy of Japan 2520 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20008 Please follow the 2013 Checklist & Mailing Instructions to ensure proper submission of the completed application package. INITIAL SCREENING: December/ January Applications will be read and reviewed at the Embassy during December 2012 and January 2013. Upon processing, the JET Program will send confirmation cards to all applicants. The confirmation card confirms receipt of your application in the mail. Applications will be processed in the order received, and some applicants may not receive the confirmation cards until the end of January. Do not call the Embassy to inquire about receipt of your application until the end of January. Applicants are strongly encouraged to purchase delivery notification when mailing applications. INTERVIEW CANDIDATES ANNOUNCED: January/ February IMPORTANT: By early February, ID numbers of applicants who are selected as interview candidates will be announced on this website. All applicants will receive ID numbers upon creating accounts on our online application. These are the same numbers that appear on the main application when it is submitted electronically. The ID number will also be written on the confirmation card. Applicants who pass to the interview stage will be contacted by the coordinator at their requested interview location. Those who are not contacted and who do not find their ID number on the PDF on this website should assume that they did not pass. Do not call the Embassy or Consulates to check the status of your application. INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED: February Applicants who passed the initial screening will be interviewed at the Embassy or one of the 16 Japanese consulates located in the U.S. and Guam (or other designated interview locations as listed in Table 2), as indicated on the application form. Interview dates and other details will be sent to interviewees by the Embassy or Consulate that they chose for their interview location. Interviews are generally held in mid-February (although this is subject to change). All transportation costs and other expenses to and from the interview site are to be borne by the applicant. Note about interviews: If you make it to the interview stage of the application process, you must have your interview in the US in February 2013. Choose your interview location with this in mind, as it cannot be changed once notification has been sent. Telephone interviews or interviews in other countries are not possible for US applicants. RESULTS ANNOUNCED: Regular Departure Candidates: Early-Mid April Early Departure Candidates: Late March-Early April Final interview results will be announced to successful, unsuccessful, and alternate candidates in early-mid April. Alternate candidates will be upgraded as needed, until the end of December. Short-List Candidate: Applicants who pass the interview stage of the screening process at the Embassy or one of the Consulates receive notification that they have been selected to participate and are scheduled for placement. Alternates: Applicants who pass the interview stage of the screening process but are not selected for the short-list. Alternates will be upgraded when short-list candidates decline positions or withdraw from the Program. Therefore, the number of alternates who are upgraded depends on the number of short-list candidates who decline postings in a particular year. The JET Program upgrades alternates on an as-needed basis through the summer and fall. Participants: Short-list candidates who agree to participate by sending in their Reply Forms and for whom contracting organizations (placements) have been selected. PLACEMENT NOTIFICATION: Regular Departure Candidates: May-June Early Departure Candidates: Late March-Early April Once a short-list candidate accepts a position and sends in the Reply Form, CLAIR, along with related organizations, will assign the candidate to a contracting organization (see Terms & Conditions). After a contracting organization is selected, short-list candidates will be notified of their placement assignments. An unofficial Notice of Appointment, Terms and Conditions of Employment, and other materials, will be sent from the contracting organization to the participant. However, if it becomes clear that there is some factor restricting a short-list candidate’s ability to fulfill the duties of the job or if a contracting organization cannot be found for an applicant, placement may not be possible. If it is determined that the factors which hindered the candidate’s ability to perform the duties of the job no longer exist the following year, the candidate will not be required to complete an application form if he or she still wishes to re-apply to the JET Program. PROCESSING OF ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: April-July Regular Departure Candidates: Successful applicants and upgraded alternates will be required to submit (1) FBI Criminal Background Check, (2) Certificate of Health, signed by a licensed, practicing physician, (3) Proof of US Residency from the IRS (forms 8802, 6166), (4) photographs for visa application, and (5) proof of graduation (if graduating between the application deadline and July 1, 2013). If you are unable to provide proof of degree conferment by July 1, 2013, you will be disqualified from the program. Alternate candidates will also need to begin the process for their FBI Identification Records and Proof of US Residency in April, if they intend to remain on the wait list. Details on these requirements and additional pre-departure preparations will be provided to participants by the Embassy and each Consulate in the spring. Early Departure Candidates: Successful candidates will be contacted by their interview consulate regarding additional required documentation. Due to the short time period between the results announcement and departure for Japan, candidates will have a narrrower window in which to submit necessary documents. FBI Criminal Background Check: All successful short-list candidates and alternates will be required to obtain a Criminal Background Check from the FBI and submit it to the Embassy or Consulate General where they interview prior to departure for Japan. Those who have lived in any foreign countries for more than one year continuously in the preceding five years must also submit a criminal background check for those countries. Failure to submit these documents without sufficient reason or if evidence of a criminal history appears on a candidate’s record that was previously undisclosed, said candidate may be disqualified from the JET Program as detailed under “Disqualification."