CEP Visa Application Process/ Flights

Hi guys!

It's been a while since I updated my blog. I apologize for being a slacker. I hope you guys are still with me on my adventure. A lot has happened in the last few weeks. Last month I got on to completing my visa application the nightmarish DS160 form, which took ages. The visa application process is a bit of a long process but to be honest the application isn't that bad as I thought it would be. There are certain steps in the visa application process: -

1) Pay the SEVIS Fee of $35.00 USD.  Which in NZD was $46.73 and make sure to download the confirmation page and print it as you will need to bring the SEVIS confirmation page to your appointment. This was the easiest part of the application process

2) Complete the DS160 form, this is a bit of a nightmare. This form took me a few days to complete even though it could have been done in a few hours, but that is because I kept  putting it off. I'm a slow poke as usual. Remember you can always save, exit and go back to your application with the application ID number. You also need your DS2019 form to complete the application! as it has your program number and all the other important details. The security questions on the form were pretty intense. but, you have nothing to worry about if you haven't committed any offense. But I strongly advise everyone to read each and every single question and go over your answer, as you don't want to tick the wrong answer by accident. I was pretty obsessive and went over those questions a million times before I signed and submitted it. YAY! The most frustrating experience was that my passport photo was not working, but in the end, I enhanced the picture and it worked WOO! You can also download and print a personal copy of your application after you've completed the form, just for your own records. You don't need to bring that to the interview. But you must download and print the DS160 confirmation page as you need to bring it to your visa appointment. Remember if your passport photo  doesn't work on the online application, you can just bring a copy of your photo to the appointment.

3) Pay the DS160 application fee and schedule the appointment. For New Zealand, you go to this website right here and create an account and enter your payment details. The DS160 application fee was $160USD  and it came down to $192NZD. After you have paid the fee now you can book your appointment. You'll be given various time slots that you can select from. You'll also be emailed your appointment confirmation page and your receipt for the payment. You must print the appointment confirmation page. 


Visa Appointment/Interview

The appointment wasn't as scary as I thought it would be. My appointment was scheduled for 8:30 am on the 13th of November. When I arrived at consulate there was a huge line, the appointment didn't take place at the scheduled time. There is security check when you arrive there, you have to put your bags through this x-ray machine and they have the lockers that you can put your bag in for safe keeping, as you're not allowed to take anything in there, except your documents. When you get there you line up at the front of those windows and they will check all your documents and you'll have your fingerprint taken. 

 These are the documents you need to bring to your appointment: -

• DS160 confirmation page
• DS2019 FORM (It's the form that was sent in the FEDEX package.)
• Passport
• Appointment confirmation page
• Student Status form and a scanned copy of your degree/ or a final transcript. (Most people didn't get asked for it, but I did. So bring them just in case. )
• offer letter

After they have checked your documents you wait in the waiting area until your name is called and you go to the interview window. I think I had to wait for about an hour and a half before my name was called. The wait was long, but the interview lasted only about a minute. It wasn't even an interview. The visa officer just asked me questions like: -

What will you be doing there?
When did you graduate from what university?

Then he checked all my documents and took my DS2019 form and passport. I didn't have a copy of my degree with me. So he just gave me the email address and told me that as soon as I send that in It'll be processed and I should have my passport back within a week.  So that was done YAY! that was very easy and not scary at all. I managed to scan and send a copy of my degree on the same day and it was all done YAY! and there is NO ISSUANCE FEE for New Zealanders :D YAY How lucky we are!


On the 20th of November I got an email from the consulate that my passport and visa were collected from the US Embassy/ consulate and were couriered back to me and I got my passport, with my visa sticker in it along with my DS2019 form exactly after a week of having my interview, to be exact it arrived on the 21st of November . YAY now I can officially enter the USA!

I 've already booked my one-way flight! so I depart Auckland on the 12th of January at 7:15 pm on Air New Zealand and arrive in LA on the same day with a 10 hour stop and then I'll land in Orlando on the 13th of Jan at 5:45 am.

Stay tuned  I'll next make a post on the background check!


Have a magical day!

Yay everything  is uploaded to DOC!

The Important Document!

Hi Guys!

Just a quick update!

Well, yesterday evening I finally received my long awaited FedEx package from the Walt Disney World Immigration compliance.The envelope pack contained my DS2019 form, Yay!!It's not a very exciting form, but this is one of the most important document ever! this is the document that I will need to apply for my visa.

