International Student Volunteers

Each Participant must complete and submit the ISV Application. Applications may be submitted online under the “Apply Now!” link above or mailed to the ISV USA office. There is no commitment in submitting an Application as each Applicant must first be accepted to participate on an ISV Program.
Within approximately 10 business days of receiving an Application, ISV will contact the Applicant in regards to: a) Acceptance into the Program, b) Non-acceptance, or c) Our need for more information.
If accepted, ISV will notify the Applicant via email and standard mail the instructions to the next stage of the process; the completion of the ISV Program Agreement. The ISV Program Agreement must be completed and submitted to the ISV USA office with a $500.00 USD non-refundable, non-transferable deposit for the ISV Standard Four-Week Program. Participants may choose to customize their ISV Standard Program by selecting additional Two-Week Volunteer Project(s) and/or Adventure Tour(s). An additional $100.00 USD non-refundable, non-transferable deposit is required for each additional Two-Week Option selected. See details below.

ISV accepts Applicants we feel will make a valuable contribution to the ISV Program. ISV looks for certain qualities in those who apply:

Applicants who are motivated to learn about the cultures and peoples of the country they are visiting, and the local issues regarding conservation or social community development. During their ISV Program, all Participants will be required to join in group discussions on relevant issues and to keep a daily journal reflecting that which they are learning.
Applicants with a strong desire to give of themselves as they volunteer in the process of making a significant contribution to conservation efforts or children and families of developing communities.

Graduates, as well as undergraduates, may apply.

Non-students may also apply if they meet the criteria as stated above.

All Participants must be 18 years of age by the date of departure in order to participate on the ISV Program. Participants under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian’s signature on the ISV Program Agreement.

Please be advised that departure dates and spaces are limited for each Volunteer Project in each host country. Therefore, ISV will accept Participants on a first–come, first-served basis, in the order that their Agreement and deposit(s) are received. When spaces are filled to capacity, Participants will be placed on a waiting list and all non-refundable, non-transferable deposits will be returned.

The non-refundable, non-transferable deposit of $500.00 USD (and any additional $100.00 USD deposit(s) for the Two-Week Program Options) must be submitted with the signed ISV Program Agreement in order to participate on an ISV Program. These monies will assure ISV of your desire to participate in the Program and to make the necessary arrangements and reservations for a Participant. Upon receipt of the completed Agreement and non-refundable, non-transferable deposit(s), ISV will reserve a spot in a Program (subject to space availability) and send an Allocation Letter via email and standard mail to Participant. The Allocation Letter includes the Participants assigned country(s) and departure date(s) and further details about their ISV Program.

Note: If Participant has only one country and/or date preference, participant must email the US office at info@isvonline.org. If ISV is unable to reserve this space, we will contact the Participant immediately, place them on a waiting list, and return any deposit(s). The more flexible Participants are with country and departure date preferences, the easier it will be for ISV to place them in a Program.

At no time will any monies be transferred from one Participant’s account to another. Participants with financial difficulties may contact ISV to receive instructions on ISV’s payment plan for the deposit ($250.00 USD now and $250.00 USD within 30 days).

Any and all payments for the ISV Program Cost (including donations) are due in the ISV USA office on or before sixty-five (65) days prior to the departure date to Participants host country.

ISV will send a Final Invoice via email and standard mail, 80 days prior to the departure date to Participants host country. The Final Invoice will reflect the total amount received through private payments and donations and any balance due. All costs are quoted in US Dollars.

Participants may make payments towards their Program Cost at any time prior to the sixty-five (65) day deadline.

If all monies are not received in the ISV USA office 65 days prior to departure, ISV will assume the Participant has cancelled and cancellation fees will apply (as specified in the ISV Cancellation Policy below). In the case of late payments, a $50.00 USD late fee will be charged.

The ISV Standard Program: The ISV Standard Program is four weeks in length, and consists of a Two-Week Volunteer Project and Two-Week Adventure Tour.

The ISV Two-Week Volunteer Project Only: Participants have the option of doing a Two-Week Volunteer Project Only with no Adventure Tour or additional excursions.

Limited dates are available per country. Please email our office for available dates. Note: All Two-Week Volunteer Project Only Participants are required to take the ISV Group Flight.

*Note: Domestic and International Airfares, Air Taxes, and Ticket Extensions are NOT included in the ISV Program Cost.

