AJ1 J-1 Cultural Exchange Participants are eligible to purchase Travel Supplemental Insurance Coverage, hereafter referred to “Travel Insurance” that will assist in covering expenses paid in association with their Intern/Training/SWT J-1 BridgeUSA Programs due to any of the following:  

 

• Travel/Trip Cancellation 

• Travel/Trip Delay 

• Travel/Trip Interruption. 

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: 

What is the cost? 

$110.00 

 

When is payment due?          

At the same time as J-1 BridgeUSA Program fees 

 

What are the policy dates? 

Participants must notify AJ1 of their visa approval, your policy will go effective the date you notify AJ1 of your visa approval.    

 

What happens if my visa is denied? 

Since visa denial is not covered under this policy, AJ1 does not purchase the policy for you until after visa is approved as outlined above.   Therefore, if your visa is denied, AJ1 will reimburse $100.00. 

 

Is this insurance optional? 

AJ1 believes Travel Insurance is important to protect your investment to participate in the J-1 BridgeUSA Program.  As outlined in the AJ1 agreement, once your visa documents have been issued, AJ1 program fees are non-refundable.   This policy helps to insure up to $4500 of your costs associated to participate in the program in event your program is cancelled, delayed, or interrupted (as described below).   Anyone who elects not to purchase the insurance will be required to sign a waiver and release and fully understands fees are non-refundable. 

 

If the program is cancelled due to the reason indicated in the policy where can the insurer file, the claims? Will AJ1 assist the participants? ​

The participant must file the claim directly with the insurance company, AJ1 cannot file the claim on the participant behalf (this is not permitted).  However, AJ1 will assist by providing the participant with a receipt of fees paid to AJ1 to participate in the program.   Participants must keep records of other costs including airline tickets. 

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If the employer ends my program for cause (terminated), will my fees be covered? 

No.  Policy only covers if the employer lay off, ends, or shortens the program for any reason other than terminated for cause.  If your program is terminated FOR CAUSE from Host Employer and/or AJ1, for example, violation of host employer rules, termination from employer under progressive discipline policy or act of gross misconduct.  Violation of AJ1 policy, rules and/or J-1 visa regulations, you will not be entitled to any benefits from the Travel Insurance policy. 

 

 

INSURANCE OVERVIEW 

Please note, this is an overview, for full details please review the Leisure Travel Policy (“Policy”) with Group Policy Number: LTG273750; located in the library.   The “Policy” supersedes this document.    

At the time of paying J-1 BridgeUSA Program fees, participants may choose to purchase the Travel Insurance. The cost of this insurance is $100.00 and will provide insurance coverage that will provide benefits for cancellation of participants program prior to arrival to the United States and interruption of participants program during their time in the United State for covered reasons as described within.  This fee is not part of the J-1 BridgeUSA Program fee and is charged in addition to all other fees. 

 

The maximum amount payable to the participants under this policy is $4500.00.  Coverable expenses include Fees paid to participants home country agency, fees paid to U.S. visa sponsor, airline fees and expenses related to possible quarantine – up to a maximum payout of $4500.00.  This policy will NOT cover fees associated with a visa denial, SEVIS fees or any fees paid to the U.S. Government.  In addition, this policy will not reimburse any fees participants paid for participation in this program should there be any border closures.   

 

This insurance policy is not mandatory, however if participants decide not to purchase this policy, AJ1 will not issue any refunds of paid program fees should the participant withdraw from their program or if their program is cancelled due to any of the causes covered under this policy as stated below.   Please review AJ1’s Refund Policy as outlined in the agreement for full details. 

 

DESCRIPTION OF COVERAGE: ​

Program/Travel Cancellation:   

If your travel is cancelled outright and deemed as covered under the policy by the Insurance Company Insurance Company will reimburse you up to a maximum of $4500.00 if you are prevented from traveling for any of the following covered reasons that take place after the Effective Date: Sickness, Accidental Injury, or death; Being quarantined*, required to serve on a jury, subpoenaed; Natural Disaster; Terrorist Attack; Strike; Breakdown of Common Carrier. *Quarantine coverage is limited up to 14 days maximum and $150.00 per day maximum for food, lodging and transportation. 

Example:  If you have purchased your airline ticket to come to the U.S. and have paid your program fees, and you are unable to come to the U.S. for any of the above stated reasons, the insurance company will reimburse fees you have paid toward your plane ticket and program fees up to $4500.00. (NOTE:  Visa denials and border closures are not a covered expense). 

