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Nepal

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Nepal Program FAQs

For Answers to General Questions about our programs, please click here and for questions specific to the Nepal program, please read on

Section 1: Planning for Nepal International Volunteer Program

Q1.1. What support does the program provide me in planning my travel?

Ans. This FAQS page is meant to answer most of your questions. In addition, once you have submitted an application, we will provide you with an Nepal travel guide that thoroughly answers your questions ranging from the weather, mode of dressing, culture and visa etc. We also have a toll free number for those calling from USA, Canada and UK. Those calling from other countries can reach us by phone as well. Please visit the following page to read more about accessing us by phone and email - http://www.intenationalvolunteertravel.com/about-us.php

Q1.2. If I submit my application today, how long will it be before Iknow if I have been accepted?

It takes us about one to two weeks to examine your application, forward it to the coordinator of Nepal for internship or volunteer placement allocation and get back to you.

If by any chance we have not responded within two weeks, kindly e-mail us a reminder or call us just in case.

Q1.3. What languages do I need to speak to be able to participate in the volunteer Nepal program?

Basic or working knowledge of English is highly recommended but not mandatory.

Q1.4. When is the best time to participate in your programs?

Ans. Any time of the year is just as fine. All programs commence on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month.

Q1.5. When is the deadline for applying to the Program?

Ans. Your application should reach us no later than one and a half months (45 days) to the start of the program. This gives us enough time to process your application and gives you enough time to prepare for travel without excessive pressure.

We can of course work with you if you have a shorter time. But the shorter the time the lower the possibility that everything will go perfectly well with your placement arrangement, we would want to avoid that.

Q1.6. When do the programs begin?

Ans. Beginning dates are provided on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month

Q1.7. Can I arrive on another date?

Ans. We can in extreme cases make adjustments within the range of a day or so in very extreme cases but we need all participants to arrive on the set dates to ease the running of the programs. Remember even if we allow you to start late the program will go on and you will have to fit in with the rest who are able to start on time.

Q1.8. Where can I read about the experience of other people who have participated in your programs?

Ans. You can go to the testimonies page on:
testimonials.php

Q1.9. What support does the program provide me in planning my travel?

Ans. We provide all applicants with a pre-travel orientation brochure that thoroughly answers your questions ranging from the weather, mode of dressing, culture etc. Also this ?Frequently Asked Questions? page is meant to answer most of your questions.

Q1.10. When is the best time to participate in your programs?

Ans. Any time is just as good. The weather is cold from November to March but warm to moderately hot in the rest of the year.

Section 2: Traveling and Visa Issues

Q2.1. Do I need a visa to travel to Nepal?

Foreign visitors to Nepal need a valid passport and a visa to enter Nepal.
For more information, please go to http://www.immi.gov.np/touristvisa.php

Q2.2. What do I need to know about obtaining a visa?

Ans. Any traveler in Nepal can get a 120-day single or multiple entry tourist visas to travel to Nepal at a cost of $1 a day. Visa extensions to a maximum of 150 days is allowed and can be done at the immigration offices in Kathmandu of the city of Pokhara. The cost is about $1 for each extra day. You must apply for a tourist visa at the Nepal consulate in your country before your departure. Normally, Nepal does not issue visas at the international airport of entry. Remember that it is the responsibility of volunteers to manage their own tickets and visa. Once you are granted a 150-day multiple entry tourist visa, an extension is not permitted. There is no a special working or volunteer visa, so our volunteers will come to Nepal with a tourist visa.

For more information, please go to http://www.immi.gov.np/touristvisa.php

Q2.3. Can I process my visa at the port of entry in Nepal?

Ans. Foreign visitors to Nepal need a valid passport and a visa to enter Nepal. Please contact the Nepalese consulate in your country to check on this.

Q2.4. Where can I change my money?

Ans. If you are planning to travel to Nepal after or before internship placements or volunteer programs, you will need some extra money. Nepal is a cheap place for shopping and travel. You can change your major currencies and travelers checks in Kathmandu and at the airport. It is good idea to change your travelers? checks at the airport.

Q2.5. What Vaccinations will I need for Nepal?

Ans. This all depends on what vaccinations you already have and what country you are coming from. We suggest that you consult a travel doctor from your country before you arrive. (NOTE: Some vaccinations are needed as much as 2 months before arrival to Nepal). Please take malaria pill as a precautionary measure. International Volunteer Travel does not cover liability and insurance of volunteers. Therefore, volunteers must have appropriate insurance before joining the program.

Q2.6. How can I familiarize myself with the country I will be traveling to?

Ans. Once you have registered for International Volunteer Travel, Nepal. You will receive orientation that includes a short-introduction to the country and region you will be traveling to. Other sources of information can be found at your local library, bookstore, or on-line.