On the 28th of October I received an email from FedEx shipment telling me that my envelope was set to arrive on the 31st, but I got it on the 30th, woo! earlier than the expected delivery date. The email contained my tracking number and the cool thing about this was that just by clicking on the number, you could track the progress of the package. So my package went from Memphis, Honolulu and to NSW and then from there it finally arrived at Auckland Airport! On the 30th, I got a call from the FedEx guy telling me that "we have a package for you that has just arrived and we should come and deliver it this afternoon." I was surprised it arrived earlier than the expected date. I went back and checked the progress of my package and it said the estimated delivery time for my package was about 6 pm on the 30th. I desperately waited for it all day, every five minutes I would check my driveway to see if a FedEx vehicle had come. At around 4:30 pm, the FedEx Vehicle pulled up in my driveway and I heard a guy yelling "hey hey" I ran excitedly and  finally received my package woo! I have not got on to filling my visa application form yet, but I will get on to that very soon. I hear it's painful so not looking forward to that, but got to do what I have to do. It's going to be a mission. So that's all I have to say for now. I'll keep updating as I progress further.

Have a magical day

Priya 

All our Dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them!

I haven't had a chance to sit down properly and update my blog as I haven't been functioning like a normal human being for the past few days and as well as the fact that I have been busy! But I am back with another update! and this time I am pleased to announce that I will be continuing by adventures through this blog because I have been ACCEPTED into the program!!! Yay!:):) Its official I am going to DISNEY WORLD!!!:) 

On the 23rd of September at exactly 8:21 am I received my fate, an email with a subject titled CONGRATULATIONS! :):) popped into my inbox. My heart stopped!  An email that kind of looked like this..

After 4 months of waiting, worrying, hoping, dreaming and wishing upon the evening stars, my dreams have finally come true! the agonizing journey with the application process had finally come to a great positive end! The feeling was unbelievable and surreal that I am actually going to be working for the mouse next year in the happiest place on earth!!!! It still hasn't sunk into me. This is a dream come true! It was well worth the wait! I ran out of my room screaming with excitement telling my mum and we hugged and rejoiced together! My dad had called and we had informed him too and he was happy for me. I didn't even eat anything the whole day this exciting news was enough to fill me up!

"No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep on believing, the dreams that you wish will come true.” 

The next thing I did was I accepted my offer on the letter that Disney sent me attached to my congratulations email. My offer letter also contained the links to the immigration papers that Disney sent me, which I will have to print out and show it to the embassy to obtain my J1 Visa. I had to sign into my candidate portal into my dashboard and click "yes" under the offer letter and submit it!  The offer letter showed my role and my pay rate per hr. My role on the program is Operations, this was one of my top role's! so I am very happy I got that! and my pay rate is $9.00 USD per hr. After I accepted my offer Disney sent me an email with a link to pay a one time non-refundable program fee of $154.00 and upload any required documents to DOC if I haven't done so, within the next 14 days of receiving the offer email! but I am up to date with that so I don't need to do anything at this stage. The only two information I am required to update to DOC is my Flight and Visa information, but those aren't due within the next 14 days, so I will get on to that later in the upcoming weeks, when I book my flight and get my visa interview. I paid my program fee on Thursday and as soon as I did that I got my Welcome to the team! email yay! and as well as another email about Mandatory medical insurance coverage, that I would need to get before I depart! My dashboard also changed to the Post-offer stage yay!

 The welcome to the team email contained the links to the on-boarding site and things like pre-arrival checklist that we will need to complete prior to arriving in the United States! I haven't got around to doing any of that. As I have a bit of time to do that so I will keep updating my blog as I go along with the process of my paperwork and all the other things I have to do  within the next few weeks/months before I depart New Zealand. But  for now I will just enjoy the excitement of being accepted! So keep reading!

Welcome to the team email! This picture makes me so happy!!

Have a magical day
Priya

Emotional Rollercoaster

This is not much of an exciting update as I am still waiting to hear from Disney. Its been exactly 5 weeks since I had my Interview with the Disney recruiters. The wait is so painful and agonising. A lot of different emotions are running through me right now. I really don't know what to expect with the wait being this long. Sometimes I get very excited to feeling sad, nervous and hopeless about the fact that what if I got the NLIC (No longer in consideration) email?. The other night I cried thinking  about the fact that what if I don't get in? It's going to be the end of me! but I am trying to think positive. This month is a huge month for me as I have my graduation ceremony coming up on the 30th of September. If I do get an offer from Disney that's going to beat everything it's going to be the best present ever! I badly want it! sure people say that you can try again and again if you don't make it the first time. But I am really hoping to make it in this intake because of the fact that I have met so many amazing people during the whole Journey of my application process so far and I want to be able to go to Disney with them, we have really become a loving Disney family over the past few months.


