Applications should be made in person (students on college placements abroad should contact Usit offices in the country if possible) at any Usit NOW office for first-time applicants. The programme will remain open until the allocation has been reached.

The programme is open to anyone who is studying for a degree or higher national diploma in an academic field (this must be a minimum of two years' duration, with the exception of postgraduate courses).

You must be registered and attending as a full-time day student at a university or equivalent third-level educational establishment for the 1999-2000 academic year. (NB: Part-time, repeat and exam-only students are not eligible for the programme.) You also have to be 18 years of age before June 2000.

Usit NOW can provide further clarification of entrance criteria. The visa does not allow you to work in positions as a camp counsellor, au pair, housekeeper in a private house or hospital intern. Some medical/nursing work may also not be covered. Second-time Applicants

There are a limited number of places available for students who have already been to the US on the programme and who meet all the current eligibility requirements. Usit will shortly be announcing the opening date and procedures for applying for second-time applicants.

The information will be available on the Usit website (www.usit.ie).

Non-EU Nationals

If as an international student studying at an Irish university or college you require a visa to enter Ireland, your passport must be valid for a minimum of six months beyond the expiry date of your planned stay in the US.

It is probable that you will be called to the US Embassy for an interview. In such cases it is advisable that you have strong evidence of your return journey. It is helpful if you already have permission to re-enter Ireland at the end of your stay in the US.