Q2.7. Where is my arrival destination, and how will I get to my host site?

Ans. All international flights arrive and depart from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. International Volunteer Travel representative will meet you at the airport and then take you to your host family.

Q2.8. What is the best time to travel to Nepal?

Ans. Anytime of the year is good. If you wish to trek the best times are from September through November and March through May. The summer is the rainy season and as a result trekking is difficult. The winters are mild in Katmandu with no snow. Even though Nepal is home of the worlds highest mountain range, the country is warm most of the year.

Q2.9. How will I get to headquarters from the Airport?

Ans. One of International Volunteer Travel staff members will be waiting for you at the airport terminal. He will be holding a sign with "International Volunteer Travel, Nepal" name on it.
If you failed to get our representative at airport or if you flight changed suddenly. Please go directly to hotel Eden located 6 miles from the airport. It is reasonably cheaper hotel with moderate

Q2.10. Will I have time to explore Kathmandu during my Cultural Immersion program?

Ans. There will be plenty of time for you to explore Kathmandu on your own, as part of our orientation, and during your two-week Cultural Immersion program. Please see the Cultural Immersion program information.

Q2.11. Do I have to speak a foreign language?

Volunteers and Interns on our short-term (2-3 week programs) do not need foreign language skills. Those volunteers interested in participating on one of our long-term programs need to have intermediate language abilities in the spoken language of the program country. Orientation will include an intensive introduction to Nepal language and you’ll learn Nepalese quite fast.

Section 3: Fees and Money

Q3.1. What are your programs fees like?

Ans. Fees vary a lot depending on the program that you select. For a two weeks stay, fees range from USD XXX.XX for the Standard Volunteer Program, to USD XXX.XX for the Mega-adventure program. For a four weeks stay, they range from USD XXX.XX to USD XXX.XX for the same programs. Beyond the first four weeks, our fees are set at USD XXX.XX per week. Fees for the two weeks Cultural Immersion program are USD XXX.XX. For further information on our fees please go to our website. For more information about fees visit the Nepal Fees and Dates page

Q3.2. Can I pay the fees using my school credit loan or scholarship?

Ans. Some students have done that in the past. It all depends on the support they get from their school. If your school will accept your internship or volunteer work for school credits, then they will normally allow you to use the loan or scholarship as if you were taking the classes at school.

Q3.3. What currency should I bring with me to Nepal?

Ans. The currencies that are easiest to convert to local currency are the US Dollar, the Euro and the Great Britain Pounds (GBP).

You can change either USD or GBP to local currency at the airport or in the cities as most cities in Nepal have the facility. If you bring Travelers Checks do remember to carry the paperwork (bank receipts) otherwise you wont be able to use them as the changers will reject them for fear that they might be stolen or fake.

Q3.4. How much extra money should I bring?

Ans. Carrying extra money depends on your personal preferences. However, you may need some extra money if you plan to participate in activities outside of the organization, or if you want to buy some souvenirs. Most people can live on $15 per week of extra cash. Remember airport departure tax of about $15 and visa extension fee of about $1 per day (if you will need it).

Q3.5. How should I distribute my money between Travelers Checks and Cash?

Ans. We suggest a 50-50 distribution to provide you with ease of changing and accessing money

Q3.6. How do I make payment?

Ans. We accept major credit cards, including VISA, MASTERCARD, and DISCOVER and AMERICAN EXPRESS. We also accept bankers (cashiers) checks; money orders; and wire/bank transfers. All payments must be in US dollars. Please contact us for more details on how to make payment.

Q.3.7. Can I pay for the program by installment?

Ans. Unfortunately no. We do not have pay-by-installment plans.

Q3.8. When do I have to pay for the program?

Ans. We require that each application be submitted with the required application fees. Applications submitted without the registration fees will not be processed. The rest of the fees are due latest one month before the day the program starts in the host country.

Q3.9. Does the fee you charge cover airfares?

Ans. No. Please go to the Nepal Fees and Dates page to find out what the fee does and/or does not cover.

Q3.10. Does the fee you charge cover pickup and drop off at the airport?

Ans. The fees cover pickup from the airport only - NOT drop off.Our experience with participants is that they prefer to arrange their own drop off so that they can be flexible with time. But we provide assistance in arranging drop off for any participant who requests us to.

Section 4: Group Discounts

Q4.1. How big does a group have to be considered for group discounts?

Ans. Four or more people coming together are considered to be a group.

Section 5: General Nepal Program Issues

Q5.1. Do you provide sponsorship to those participating in your program?

Ans. Unfortunately, No. But we would love to share with themgreat ideas we have gathered on fundraising.

Q5.2. Do you have paid internships or volunteer placement?

Ans. Unfortunately No.