The recruiters told us that we will hear the results by the end of September and there is only two weeks left till the end of September this week and the next. This week is almost over so it seems very promising. I am really expecting to hear something anytime this week! if not this week, then It definitely has to be early next week and there is no doubt about that.  I have a countdown set on my phone for the possible date for the interview results, but I have a feeling we will hear sooner than that!

Estimated date expecting to hear, but I think it will be sooner than that!

Please keep your fingers crossed for me, I have waited for so long already but they say good things come to those who wait! right! and I really hope when I get the email soon, it will be a positive one and worth the wait!

Have a magical day

Priya

Photography Post (Part 1)

Photography Post ( Part 1): Hello people welcome to my photography page! This wonderful idea was given to me by the lovely Bec! I absolutely love photography! I will be...

Role Checklist!

So I thought while I am waiting to hear the results of my Interview I would do a detailed post on the Roles offered to Australian/ New Zealand applicants on the Disney J1 Australia and New Zealand Cultural Exchange Program  This is the exact copy of the role checklist that I received in my email from Disney recruiting. I had forgotten to copy it down so thanks to my friends and fellow applicants Nichola and Lily who had taken screenshots of the role checklist and copied it down on a word document. 

This is a full list of the roles offered to Australian and New Zealand applicants and what you can expect to do in each of the following roles if you were offered them.

ONE

Operations

·      Working in one of the following areas while monitoring Guest flow and providing a safe Guest experience, retrieving and arranging strollers, and assisting with audience control, including during parades.

Attractions

·      Working at one or more of the "rides" or theater shows

·      Loading and unloading Guests from attractions

·      Operating sophisticated ride systems

·      Memorizing and delivering lengthy narrations to large groups

·      Assisting with emergency evacuations of attractions when necessary

·      Working with FASTPASS®, the ticketing system that distributes attraction ride times

Main Entrance Operations

·      Working at one or more of the following locations: parking, park greeter, ticket operations, and toll plaza areas

·      Greeting all Guests who enter the park and validating their tickets

·      Selling various ticket media at our water parks, Downtown Disney® or Disney's Wide World of Sports® Complex

·      Strong knowledge of Walt Disney World® Resort ticket media

·      Using computerized ticketing systems

TWO

Character Performer

·      Portraying specific costumed character roles

·      Working in hot, confining, heavy costumes with limited range of vision

·      Communicating non-verbally to Guests

·      Signing autographs and posing for photographs

·      Interacting with Guests outside and in dining establishments

·      Must pass audition for this role

THREE

Character Attendant

·      Providing Guests with information about show schedules, character locations and visitation times

·      Providing audience control, including handling challenging Guest situations

·      Ensuring the safety of Character Performers and our Guests

·      Partnering with Photopass photographers

·      Maintaining show quality and character integrity

·      Setting up and removing stanchions, ropes and poles

·      Assisting Character Performers with putting on costumes

·      Retrieving and arranging strollers

FOUR

Merchandise

·      Demonstrating and selling merchandise (including alcohol and tobacco) in indoor and outdoor areas

·      Cash handling - manual and using computerized registers

·      Stocking and cleaning shelves and carts

·      Receiving/putting away stock and deliveries

·      Stroller/wheelchair rental – including repetitive lifting, stacking and pushing strollers and wheelchairs

·      Preparation of food/candy

·      Preparing packages for shipping/delivery

FIVE

Recreation

·      Assisting Guests in one or more recreational areas such as waterslide operations, towel rental, watercraft rental, marina operations, arcades or resort recreational facilities

·      Prolonged exposure to outside weather elements

·      Strong swimming skills

·      Providing first aid and basic life support in the event of injury or illness

·      Keeping recreational areas clean

·      Cash handling - both manual and using computerized registers

·      Maintaining safety standards

·      During off-peak seasons, assisting other operating areas throughout the Walt Disney World Resort

SIX
Resort Hospitality / Front Desk

·      Must be willing to work in all of the following areas but might only work in one: Front Desk, Luggage Services, Dispatch or Telephone Room

·      Checking Guests in and out of resorts and processing payments

·      Assisting Guests with itinerary planning and ticket sales

·      Handling complex Guest situations, problem solving

·      Operating computer-based reservation and ticketing systems

·      Lifting, tagging, and delivering luggage

·      Handling large amounts of cash

·      Answering Guest telephone calls

SEVEN

Concierge

·      Completing check in / check out process for concierge club-level Guests by inputting and retrieving information from resort computer system

·      Proactively greeting Guests, exhibiting the expected high level of Disney show quality