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Trip Delay: 

Insurance Company will reimburse You up to $4500.00 for Covered Expenses on a one-time basis if You are delayed in route to or from Your Travel for twelve (12) or more hours. You must be a ticketed passenger on a Common Carrier. 

Covered Expenses include charges incurred for reasonable, additional accommodations and traveling expenses until travel becomes possible. Incurred expenses must be accompanied by receipts.  

This benefit is payable only for one delay of the Insured’s Travel. Travel Delay must be caused by one of the following reasons: (a) Injury, Sickness or death of the Insured Person; (b) carrier delay; (c) lost or stolen passport, travel documents or money; (d) Natural Disaster; (e) the Insured being delayed by a traffic accident while in route to a departure; (f) hijacking; 14 (g) unpublished or unannounced strike; (h) civil disorder or commotion; (i) riot; (j) inclement weather which prohibits Common Carrier departure; (k) a Common Carrier strike or other job action; (l) equipment failure of a Common Carrier; or (m) the loss of the Insured's and/or traveling companion's travel documents, tickets or money due to theft.  

The Insured’s Duties in the Event of Loss: The Insured must provide the insurance company with proof of the Travel Delay such as a letter from the airline, / newspaper clipping/ weather report/ police report or the like and proof of the expenses claimed as a result of Trip Delay 

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Program/Travel Interruption: 

Insurance Company will reimburse You up to a maximum of $4500.00 if your program is interrupted and you must return to your home country due to one of the following events that take place after the Effective Date and while you are active in your program: sickness, accidental Injury or death; being quarantined*, natural disaster; terrorist attack; strike; or theft of passports, visas or event passes that has been reported to the local authorities, program cancellation by Host Organization. *Quarantine coverage is limited up to 14 days maximum and $150.00 per day maximum for food, lodging and transportation. 

Example:  If you are in the U.S. and your program is interrupted and you are required to return home for any of the above stated reasons causing you to lose time on your program, the insurance company will reimburse you up to $4500.00 of fees you have paid toward your program and airline fees.  Program fee reimbursement will be based on a pro-rata basis (For Example: if you are ½ way through your program and you must return to your home country due to any of the above-mentioned reasons, the insurance company will only reimburse you for the time remaining on your program that you lost).  Combined maximum payment up to $4500.00. 

 

POLICY EXCLUSIONS: 

Under this policy, you will not be reimbursed for any of the following: 

• Program Terminated FOR CAUSE from Host Employer and/or AJ1.  For example, violation of host employer rules, termination from employer under progressive discipline policy or act of gross misconduct.  Violation of AJ1 policy, rules and/or J-1 visa regulations. 

• Suicide, attempted suicide, or any intentionally self-inflicted injuries while sane or insane.  

• War, invasion, acts of foreign enemies, hostilities between nations (whether declared or not), civil war.  

• Participation in any military maneuver or training exercise. Any loss starting while You are in the service of the armed forces of any country. Orders to active military service for training purposes of two (2) months or less will not constitute service in the forces. Upon notice to insurance company of entering the armed forces, insurance company will return to you on a pro-rata basis for any premium paid, less any benefits paid, for any period during which You are in such service.  

• Piloting or learning to pilot or acting as a member of the crew of any aircraft.  

• Mental or nervous disorders, unless hospitalized.  

• Participation as a professional in athletics. Semi-professional sports.  

• Being under the influence of drugs or intoxicants, unless prescribed by a Physician. Physician cannot be a family member.  

• Pregnancy and/or Childbirth.  

• Commission or the attempt to commit a criminal act.  

• Participating in skydiving; hang gliding; parachuting except parasailing; mountaineering; any race; bungee jumping; speed contest; (speed contest shall not include any of the regatta races;) scuba diving unless accompanied by a dive master and not deeper than thirty (30) feet; spelunking or caving; heli-skiing; extreme skiing.  

• Accidental Injury or Sickness when traveling against the advice of a Physician. Physician cannot be a family member. 

In addition, this policy will not reimburse fees should the following occur preventing your participation in the program:  

• Visa is Denial and Border Closures.   ​

 

 

Please note, should you have to cancel your program for any of the covered reasons listed above, the following fees remain non-refundable:   SEVIS Fees and Visa Fees paid to the U.S. government.