Q5.3. Can I schedule my own volunteer service for the dates that interest me?

Ans. International Volunteer Travel suggests volunteers adjust their flight schedule according to the provided arrival dates. Interns and volunteers can stay and wait at the hotel on their own expense to start the program from the beginning. Note: If you can’t schedule your flight to coincide with program starting dates, please write us for other alternative dates.

Q5.4. Do you have internship abroad opportunities?

Ans. Yes. For internship placement please go to the Internship Nepal page.

Q5.5. Iam an Egyptian living inEngland; can I participate in your programs?

Ans. Yes. International Volunteer Travel programs in Nepal are open to people from all countries of origin and residence.

Q5.6. I am 18 years of age. Am I too young to participate in your programs in Nepal?

Ans. No. Our entry age for unaccompanied persons is 18. Persons younger than 18 are accepted under special circumstances. The International Volunteer Travel program has provision for teens and high school students wanting to study Nepalese overseas, or volunteer or intern abroad in Nepal and elsewhere. For more information on our Teen International Volunteer program, please go to our Teen International Volunteer Challenge or Gap Year page.

Q5.7. I am 15 years old, what can I do to participate in your programs?

Ans. The International Volunteer Travel program has provision for teens and high school students wanting to volunteer or intern abroad. For more information on our Teen International Volunteer program, please go to our Teen International Volunteer Challenge or Gap Year Nepal page.

Q5.8. Can I combine programs e.g. Cultural Immersion with Mega-Adventure Program?

Ans. Yes, provision for selecting programs is provided in the application form.

Q5.9. If I take the Cultural Immersion program, will I need an extra two weeks to participate?

Ans. Yes. Although this program only offered in combination with other programs, it is a separate program that takes two weeks. There is no overlap between the programs

Q5.10. If I want to participate in the Basic volunteer program for 4 weeks plus the language and culture program for 2 weeks, will my placement be for 6 weeks?

Ans. Yes your total placement time will be 6 weeks. But if you only have 4 weeks available, you could put the first two into the Cultural Immersion programand the last 2 in the Standard Volunteer Program.

Q5.11. Can I spend less than a month with your programs?

Ans. Yes you can spend a minimum of 1 week with International Volunteers and Overseas programs. Feel free to email us with a request if you need this kind of arrangement.

Q5.12. How many participants will there be when I arrive in Nepal?

Ans. The number of international volunteers and interns or study abroad students will depend on time of the year; about 5 - 20 per project in summer and 3 - 10inother months.

Q5.13. Can I change my Nepal volunteer abroad placement project in the middle of the program if I am not happy?

Ans. Placements and hosts are very carefully selected to suit each participants needs. We will consider the request of an International volunteer for a location change, but we can only change the placement if the reasons for the request are genuine and there is an open position in the new project of interest.

Q5.14. I want to participate in your Nepal volunteer teaching abroad program do I have to go through the teaching abroad orientation?

Ans. Yes. The volunteer or internship teaching orientation in Nepal is aimed at providing you with some basic but necessary teaching skills that will enable you perform your duties well in the local school environment.

The teaching abroad Nepal orientation takes between a couple of days and one week depending on the school and your teaching experience and qualification. It is more of an in-service orientation so you will still be working, as you get orientated.

Q5.15. I need to attend church on Sunday. Please let me know if the Nepal programs require me to be working on Sunday?

Ans. Under the International Volunteer Travel program, overseas volunteers and international interns have all weekends off; they do not work over the weekends except under special circumstances. If you need to be absent from work on any other day, you can arrange for that with the country coordinator and local staff.

Q5.16. How many hours per day do I have to work?

Ans. All Nepal programs require between a minimum of 3 and generally between 4 and 8 hours of work per day. If you want a smaller daily workload, please contact us.

Q5.17. I have a group ofhigh school students andteens I lead in my community/church/school and would want to bring them for a trip with your program ? would you have provision for them?

Ans. High school students and teens who have reached the age of 18 can come to Nepal on their own. We do prepare special Programs for high school studentsand teens under the age of 18 who must be accompanied by adult leaders or supervisors. Please visit our Nepal Gap Year and International Teen Volunteer page for further details.

Q5.18. I would like my Nepal internship to be counted for college credits at my school.

Ans. This will depend on your school requirements. The International Volunteer Travel suggest you ask your school what they need to make the internship transfer into school credits, then let us know and we will try to work with you.

The International Volunteer Travel Nepal staff supervise interns and grade their reports so they can qualify for credits at their schools.

Q5.19. I would like to come with my friend and be placed with them the whole time that we will be in the program. Is that possible?

Ans. Members of the same sex can be placed in the same project and with the same host family. But most of the time culture doesn’t allow unmarried people of different sexes to be put together under the same host. International Volunteer Travel might be able to place you together depending on the project. Do write us and enquire.