Trying a variety of foods from other cultures can be fun and a challenge, and is part of ISV’s philosophy for an authentic experience overseas. Food on the ISV Program generally reflects the local cuisine. Some foods that are part of a regular diet at home may not be available and Participants may have to include new foods in order to maintain a balanced diet. Vegetarians are easily provided for; however, ISV is unable to cater to very specific diets. Participants with food allergies (i.e. nuts) must ensure that ISV is aware of the existence and severity of the allergy. Please include this information on the ISV Application or email the ISV USA office. Participants with specific dietary requirements may need to supplement the included meals at their own expense.

Important reminder: All Participants must ensure that ISV has recorded their dietary needs (i.e. vegetarian) prior to departure to their host country. Please also include any allergies to foods as part of your dietary and medical information.

Volunteer Project
Three meals per day are provided on the Volunteer Projects. Each project is a little different. Sometimes host organizations provide the food to volunteers (such as via host families), while others require Participants to contribute to the meal planning and preparation. An ISV Project Overview (provided approximately 30 days prior to the departure date to your host country) will advise Participants of the meals that can be expected on the project.

Adventure Tour
The number of meals provided during the Adventure Tour varies depending on the host country, but as part of the Program Cost, at least one-half of the meals will be provided. For all other meals, we encourage Participants to explore the local restaurants and eateries in their area. Participants should make note of any health and safety information provided by their ISV Tour Leaders prior to trying new foods or restaurants.

Note: Be on time for meals! No reimbursements will be made for Participants who miss their included meals by being late or by choosing not to attend.

All ISV Participants will have a “Project Orientation” upon arrival in their host country. Details will be provided to Participants in their Travel Manual which will be sent thirty (30) days prior to the departure date to their host country.

Return dates will automatically be set to coincide with the end of the Program. If the Participant is on the ISV Group Flight and desires an extension in his/her ISV Program country, the Participant must inform the ISV USA office in writing of the desired return date no later than 90 days prior to the departure date. Any changes to airline tickets within 90 days of departure are subject to availability and may incur a change fee. International airline ticket(s) will be issued to Participants on an ISV Group Flight approximately 14 days prior to departure. Participants who are required to attend the Pre-Departure Registration in Los Angeles will receive their airline tickets at that time.

Cancellation of the Program must be in writing (email or mail). No verbal cancellations will be accepted. When ISV receives a written cancellation, a cancellation fee will be incurred to cover the expenses and costs suffered by ISV due to the cancellation. The amount of the cancellation fee is determined by the number of days prior to the departure date to Participants host country that the written cancellation notice is received and is specified as follows:

* Airfare is not included within this cancellation policy. Refunds for airfare will be based upon the amount ISV is able to recover from airlines, vendors and operators.

All refunds will be given at the END of the ISV Summer Program term. (October – November)
Participants are responsible for contacting their travel/trip cancellation insurance provider for information on refunds for cancellation fees incurred. If the reason for cancellation falls within the terms of his/her travel/trip cancellation insurance policy then the provider will normally refund any cancellation fees to participant.

* Airfare is not included within this cancellation policy. Refunds for airfare will be based upon the amount ISV is able to recover from airlines, vendors and operators.

Participants who leave the ISV Program before the completion:
Any participant who voluntarily leaves or is removed from the ISV Program before the scheduled completion of their full Program will not be refunded by ISV for any portion of their Program costs, nor will they be permitted to rejoin the Program at any time during the Volunteer Work Project or the Outdoor Adventure Tour, including optional excursions and activities. ISV cannot assume responsibility for any participant once he/she has left the supervision of the ISV Program staff. This policy includes any participant being required to leave the ISV Program as requested by ISV staff for breach of contract, medical or personal reasons. Participants who leave the Program due to medical or personal reasons (injury/illness or family crisis at home), should consult his/her travel insurance provider, which may provide for partial or full recovery of his/her Program fees, depending on the reason for leaving. Participants who leave the Program for medical reasons (illness or injury that requires medical treatment or a short stay in the hospital) may be permitted to rejoin the ISV Program at the discretion of the ISV staff.

ISV requires all participants to secure travel/trip cancellation insurance. Participants traveling to the following countries (Eastern Europe, Ecuador, and Thailand) will need to secure additional travel insurance coverage for “Adventure Sports”. This coverage provides insurance for many sports activities, including rock climbing, which would otherwise be excluded under the standard plan. Travel/trip cancellation insurance may be obtained from any campus travel agency or through STA. You may contact STA Travel at (877) 777-8717.

Participants should compare and contrast policies from different suppliers and select a policy that meets their individual personal and financial needs, and contains the policy conditions they require.

Please read any insurance policy thoroughly to become familiar with the cancellation circumstances that may be covered. These vary greatly from policy to policy.