The process usually takes about 4-5 weeks. Here’s the process in more detail:
The process begins after you have completed the following 3 sections:
- An online course called Preparation for Missions (PPM). University students may take an inhouse course in place of the PPM.
- Completed an Online application. Click on the submenu entitled "VOLUNTEER ACCESS" and log into the database. where you can complete the online application. As soon as you submit your application, you will receive an email with the status “APPLICATION SUBMITTED”
- Downloaded the required forms and fax to your local mission’s office. Non-SDA University students may fax the forms directly to our office at 301-680-5079. Do not mail your original documents as they may get lost in the mail.
In the section entitled REQUIRED DOWNLOADS, we will tell you what documents need to be downloaded and where to access these documents, including the PPM.
Once the completed file is in our office, your references may be checked and you may be asked for a phone interview. Once you clear our screening, your name will be submitted to our NAD appointees committee which meets every Tuesday.
If you meet the minimum requirements, your file will be approved by NAD. You will receive another status change called "APPROVED BY NAD". At that moment, your file will be accessible to the General Conference Adventist Volunteer Center (AVC) for review. The AVC office meets every Wednesday. Your file will probably not get reviewed until Thursday of that week.
The Division that oversees your missions field will also be able to review and approve your file. That mission field is identified by a “call number”. It looks like this: NSD.SDALS.2009.04. This particular call number is for missionaries going to the Korean Language School for the year 2009, position number 4. Yours will be unique to your chosen assignment.
At this point, we have no control over how long the receiving organization will take before they decide whether they will select your file or not. Some respond in a week, other take up to 2 months. If they do not respond in two weeks, you may choose another “call number”.
Assuming that the mission field takes just under two weeks, our timeline is at about 2-3 weeks since you submitted your completed file.
With the mission field’s approval, you will get another status change called "APPROVED BY HOST DIVISION". The AVC office will now record your file at their next Appointees Committee. As usual that will take place at their following Wednesday meeting. As soon as they vote, you will get one final status change. This one will say “APPROVED BY GC”
You’re almost there….
At this time we may assist you with your insurance and travel needs. You will be mailed a packet using the current address that you gave us on your application. In that packet is detailed information about your assignment, a welcome letter, immigration information about the country where you will be serving, and instructions on how to secure your visa and insurance. If we are processing your visa (this is not always the case), we will need your passport, a color 2x3 photo of yourself and the VISA application. Please send us those as soon as possible. You may contact Carol Miller for instructions at 301-680-6491 or email at Carol.Miller@nad.adventist.org
NOTE: Please send us the items requested AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE THE PACKET IN THE MAIL.
Once we receive your passport, color photo and VISA application, they will be send by Courier to the embassy. We usually get the VISA the following day. You VISA will be mailed back to you so that you may now purchase your ticket. Please send us a copy of your itinerary. We will use the starting date on that itinerary to secure your Accident and Sickness Insurance.
A NOTE ON INSURANCE: This insurance is not Preventive Health Insurance. It is meant only to protect you from accidents and sickness during your service on the mission field. It also a secondary insurance designed to cover you in case your primary insurance is not available in your location. CAUTION: ASV (Accident and Sickness Insurance for Volunteers) Insurance is not effective within the United States and Canada. If you are visiting the U.S. or Canada for the Holidays, make sure you have adequate insurance, or else you may purchase Short Term Travel Insurance from Risk Management during your stay.
A NOTE ON AIRLINE TICKETS: DO NOT purchase your ticket UNTIL you have received the status "APPROVED BY GC" and made sure all immigration requirements have been taken care of.
If there are no delays, it should be about 4-5 weeks since you first submitted your completed file to our office.
If the process seems rather long, keep in mind that this is the best and safest way to travel to another country. You have greater protection available to you through the resources of your Denomination, Immigration, and Insurance.
Please go to REQUIRED FORMS to find out what you need to download….
Ernest