In the worst case scenario we can place you in the same area with host families about 5-10 minutes walking distance apart and you can work at the same place.

Q5.20. What happens if I decide to terminate my program and return home before the placement is over? Can I get a refund of my money?

Ans. If you have to terminate the program before the end of the singed yp time, because of extreme circumstances clearly beyond your control, we may consider refunding a portion of your money. Otherwise, as a rule an das is common with service providing organizations like your school, we will generally not be able to give you a refund once the program has started. Some circumstances under which we can give you some refund and the amount of such a refund are provided in the terms of service availed to you before you submit your application and sigh up for the program so you have enough time to make up your mind.

Section 6: Living in Nepal

Q6.1. Can you book me a hotel since I will be arriving earlier than the scheduled?

Ans. If you want us to book a hotel for you we can do that - it will mean though that whether you spend a night there or not you will have to refund us the cost of that hotel accommodation since the hotels won’t refund it. Please contact us if you need some help.

Q6.2. Where will I live during my time in your overseas volunteer and internship program in Nepal?

Ans. You will live with a host family. There may be one more participant living with the same family as you or it may just be you alone depending on when you want to participate.

Q6.3. How is accommodation like?

Ans. In order to maintain low fees for Nepal International Volunteers Travel Participants, accommodation is provided by host families who are carefully selected from among respected members of society and in such as way as to ensure maximum security and comfort for our clients. If you would rather stay at a hostel or hotel in Nepal that can be arranged with costs borne independently by you.

Q6.4. What are the living conditions of my placement?

Ans. The living conditions of the placement depend on the area. You will be placed within a host family setting with your room, sometimes shared with a member of the same gender. Most placements have electricity. (If electricity is an asset it can be arranged). Our host families are mostly educated, well respected in society, and experienced. Some members of host families may speak English.

Q6.5. What are the living conditions like in Nepal?

Ans. Living conditions are average for developing countries but vary from house to house. On average there will be water and electricity most of the time. Piped water will most likely be available on site, just outside the house.

Q6.6. What is the food like in Nepal?

Ans. Nepali foods include Alu Roti (Potato Stuffed Bread), Cauliflower Curry, Chicken Chili, and Vegetable Thukpa rice. Vegetarian foods can be arranged.

Q6.7. Clothes and Climate in Placement Areas

We advise female volunteers not to wear short skirts in villages. Nepalese people dress modestly, and girls cover most of their bodies. This is the Nepalese tradition. Further advice is provided in the Nepal travel guide.

Q6.8. Can I get in touch with my family if there is an emergency back home?

Ans. Yes. You can pay to call your home or write an email to your family. There will be an Internet caf? in a city close to where you live and you can get there by bus. You can also call at the local postal service office. Your host will most likely have a phone that you can pay to use.

Q6.9. Will I have access to communications such as e-mail, telephone, and post office?

Ans. This all depends on your placement. Almost all placements will have access to a Post Office. If you are in a city placement there are many places in which you can use the phone or access e-mail at the cyber cafes.

Q6.10. Is Nepal safe?

Despite a long standing civil war between the government and rebels, Nepal is a pretty safe country. About 400,000 international tourists travel to this country every year.There are some instances of petty crime in Kathmandu, however, crime is rare in Nepal’s rural areas.

All our programs avoid war prone zones and if there is any concern, our course coordinators will inform us in time.

Q6.11. Will my money and valuables be safe at my host home?

Ans. We have had no reason to believe that your monies will not be safe. We do encourage you however to take the necessary precaution to safeguard your monies and personal properties, as we cannot be held responsible for any loses. Some of the precautions you could take include locking your bedroom when you are out of the house; not leaving your valuables exposed when you are outside the room; any inviting people to your room unnecessarily, etc.

Q6.12. What gift can I bring for my host family, school or orphanage?

Ans. Suitable gifts include dresses, toys, a family oriented movie DVD/VCD or CD; coloring pencils and books for kids; balls for games and other sports equipments for kids and schools etc.

Q6.13. I would like to send books to the school/orphanage that I will be placed at - can I do that?

Ans. Yes, please ask International Volunteer Travel for the Nepal project address.

Q6.14. Are their any special items that I should bring that I may not have thought of?

Ans. Some items, which may not have thought of are: mosquito net, first aid kit, sleeping bag and sun screen.

Section 7: About International Volunteer Travel

Q7.1. Is this program affiliated to any religious organization?

Ans. No. We work with both secular and religious organizations but are not affiliated to any.

Q7.2. Who are your sponsors?

Ans. We are a private organization with no sponsors.

For further discussion on these or other questions, please contact us. We will be more than happy to assist you.