Welcome to WTUSAhousing.com, your gateway to the United States!

As a participant in the U.S. State Department's Summer Work Travel (SWT) program, you are one of nearly 300,000 participants from 200 countries that take part in j-visa exchanges each year. We hope you enjoy living and working in the United States - and getting to know its culture along the way. WTUSA is operated by All Friends, a trusted partner in the SWT program that offers a host of services to exchange participants from around the world through its student hubs. These include free Internet, access to SIM cards and cell phone plans, around-the-clock support in case of emergencies, and a series of affordable trip packages to popular destinations around the United States. In order to reserve your summer housing, you must first pay a deposit to secure your spot. Paying by credit card is the least expensive way to do so since you are charged a minimal fee for paying with a non-U.S. credit card rather than multiple wire transfer fees.
Here's how it works:
1) All Friends maintains a network of trusted landlords who offer safe and clean summer housing. We serve as a clearing house between exchange students from around the world who request seasonal housing and the landlords who provide that housing.
*2) Once we know how many students need housing and how many spaces are available, we connect you with a landlord and arrange for you to pay your deposit.
3) Deposits cost $300, plus a 4% fee for paying via non-U.S. credit card, so, for a $300 deposit, your total payment will be $300 + a $15 bank fee, or $315.)
**4) All Friends uses a platform called Authorize.net to collect deposits and transfer them to the corresponding landlords. Authorize is a secure payment portal that provides the technical, fraud prevention, and banking infrastructure to make your payments safely.
5) Your deposit will be refunded at the end of the season once all tenants move out and if you fulfill the terms of the lease. Each landlord has his own deposit refund policy so you will be refunded according to the rental agreement. If you pay your deposit and do not get a visa, we will refund your full deposit.

*WTUSA is not your landlord. It is a tool created by All Friends to link you with a landlord. By signing an agreement with a landlord, you agree to the terms and conditions of the lease and to work directly with the landlord (not All Friends) concerning your housing.
**Alternatively, you may choose to pay the deposit via wire transfer. Your total fees would then be the cost of your deposit ($300) + a $15 incoming transfer fee for All Friends + whatever fee your overseas bank charges to initiate the transfer.
***Please contact us at pay@wtusahousing.com for any questions or concerns you might have.

Personal Data Processing Policy

We ensure that we respect the confidentiality of your personal data and, therefore, All Friends, we undertake to protect any information that identifies or may contribute to the identification of a person ("personal data"), which we collect, process and/or have access to.
The way personal information is collected, processed and shared depends on the legal purposes and legal basis on which it is collected and processed, as well as the specific consent granted by you.
Through this Personal Data Processing Policy, we want to ensure that you have access to adequate information about the collection and processing of your personal data, including those information that we are required to inform you about, as stipulated by the regulations regarding the protection of personal data, including the GDPR Regulation no. 2016/679 The General Data Protection Regulation ("GDPR").
This policy may be supplemented with other information provided by us, as well as with other terms and conditions that apply to this website or to which you have given your consent by interacting with us.
Who are we?
All Friends, is a data operator with headquarters in 203 S BALTIMORE AVENUE, OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND, 21842, phone: +14436642803, e-mail: info@allfriends.co.
All Friends is a registered trademark of Smart Staff LLC.
WTUSA Housing and its domain www.wtusahousing.com is operated and owned by All Friends.
What data do we process?
For communication you agree to give us personal data such as: email address, first and last name, telephone number. If you have a contractual relationship with All Friends we will request and process your citizenship, birthdate, gender, correspondence address, Passport, employer, visa sponsor, travel agency.
On our website we can store and collect information in cookies and similar technologies, according to the Cookie Policy.
What is the purpose and legal basis of the processing?
The purpose to process personal data collected through your consent is to ensure that the contractual agreements between us can be properly implemented so that the relationship can work smoothly and comply with legal requirements. The processing of your personal data is based on your consent to that effect (Article 6 (1) (b) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

 

Who has access to your data?
If you are a recipient of any of our services for which you voluntarily signed up the personal data transmitted by you is processed by All Friends. Moreover, if you are a participant in any of our partner agencies’ programs and you agree to use services provided by All Friends the personal data transmitted by you will also be processed by All Friends.
How long is your data stored?
Personal data provided by you will be processed during the All Friends contract or during the subscription to the newsletter.
Subsequently, either at the termination of the collaboration relationship or at the expiry of the legal obligation to archive that All Friends has, under applicable tax and accountinglaw, the data will be erased.
What are your rights to withdraw consent and unsubscribe?
You have a number of rights in accordance with the applicable data protection regulations. Certain rights are quite complex and include derogations, which is why it is recommended that you read the relevant legislation as well as the directives issued by the competent authorities to obtain full explanations of these rights. Otherwise, you can find a summary of your rights in the section below.

