Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
In terms of safety issues, single women need to exhibit the same street smarts as any
solo traveler, but they are sometimes more often the target of unwanted attention or har-
assment. Some women like to carry a whistle, mace or cayenne-pepper spray in case of
assault. These sprays are legal to carry and use in Florida, but only in self-defense. Federal
law prohibits them being carried on planes.
If you are assaulted, you can call the
police
( 911)
or a a rape-crisis hotline; telephone
books have listings of local organizations. Alternately you can contact the 24-hour
National
can sometimes be insensitive with assault victims, while a rape-crisis center or hospital can
advocate on behalf of victims and act as a link to other services, including the police.
Work
Seasonal service jobs in tourist beach towns and theme parks are common and often easy
to get, if low-paying.
If you are a foreigner in the USA with a standard non-immigrant visitors visa, you are ex-
pressly forbidden to take paid work in the USA and will be deported if you're caught working
illegally. In addition, employers are required to establish the bona fides of their employees
or face fines. In particular, southern Florida is notorious for large numbers of foreigners
working illegally, and immigration officers are vigilant.
To work legally, foreigners need to apply for a work visa before leaving home. For non-
student jobs, temporary or permanent, you need to be sponsored by a US employer, who
will arrange an H-category visa. These are not easy to obtain.
Student-exchange visitors need a J1 visa, which the following organizations will help ar-
range:
American Institute for Foreign Study
(AIFS; 866-906-2437;
www.aifs.com
)
Camp America
( 800-727-8233;
www.campamerica.aifs.com
)
Council on International Educational Exchange
(CIEE;
800-407-8839;
www.ciee.org
)
InterExchange
(
212-924-0446;
www.interexchange.org
)
Camp and au-pair programs.