·      Creating individualized ticket packages

·      Being comfortable in a strong sales environment

·      Making reservations and handling any special requests from Guests

·      Handling cash and other forms of payment, including foreign currencies exchange

·      Maintaining cleanliness of common Guest living/dining areas within concierge club-level

·      Assisting with luggage and other deliveries to Guest rooms

·      Working concierge buffet line which can include maintaining overall cleanliness of buffet area and replenishing food, washing dishes, serving alcohol, maintaining inventory of liquor, and partnering with culinary team to ensure food quality

·      Partnering with property VIP tour guides

EIGHT

Quick Service Food and Beverage

·      Selling food and beverages (including alcohol) at outdoor carts and/or indoor restaurants

·      Taking and filling orders, multi-tasking

·      Preparing food items in a kitchen area, including the use of a fryer, grill, broiler and other industrial cooking equipment

·      Cash handling - both manual and using computerized registers

·      Bussing tables, cleaning kitchen equipment and emptying trash cans

·      Setting and stocking tables, outdoor cars and restaurants

·      Heavy lifting, pushing heavy carts

·      Working with cleaning chemicals

NINE

Lifeguard

·      Monitoring Guest's safety in water and on slide/attractions

·      Physically challenging work and prolonged exposure to outside elements

·      Providing first aid and basic life support in the event of Guest injury or illness

·      Strong swimming skills

·      During off-peak seasons, assisting other operating areas throughout the Walt Disney World® Resort, including performing roles other than lifeguarding

·      NOTE: Each individual must be evaluated and certified at the Walt Disney World Resort.  All lifeguards must pass a swim test and a vision screening.  In the event you do not pass the swim test described below, you may be placed in another role based on availability.

o   Swim 200 yards (183 meters) freestyle or breaststroke

o   Retrieve a 10-lb (4.5 kg) brick from the deepest section of the pool

o   Tread water with hands out of the water for two minutes

TEN

Full Service Food and Beverage - non-tipped

·      Greeting and seating Guests in restaurants

·      Managing a seating chart and resolving Guest situations

·      Utilizing a computerized reservation/seating system

·      Cash handling - both manual and using computerized registers

·      Rolling silverware, folding napkins, and keeping area stocked

·      Light cleaning, multi-tasking

ELEVEN

Vacation Planner

·      Selling ticket media to Guests

·      Responsible for achieving monthly sales goals and maintaining minimum sales

·      Working with a computerized ticket system, offering Guests tickets from a menu of over 128 different ticket configurations

·      Strong knowledge of the Walt Disney World Resort and its ticket media

·      Understanding the Guests' needs to help them select the right-fit ticket

·      Be able to work under pressure, overcoming Guest objections

·      Assisting with audience control, including during parades

·      May work at all four Theme Parks in any given week

TWELVE

Costuming

·   

·      Operating computerized costume checkout system

·      Working around performers in various stages of dress

·      Operating basic laundry equipment

·      Repetitive overhead reaching, bending and heavy lifting

·      Moving heavy costumes for location to location

·      Handling and laundering soiled garments

·      Working independently, with minimal to no Guest interaction

THIRTEEN

Custodial

·      High Guest interaction while working independently

·      Extensive cleaning – including restrooms and toilets

·      Working with cleaning chemicals and equipment

·      Bussing tables in restaurants and outdoors

·      Sweeping and mopping

·      Emptying trash cans, lifting heavy garbage bags

·      Driving pargo carts

·      Vacuuming, dusting, and cleaning pool decks

On the Role checklist you are asked to indicate your preferences for each and every role that is on the checklist from High Interest, Moderate Interest, Low Interest or No Interest. All you have to do is just select the options from the little box beside each role on the checklist and when that is done, you electronically sign your name by filling in your full name, date and agreeing to the terms and conditions and click the submit button.

Screenshot of the Role Checklist!

One Step Closer! The Golden Day - Presentation, Interview and the waiting!

Finally, Thursday 7th of August, the most-awaited day, had arrived! This was the day of the interview and the presentation. The presentation was held at my university, the University of Auckland. It made me feel less nervous as I was already familiar with the place. The previous night I had set the alarm for 4:30 am, I know crazy huh! My alarm went off in the morning at a set time, but I went back to sleep woke up at 5:00 am. I got ready quickly and left the house at around 6:15 am because I had to catch the bus. I left very early because I wanted to get there one hour early just in case something went wrong with the transportation. I didn’t want to make a bad first impression by walking in late to the presentation. All these horrible thoughts were going through my mind, but just to be on the safe side I left home early and reached university at 7:00 am and headed straight to the building where the presentation was to take place I was an hour early and Sophie showed up so we just sat there chatting and waited until 8 am. 