  1. The right to access the data. You have the right to obtain confirmation that your personal data is processed by All Friends or not. Additionally, you have the right to obtain detailed information regarding personal data stored and processed by All Friends, and under certain circumstances you are entitled to obtain a copy of this personal data.
  2. The right to data rectification. You have the right to request the rectification of incorrect personal data and, considering the purpose for which they are processed, request the completion of missing personal data.
  3. The right to data erasure. In some cases, you have the right to delete your personal data without undue delay. These circumstances include: i) when personal data are no longer required in relation to the purposes for which they were collected or processed; ii) when you withdraw your consent for consent-based processing; iii) when processing is for direct marketing purposes;iv) when personal data has been processed without complying with applicable law. However, there are some general exceptions to the right to delete the data. These general derogations include cases where processing is necessary: ​​i) for the exercise of the right to freedom of expression and information; ii) to meet legal obligations or; (iii) for the establishment, exercise and defense of legal claims.
  4. The right to restriction of processing. In some cases, you may restrict the processing of your personal data. Where processing has been restricted, we may continue to store your personal data. Otherwise, we only process them when: i) we have your consent; (ii) necessary for the establishment, exercise or defense of legal claims; (iii) are necessary to protect the rights of another natural or juridical person; or (iv) for important reasons of public interest.
  5. The right to data portability. If the legal framework for processing is your consent and this processing is done by automated means, you have the right to obtain your personal data in a structured format, commonly used and compatible with generic readers. However, this right does not apply where its exercise would adversely affect the rights and freedoms of others.
  6. The right to object. You have the right to object regarding the processing of your personal data for specific reasons to your individual situation, but only to the extent that the legal basis for processing is that the processing is necessary: ​​i) to carry out an action in the public interest or in the exercise of any official authorities invested or; (ii) for the legitimate interests pursued by us or by a third party. In such a case, we will cease processing your personal data unless we can demonstrate legitimate compelling legitimations of processing that precede your interests, rights and freedoms or when processing is intended to establish, exercise, and defend legal claims.

You also have the right to object the processing of your personal data for direct marketing purposes. If you raise such an objection, we will cease processing your personal data for that purpose.

  • The right to withdraw consent. To the extent that the legal basis for data processing arises from your consent, you have the right to withdraw at any time from that consent.

If you withdraw your consent, we will cease processing your personal data, unless and to the extent that continued processing is permitted or required in accordance with applicable data protection laws or other laws and regulations that apply in this context. Your withdrawal of your consent will not in any way affect the legal basis on which processing was made prior to the withdrawal of the consent.
If you will refrain from providing the necessary consent or if you later withdraw from these consents, this may result in the fact that you will no longer be able to use a part of our services.

  • The right to complain to the supervisor authority. You have the right to file a complaint at any time with the local data protection supervisor. You may submit a consumer complaint to the Federal Trade Commision (FTC).

