Belarus: Travel guide, visas and free housing · 2026

VBValeryia Brazdetskayalera.brozdetskaya · Dec 9, 2019Read

When you go on the Work and Travel program, you get a J-1 Visa. It is a work visa for a few months, usually valid until September. My restaurant is called White Dolphin; they aren't very creative with names here—there are cafes, restaurants, and hotels on every corner, and almost every name includes the word 'dolphin'🐬. It's a typical American restaurant with famous burgers, french fries, and delicious cheesesteaks🤤. I work as a waitress at the restaurant, although I started my exciting career as a busser. Everyone knows what a waitress is, but what is a busser? In America, a customer is usually served by three people, whereas back home, one waiter handles everything. The waiter takes the order, the runner brings the food, and the busser clears the table and resets it—which is exactly what I was until recently. It was exhausting work, with a wage of $5 an hour plus tips (18% of tips from each waiter). One of my goals for this trip was to improve my language skills. That's why I really wanted to work as a waitress, and I've been doing it for two weeks now. A waitress gets paid about $3 an hour, and the main income comes from tips. At first, I was incredibly scared—what if I didn't understand something or mixed up orders? There were some hiccups at the start, but you know that you can't get anywhere without practice. Most people are very friendly and welcoming; they often hear from my accent that I'm not a local, and if I don't understand something, I can always ask them to point to the food they want on the menu. They often ask where I'm from. Well, they haven't even heard of Belarus here, so I have to explain that it turns out to be the center of Europe, but when I get tired of that, I just say I'm from Russia (no more questions arise😄). I wanted to work at the restaurant all day, but my employer can't give me more than 40 hours a week, so I had to look for a second job. An acquaintance of mine offered me a job as a housekeeper at a hotel. By the second day, I wanted to quit for various reasons. But I have a wonderful boss and a fairly good salary—$11 an hour plus tips (on busy days). So I gave this job a second chance and didn't regret it. Currently, I work from 9 AM until about 1:00 or 2:00 PM at the hotel, and from 3:00 or 5:00 PM at the restaurant. If I have the energy and time between jobs, the first thing I do is run to the ocean. I have a couple of days off during the week; usually, we go to the beach, go shopping, have dinner at some new place in the evening, or ride bikes.

GGuestUserDec 8, 2019Read

I'm writing this blog for a contest. It's not finished yet—I'll complete it after the contest—but it fully meets the requirements: 5 pages and 5 photos each. Please don't take this blog as bragging. Yes, I earned a large sum, but I'm only mentioning it because something tangible is much more inspiring than an abstract "a lot." By the end, you'll understand how to earn just as much, if not more. Work and Travel USA has two key components for results: Money and Travel. Most of the stories you read here are written by guys with average experience. Average means they traveled a little and earned a little. As a result, you won't have a complete picture of the possibilities of one component or the other. (Guggenheim Museum) Alas, I don't really like traveling, so my story will be focused on money, as you might have guessed from the title. Briefly about me. (Typical smart Indians at MIT, I'm on the right) I am a 2nd-year student from Minsk, Belarus (allowed dates: June 25 - September 1). My grades are not high, English is B2. I am reporting here only for the resort of Cape Cod, MA. The States are really different; even cities can offer completely different experiences. My goal was to earn money; I Googled many stories and made a plan on how to make 7-8k over the summer. The second goal was to get as much experience as possible that I can't get in Minsk. The trip sponsors were my parents, with the condition of repayment after the trip. Vow for the trip: Strict economy. Well, reasonable, of course. Briefly about the trip. (No comments) Due to laziness, I missed the deadlines for finding an offer on my own and had to buy one from a third party. Not a waiter. At the first interview at the embassy, I was denied a visa. The second time, I passed in such a way that the whole room remembered me. Upon arrival, it turned out that the employer had no housing; I lived on the beach. In total, I earned a 4-digit sum from June 25 to September 9. 2.5 months, multiply by the figure from the blog title. And two photos for the rules: (Important sign on Wall Street) (Museum in my city)

