You have the freedom to negotiate your own contract and choose which flight option suits you best. If you change your mind about your preferred flight option after you have submitted your application forms, it is often possible to change.

Flight options

OPTION 1 - Regular Returner - You travel on a BUNAC round-trip UK/US flight.

With this option you pay the lowest amount up-front and travel on a BUNAC flight. Flight costs and administrative and other expenses are deducted from your total camp salary and paid to BUNAC on your behalf on completion of your contract. This deduction is $1095 and you receive the balance of your salary from the camp. You choose your outward and homeward flight dates from the BUNAC Flight Programme. We offer outward flights from London to New York and homeward flights from New York and London. If you want to use this flight option to fly to a destination other than New York to suit your camp location, please call us to discuss before applying.

Advantages of taking a BUNAC flight include:

• Airport Services – Participants can receive passports and other documents on a last-minute basis at the airport if necessary
• Value For Money - As well as your flight, the BUNAC package includes transfer from the US arrival airport, overnight accommodation, the Moneywise Guide to North America, a BUNAC T-shirt and a phone card
• Meet Friends - travelling with other BUNAC participants giving you the opportunity to make friends before you even arrive in the US.

OPTION 2 - Own Arranger: You make your own travel arrangements and keep full salary.

There are no deductions to BUNAC from your camp salary, nor do we make any charges to your camp (unlike other organisations) so you get the full salary amount as stated on your contract. You make your own flight arrangements and pay a fee to BUNAC up-front to cover administration and visa processing expenses. (NB. This does not include visa fees payable to the US embassy.) The registration fee you pay to BUNAC covers all administration costs.

OPTION 3 - BUNAC Own Arranger: You apply as an Own Arranger but buy a BUNAC round-trip flight and pay for this prior to travel.

There are no deductions from your camp salary and you have all the benefits of the BUNAC flight package. You pay the Own Arranger registration fee and book your flight through the BUNAC flight programme. You pay for your flight at the time of booking (call BUNAC for latest prices).

KAMP USA Costs for Returners

The following costs currently apply for returner applications in 2010:

Above fees apply until the end of 2009 (subject to change)

Other costs

All applicants will be required to provide a current police background check. Residents of England and Wales will apply for a Disclosure through the CRB and the cost of this is £36. In Northern Ireland, the fee is £30 and for residents of Scotland there is currently no charge.

The US Embassy charges a visa and courier fee of £101 (subject to change) and you will pay this at the time you apply for your visa. There may be extra charges for certain nationality passport holders (not UK or Ireland) – please contact BUNAC for advice. SEVIS (a US government tracking fee of $35/£25) will also be collected from all Own Arrangers/BUNAC Own Arrangers. This should be reimbursed to you by your camp on successful completion of your contract. If you are a Regular Returner, BUNAC will collect this directly from your camp. If you a Regular Returner, BUNAC pays the SEVIS fee on your behalf and is reimbursed later by the camp.

For Regular Returners, any fuel surcharge charged by the airlines will be payable at the flight booking stage.

How to apply

To apply as a returner with BUNAC please download the KAMP Returner Application Pack, complete all the relevant forms and send them to BUNAC in London. For further information please contact the camps department directly by calling 020 7251 3448 or emailing camps@bunac.org.uk. Our expert team will guide you through the process.

We encourage you to make the earliest application you can in order to avoid the busy period at the US Embassy and possible delays to your visa application.

Other returner options

Returning as a KAMPer to a different camp

If you have already arranged a contract, the returner application process will be the same, but with the addition of a letter of reference from your previous camp. We cannot accept your application without this additional reference. If you want BUNAC to find a new camp for you, you will have to apply as a first time applicant so that we can compile an up-to-date dossier to show to camp directors. You must still apply as a first time applicant if you have a referral to a camp which is interested but has not yet issued a contract. Again you must have a letter of reference from your old camp.

KAMPers returning as counsellors

If you have previously worked on BUNAC's KAMP USA programme (or similar) and want to return as a counsellor, you should apply to the Summer Camp USA programme as a first time applicant and attend an interview.