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 (hereinafter “Customer”) regarding support for the application of Form DS-2019 for J-1 Visa 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 advises the Customer and coordinates the application for the DS-2019 via the US sponsor CIEE. This includes checking requirements, invitation to the CIEE portal (“Beacon”), coordination with the Host organization for the training plan (DS-7002), and final submission to the sponsor.

(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 the approval of the training plan lies with the sponsor CIEE; 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. VisaNerd will only finalize the submission to CIEE once full payment has been received.

§ 4 Remuneration & Due Date

(1) The agreed price covers VisaNerd’s consulting services and the mandatory CIEE program fees. (2) Payment is due immediately upon invoicing (advance payment). (3) Unless otherwise agreed, the SEVIS fee is a separate US government fee and not included in our price.

§ 5 Refund Policy & “Point of No Return”

(1) Withdrawal/Rejection BEFORE DS-2019 Issuance: If the Customer withdraws or CIEE rejects the application before the DS-2019 is issued, VisaNerd will refund the payment, minus:

• Fees already withheld by CIEE 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.