ATAnastasiya Taranavataranova.nas · Nov 30, 2019Read

It seems it's time to tell you a little about the place where we actually live :) There won't be a long history of its origin here, I'll just share some interesting facts and observations😊 Lake Placid is located 480 km from New York City, which is about a 5-hour drive. Major sporting events have been held here, such as: the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympic Games, the Biathlon World Cup, Lacrosse, Ironman (triathlon), and many others. Frankly speaking, if it weren't for these events, this town would just be an American village and a beautiful place where tourists would occasionally come for climbing. But now this town is teeming with a huge number of people from both the USA and Canada. Our boss said that very wealthy people live here because a plot of land costs a huge amount of money by American standards. It's interesting that the town is called Lake Placid, but the entire town center is built around a different lake - Mirror Lake. Also, a horror movie was filmed about this lake, in which a monster lives in the lake and eats people, but the filming actually took place in Canada 😅 The climate is similar to the Belarusian one. It's interesting that when we checked the weather in Lake Placid from Belarus, the forecast was on average ~20-22 degrees with rain and thunderstorms. But as soon as we arrived here, that weather started in Belarus, and here it became ~26-29 degrees with sun and absolutely no clouds. Among the interesting places, I'll note: 🌿 A dam with a pier and a cool swimming spot (in the photo now) - located behind the Dack Snack restaurant - a path through the forest ~ 12 minutes on foot. 🌿 A waterfall - Flume Falls - 20 km away, ~ an hour's ride by bike. 🌿 Whiteface Mountain - one of the highest mountains accessible to every tourist. There is a cable car. Insanely beautiful. Photos will be later 😍 🌿 Mid’s Park on Tuesdays with their live music at sunset. 🌿 And also a large number of well-maintained and clean streets with beautiful houses and quick SQUIRRELS (they are everywhere, just everywhere). I just fell in love with this town. No noise, quiet, cozy. And what would you prefer: living in a big noisy city or in a quiet and calm small town?

ATAnastasiya Taranavataranova.nas · Nov 30, 2019Read

🌿The most popular social network is SNAPCHAT! Not Instagram, not Facebook, but Snapchat. And when you ask what they are taking photos of every time, they answer: «Everything!!». When did the Snapchat trend pass for us? In 2015? 🌿For American students, it's normal to take a gap year. People even admire it, saying "good for you, you want to earn money/go traveling." Back home, they would look at you with a confused face and ask if you're having problems. 🌿There is no buckwheat. Like, nowhere. That very "weight loss" product that could have saved every third American from obesity is missing. Time to start a business and import it from Belarus! 🌿Almost everyone works from the age of 16. It's not common to be a burden on your parents. 🌿Apologies. Either they are so cultured, or they are genuinely ashamed, or it's just a habit – Americans are constantly apologizing. It gets to the point where you're just walking down a hallway that easily fits two people, but they act like they're afraid of bumping into you and start apologizing. Sometimes it's very cute, and sometimes you wonder if you did something wrong. 🌿Just like in the UK, they use different units of measurement here: pounds instead of kilograms; miles instead of kilometers. And when, say, you're driving a car, the speedometer shows 40, and you're racing at the speed of a cheetah, you immediately remember that you are in the USA!

ATAnastasiya Taranavataranova.nas · Jul 12, 2019Read

I'll start with a tiny backstory and say that I ended up in America completely spontaneously. During a meeting with friends one EVENING in December, we decided we wanted to go, and the next MORNING we went to submit our documents. The program we are participating in is called "Work and Travel USA". Alas (not really), our program is not tourist-oriented at all. Based on the name, you can understand that we are going there to work, and only secondarily to travel. In Belarus, this program is handled by only one firm – the Center for International Relations @iec_minsk. It contacts the office in the USA, which gives you the right to work legally in the USA from June 25 to August 25 (for Belarus). You choose your own departure date to the USA; you can go any day from the end of June to mid-July (as long as you've passed your exams and internship). Before leaving for America, you must receive a contract with an American employer who provides you with a job. This contract (job offer) is verified by the American program sponsor organization. You can work all summer and receive a salary (usually from $8 to $12 per hour). Usually, students work in fields that do not require special knowledge or experience. It is exactly the same temporary summer job as in Belarus. The only difference is that the work is paid in dollars and you are not working in your hometown, but in a regular American one (and, well, the money is decent). The most common workplaces for our students are hotels and motels, restaurants and cafes, amusement and national parks. In short, the entire service sector. Of course, a significant downside is that this program costs a lot of money, but as a rule, hardworking students (not those who just sit around, but those who actually work) fully recoup the program costs and end up with a significant profit. Also, students participating in this program have the opportunity to travel around America throughout September. Everything is legal and on a work visa. So, if there are any problems, it's only with the dean's office regarding summer internships and a few weeks missed in September... (just like me this year😅) But I believe that everything is solvable, you just have to want it 😉 https://www.instagram.com/iec_minsk/