Finally, it was time for the presentation. I knew what to expect at the presentation because I had already been once back in March, but I was still very excited. The Disney International recruiters Jill and Scott held the presentation. They were very friendly people and they made the presentation even more exciting. During the presentation, we were shown the videos about Disney World and the recruiters talked us about all the things in detail about the program such as different housing complex we can live in during our program that Disney provides, transportation to and from work and all roles offered on the program, visas, airfares.

There was a little quiz about Disney World and people who answered it correctly won a prize, which was the Disney, luggage tag. It was a fun and very exciting 1-hour presentation. After that, I had to wait a few hours because my interview slot was between 1-2 pm. So I just met up with a friend and went for a coffee and muffin.

At around 12:30, I made my way to the interview location which was the university clock tower. I was about half and hour early. I saw a few people sitting outside waiting to be called in to be interviewed so I just sat there chatting away with another guy, about the program. Most of the people I saw at the interview turned up in casual clothes; however, I turned up in the ‘Disney look’ just to be on the safe side. For those of you who do not know what a 'Disney look' is for an interview 'Disney look' in other words means wearing casual business attire. Although it isn’t compulsory to wear them to the interview, but its nice to make a good first impression but if you don’t turn up in the Disney look don’t stress about it.

For those of you who don't know Disney requires its cast members and employees to comply with that particular look, such as no tattoos no piercings, you have to have your nails cut.  Girls if you are going to be wearing makeup then it should be very light and men should make sure their hair is cut to the right length. If you have tattoos, you will need to cover it up. For more detailed information on the 'Disney look' you can check out the link here.

The nerves were already kicking in, but I tried to stay calm until finally I was called in to be interviewed. It wasn’t exactly at 1 but around 12:40 pm due to fewer people there so it was a bit earlier than my usual selected time slot.

I was interviewed by Scott who is the head recruiter of Disney he was a very friendly person. I am glad I got Scott. In my last post, I talked about how Sophie and I went to see careers adviser who said “there is no such thing as a casual interview." Boy, was he absolutely wrong! The interview was a very friendly relaxed casual chat indeed. With a friend who happens to work for Disney. Scott was really cool. He has been with Disney for 27 years, how lucky is that? He is totally living the dream. It was such a casual relaxed conversation. He asked me where I was from and we started to chat about India. The only questions I was asked were:

• What are you studying?
• Why do you want to do the program?
• What are your top 2 roles?
• What I want to do in the future?
• What work experience do you have?
• Where am I from?
• Any tattoos and piercings?                        

There were a few more I was asked, but these are the only questions I can remember so far. They were very basic questions, the interview lasted about 15-20min but I wasn’t exactly aware of the time because I had so much fun.

When asked about my top 2 roles I emphasized I would love to do attractions so fingers crossed that if I do get accepted into the program I get that role. I would love to work at EPCOT in Captain EO, because I am a huge Michael Jackson fan. Nothing is more perfect than MJ and Disney combined, but I guess I will just have to wait and see what role I get put into. If I do get attractions then somehow I am going to try and put in a request for Captain EO. Though I would just be happy to be there no matter what role I get put into. At the end of the interview, you will have time to ask questions, so it’s always good to prepare the questions beforehand, and make sure they are good questions. The questions that I asked were:

• When can we expect to hear after the interview? 

• What are things you I could do in my spare time to experience more of the American culture? 

Scott said that this was a good question. It’s good to ask these kinds of questions because the recruiters want to know that you’re not doing the program to just have fun, but you want to learn and experience the American culture. After all it is a cultural exchange program, they encourage you to go around and experience as much of the American culture as you can.

The other question I had at the back of my mind was:

Will I have time to travel around America at the end of the program? 

But that was already answered during my presentation anyway so I didn’t bother asking that. The answer is yes, during the end of the program you have 30 days to travel on your J1 visa.

After that it was all over. I felt very good about how it went and hopefully I have set a good impression. My advice to all the future applicants is: If you apply for the program and you grab an interview just relax and be yourself. Don’t be nervous and most importantly remember to smile and show your enthusiasm. So two days after the interview I received the thanks for interviewing email and my Disney dashboard changed from Interview stage to Post Interview Stage. Yay!

So this is where I am currently. I have my fingers and toes crossed. I was told that I would hear about the offers (hopefully) by the end of September, the wait between my interview and my (hopeful) acceptance into the program is very nerve racking and exciting at the same time. The anticipation and the excitement are just ridiculous! I badly want it! So hopefully I will make it! The next time you will hear from me is if I am, accepted into the program (hopefully).

Have a magical day

Priya