H1N1 Flu Outbreak Prevents Ural Students from Going to the USA

27.05.2009 — News

THE SVERDLOVSK OBLAST.

Students of Ekaterinburg universities no longer want to go to the USA for summer work. This is due to the decrease in demand for Russian workers in the USA and the H1N1 flu outbreak.

In 2009 only 10 students are willing to participate in Work and Travel international student exchange programme. The number of participants decreased several times as compared to the previous year. Most of them will be working as lifeguards for 7 dollars per hour. Russian students try to squeeze two shifts a day, thus increasing their working time from standard 30-40 hours to 60-70 hours a week. Some of them will earn as much as 5000 dollars during summer.

RusBusinessNews was told by the Education Abroad centre (Ekaterinburg) that the participation fee for this programme is 500 dollars. In additional, work permit, visa and medical insurance should also be covered by the participant. Total costs of participation in this programme (including plane tickets to the USA) are over 1,700 dollars.

Work and Travel international student exchange programme was developed with the support of the USA State Department. Work and Travel participants have a right to work in the USA for 3 months, and after that can travel across the country for up to 1 month.