YTYauheni Turavetsevgeniytyrovez · Dec 15, 2017Read

What about life across the ocean?! ...and why did you come back?! After my trip to the USA and my eventual return home, my friends keep asking me two questions: Question 1. "What's it like across the ocean?" and Question 2. "Why did you come back?!". I can't give a simple answer to either of them. It's impossible to answer in two, three, or even twenty sentences!!! You could talk for hours about "what it's like across the ocean" and "why?". But I'll try to keep it brief, if that's even possible ))) So, let's get started... Although no, before we start, there is a rather long, exciting, emotional, nervous path, full of sleepless nights, but one that is definitely worth it... A little preface Since I was six, I was quite serious about hockey, and thanks to ten years of playing, I had the chance to visit all the major cities in our beloved Belarus, as well as Poland, Germany, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Austria, Ukraine, Lithuania, and Latvia. I loved visiting different countries, listening to foreign languages, and learning about the customs and peculiarities of other nations. A significant role was played by what we considered an in-depth study and knowledge of English (which I always thought was pretty good English). My hockey team. I am standing in the top row in the center. So, having some baggage of foreign language knowledge and a craving for trips abroad, I was finishing my second year of university, making plans for the summer, and just living a fairly measured life. But everything changed one day when my friend told me about the Work and Travel USA program. I won't describe the terms of this program here, because anyone can go to the website www.iec.by and familiarize themselves with all the information they are interested in, which, of course, is definitely worth doing! I want to say that getting to know and subsequently participating in the Work and Travel USA program depends, in principle, on how strong your desire to be "across the ocean" really is, not counting, of course, the financial side of the issue. But I want to note that this step must be well-thought-out and sufficiently balanced. The decision should be made with a "cool head". http://www.iec.by/

PRPalina Rekeshpolinarekesh2002 · Dec 20, 2022Read

Greetings to all readers of my story. I think I should start with a brief introduction. My name is Polina, and I turned twenty in November. I was born in the capital of the Belarusian Polesie – a small but very beautiful city, Pinsk. After finishing ninth grade, my mom, my sister, and I left everything behind and moved to Minsk in search of a better life. Since 2020, I have been a law student at the Belarusian State University. During my school years, I attended all sorts of clubs: swimming, gymnastics, chess, ballroom dancing; I studied choreography for several years, and later found my passion in a pop dance group, where I spent no less than 10 years. I also graduated from music school, which I almost always attended with a tantrum and a desire to stay and play in the yard with my friends (the certificate is gathering dust on a shelf somewhere, but I don't regret anything). In my first year, I participated in a million activities at the university, but from the second year on, I immersed myself more in my studies. However, I can't stay still, so I go to the gym whenever possible. I first heard about exchange programs in 10th grade. A close person gave me advice back then: "Look, you'll graduate from school very soon and will likely enter university. But student years are not just about studying; they are about the opportunity to express yourself and see the world. Definitely approach the administration and ask about student exchange programs." I got really excited about it then and promised myself to grab every chance. Unfortunately, in the year I entered university, any opportunities to leave the country disappeared for me. The university didn't offer any promising or interesting exchange programs. I had to give up on the ideas. And then, in the winter of my first year, I saw something about the Work and Travel program somewhere. Where? I don't remember, but I know for sure that the information didn't inspire any trust in me at the time. "That can't be true. It's a scam!" I thought. Later, I started hearing about this program more often. I got interested and started watching participants' blogs and looking for various information on the internet. I got fired up! But thoughts like "they were just lucky," "they are chosen ones," "I won't be able to do it" didn't leave my head. The turning point was the summer of 2022. One morning, I saw stories on social media from a girl I know personally. Stories from America, from which it became clear that she was there through that very Work and Travel program. It was like someone threw me a lifebuoy. "See, if you want it, it's possible"! "This can really happen to you too, just take action"!!! I won't lie if I say that at that moment I saw light at the end of the tunnel. I returned to the promise I made to myself back in 10th grade. I started gathering information about the program more consciously and asking questions to participants from previous years. I learned that the program is for full-time students, aged 18-28, with basic knowledge of English. I also heard from many that in the final years, the chance drops to zero. I am currently in my third year, and the next one is my final year. This year, there are as many chances as there will never be again. "Okay, I need this. I will never forgive myself if I don't put all my efforts into participating in this wonderful program now. I'm in!" From that moment on, I knew for sure that I would spend the summer in America. I talked to my parents, and they supported me. In their bedroom, there is already a box with money that they will lend me for participation. I am actively brushing up on my English and preparing to sign the contract. One fine day, I stumbled upon a contest that I am currently participating in. If I win, I will make my parents happy by telling them I'm going at my own expense. Otherwise, I will be proud that I tried my luck and wasn't afraid to take the opportunity. Now I will answer a couple of questions. Youth travel and

