Terms and Conditions

§ 1 Scope & Small Business Status

(1) These General Terms and Conditions (T&C) apply to all contracts between VisaNerd (hereinafter “Contractor”) and the participant or the commissioning company (hereinafter “Customer”) regarding J-1 sponsorship (Form DS-2019) for J-1 programs.

(2) VisaNerd operates as a small business according to § 19 UStG (German VAT Act). No value-added tax (VAT) is shown on invoices.

§ 2 Scope of Services

(1) VisaNerd handles the Customer’s J-1 sponsorship with a sponsor designated by the US Department of State, for most programs CIEE, our main sponsor. This includes checking requirements, coordination with the host organization (for interns and trainees the training plan, DS-7002), preparing the application in the sponsor’s portal, final submission to the sponsor and answering its questions.

(2) It is expressly agreed that VisaNerd owes a qualified service, but not a guaranteed outcome in the sense of a successful visa issuance. The decision on admission to the program and on the training plan lies with the sponsor; the decision on the visa lies exclusively with the US authorities.

§ 3 Contract Formation & Phases

Phase 1: Non-binding Pre-check. The inquiry, initial assessment, and portal usage (uploading documents) are non-binding. No legal guarantee for eligibility is provided in this phase.

Phase 2: Binding Order & Payment. A binding contract is formed when the Customer submits the order form or completes the checkout process. For intern and trainee programs, VisaNerd will only finalize the submission to the sponsor once full payment has been received. For scholar programs, payment and health insurance are due before the DS-2019 is issued.

§ 4 Remuneration & Due Date

(1) The agreed price is a total price. For intern and trainee programs, it covers the entire sponsorship by VisaNerd, the DS-2019, the SEVIS fee and J-1 health insurance. For scholar programs, health insurance is charged separately (€19 per person and month if the host organization insures the participant, otherwise €79). VisaNerd charges no processing fee. (2) Payment is due immediately upon invoicing (advance payment). (3) Not included are the consular visa fee, any visa integrity fee set by US law, travel and accommodation. (4) Additional services are expressly identified before an order: the sponsor’s express option (€2,000, no guarantee), J-2 family members, program extensions (for interns, trainees and J-2 the price difference plus €200, for scholars €950 per additional year or part of a year; any USCIS fee for an extension of stay is paid separately) and placement (€1,500, a separate service, due only when the Customer accepts an offer). A site visit is required by the sponsor only for hosts new to the sponsor with fewer than 25 employees or less than $3 million in annual revenue; the sponsor charges €250 for it once. VisaNerd invoices the participant or the company, as agreed.

§ 5 Refund Policy & “Point of No Return”

(1) Withdrawal/Rejection BEFORE DS-2019 Issuance: If the sponsor rejects the application before the DS-2019 is issued, VisaNerd refunds the sponsorship payment made to VisaNerd in full. For intern and trainee programs, the only exception is a site visit that has already taken place at the host, for which the sponsor charges €250. For scholar programs, the refund is made in full without deduction. If the Customer withdraws the application, VisaNerd refunds the payment minus:

• Fees already withheld by the sponsor for administrative steps (e.g., Site Visits).
• Surcharges for Expedited Processing already commissioned.
• Currency exchange risks (refunds are made at the current daily rate).

(2) Deception: If rejection is due to false information or hidden criminal records, the right to a refund is excluded.

(3) Point of No Return: Upon issuance of the DS-2019 form, VisaNerd’s service is considered fully performed. No refunds are possible after this point, regardless of whether the US consulate grants or denies the visa.

§ 6 Obligations of the Customer

(1) The Customer warrants that all information provided is truthful. (2) Duty to Report Visa Denial: If the visa is denied, the Customer must inform VisaNerd within 5 business days in writing and provide the official Refusal Letter to update the SEVIS status.

§ 7 Right of Withdrawal

Consumers have a statutory right of withdrawal. This right expires prematurely once VisaNerd has fully performed the service (issuance of the DS-2019) with the Customer’s express consent.

§ 8 Liability

VisaNerd is liable for intent and gross negligence. Liability for light negligence is limited to the typical, foreseeable damage and only in the case of a breach of essential contractual obligations. VisaNerd is not liable for decisions or delays caused by CIEE or US authorities.

§ 9 Final Provisions

German law applies. The place of jurisdiction is Berlin, Germany, provided the Customer is a merchant or has no general place of jurisdiction in Germany.