PRPalina Rekeshpolinarekesh2002 · Dec 20, 2022Read

I welcome all readers of my story. I think I should start with a brief introduction. My name is Polina, in November my third decade started. I was born in the capital of Belarusian Polesia — the small but very beautiful town of Pinsk. After finishing ninth grade my mother, my sister and I left everything behind and moved to Minsk in search of a better life. Since 2020 I have been a student at the Faculty of Law of the Belarusian State University. In my school years I attended all kinds of clubs: swimming, gymnastics, chess, ballroom dancing, I studied choreography for several years, then I found myself in a pop dance group where I practiced for a full 10 years. I also graduated from music school, which I almost always went to in hysterics and wanting to stay and play in the yard with my girlfriends (the certificate of completion is probably gathering dust on a shelf somewhere, but I don't regret anything). In my first year I took part in countless university activities, and from the second year I immersed myself more in my studies. But I can't remain completely without movement, so I go to the gym whenever possible. I first heard about exchange programs in 10th grade. Back then a close person gave me the advice: "Look, you'll be graduating from school soon and will probably enter university. But student years are not only about studying, they are about the opportunity to show yourself and see the world. Be sure to go to the administration and ask about student exchange programs." I got really excited about it and promised to grab any chance. Unfortunately, in the year I enrolled any opportunities for me to leave the country disappeared. The university did not offer promising or interesting exchange programs. I had to give up the idea. And then in the winter of my first year I saw something somewhere about the Work and Travel program for the first time. Where? I don't remember anymore, but I know for sure that at that time this information did not inspire any trust in me. "That doesn't happen. It's a scam!" I thought. Later I started hearing about this program more and more. I became curious, began watching participants' blogs and searching for various information on the internet. I got fired up! But thoughts like "they were just lucky," "they're chosen," "I won't be able to" did not leave my head. The turning point was the summer of 2022. One morning I saw on social media the stories of a girl I know personally. Stories from America that made it clear she was there through that very Work and Travel program. It felt like someone threw me a lifeline. "See, if you want it, it's possible!" "This really can happen to you too, just act!!!" I won't lie if I say that at that moment I saw a light at the end of the tunnel. I returned to the promise I had given myself back in 10th grade. I began to collect information about the program more consciously, asking questions to participants from previous years. I learned that the program is for full-time students aged 18–28 with a basic knowledge of English. I also heard from many that for graduating-year students the chance tends toward zero. I'm currently in my third year, the next one is my final year. This year the opportunity is as great as it will ever be. "Okay, I need this. I will never forgive myself if I don't direct all my efforts now toward participating in this wonderful program. I'm in!" From that moment on I already know for sure that I will spend the summer in America. I talked to my parents, and they supported me. There is already a little box with money in their bedroom that they will lend me for participation. I'm actively improving my English and preparing to sign the contract. One fine day I came across a contest in which I am now participating. If I win — I'll make my parents happy that I will go at my own expense. Otherwise — I'll be proud that I tried my luck and wasn't afraid to take the opportunity. Now I'll answer a couple of questions. Youth travels and student exc