Headquarters: 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington DC, 20580
Phone: (202) 326-2222
Website: www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov
We do our best to ensure that we protect your personal data, inform you about the way we process your personal data and comply with the applicable data protection regulations.
If you are dissatisfied with the processing and protection of your personal data or the information we have provided you, we encourage you to notify us in this regard in order to improve our services. Please also contact us without hesitation when you want to exercise your rights.
Please contact us through the contact details listed at the beginning of the document. Also, please provide us with the relevant information for processing your request, including your full name and email address, so we can identify you. We will handle your request without undue delays.
You can withdraw at any time from a consent to receive newsletters etc. and you can unsubscribe from an email list following instructions from any email or communication received from us.
How is your data stored?
The processing of personal data is done by automatic/manual means, in compliance with the legal requirements and under conditions that ensure the security, confidentiality and respect of the rights of the data subjects.
All documents containing personal data are registered and follow the rules of storage, processing, multiplication, transportation, transmission, destruction and archiving established by the legal regulations in force and by internal procedures.
The processing of personal data is done in accordance with the following principles:
a) LEGALITY, EQUITY AND TRANSPARENCY. The data are processed legally, fairly and transparently to the data subject;
b) PURPOSE-LIMITATIONS. The data are collected for determined, explicit and legitimate purposes and are not subsequently processed in a way incompatible with these purposes;
c) DATA MINIMIZATION. The processed data must be appropriate, relevant, and limited to what is required in relation to the purposes for which it is processed;
d) ACCURACY. The data processing must be accurate and, if necessary, the data must be updated; all necessary steps shall be taken to ensure that personal data which are inaccurate, considering the purposes for which they are processed, are erased or rectified without delay;
e) STORAGE RESTRICTIONS. The processed data will be kept in a form that permits the identification of the data subjects for a period that does not exceed the period necessary for the fulfillment of the purposes for which the data are processed;
f) INTEGRITY AND CONFIDENTIALITY. The data will be processed in a way that ensures the adequate security of personal data including protection against unauthorized or unlawful processing and loss, destruction or accidental damage by taking appropriate technical or organizational measures.
How do you access your data?
You can unsubscribe from the newsletter by selecting the unsubscribe option from the bottom of any newsletter sent.
For any questions or requests relating to personal data that you have transmitted to us, including the exercise of your rights, as mentioned in the previous section (eg. request personal copy, change, delete), you can contact us at info@allfriends.co.
All Friends will provide information in electronic format whenever possible, unless you request another format.
The information provided, as well as any communication and measures taken in your exercise of the above rights, are provided by the All Friends free of charge. However, if your claims are unfounded or excessive, in particular because of their repetitive nature, the All Friends may: (i) either charge a fee based on administrative costs for providing the information or communication, or for taking the required measures; (ii) refuse to comply with the request.
Thank you!
By accepting this agreement, your personal data will be processed by All Friends in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

Cookies

The information presented below is intended to inform the user about the placement, use and administration of cookies. The web page www.allfriends.co uses its own and third party cookies to provide visitors better navigation experience and services tailored to the needs and interests of each one.

  • What is a cookie?

"Internet Cookie" (also known as "browser cookie" or "HTTP cookie" or simply "cookie") is a small file of letters and numbers that will be stored on your computer, your mobile phone or other device that is used to access the Internet with.
A cookie consists of two parts: the name and the content or the value of the cookie. Furthermore, the duration of a cookie is determined; technically, only the web-server that sent the cookie can access it again when a user returns to the website associated with that webserver.
The cookie is installed through a web-server request to a browser (eg. Internet Explorer, Chrome) and is completely "passive" (does not contain software, viruses or spyware and cannot access the information on the user's hard drive).
Cookies themselves do not require personal information to be used and, in most cases, don’t personally identify Internet users.

  • What are the benefits of cookies?

A cookie contains information linking a web browser (user) and a specific web-server (website). If a browser accesses that web-server again, it can read the already stored information and react accordingly.
Cookies play an important role in facilitating the access and delivery of multiple services the user enjoys on the Internet, such as:

  • Customize settings such as the language in which the content of the site is viewed, the storage of options for different products (measures, other details etc.) in the shopping cart (and saving of these options) - generating the flexibility of the "shopping cart" (accessing old preferences by accessing the "forward" and "back" buttons);
  • Allow multimedia or other applications from other sites to be included in a particular site to create a more valuable, useful, and enjoyable browsing experience;
  • Cookies provide site owners with valuable information on how their sites are used by users, so they can make them even more effective and accessible to users;
  • What type of information is stored and accessed through cookies?

The cookie stores important information that enhances Internet browsing experience (eg. setting up the language of a site; keeping a user logged into the webmail account; online banking security; keeping your products in your shopping cart).

  • Why are cookies important for the Internet?

Cookies are the central focus of the efficient Internet, helping to generate a friendly browsing experience and tailored to the preferences and interests of each user. Denying or disabling cookies can make some sites unusable.
Denying or disabling cookies does not mean you will not receive online advertising - just that it will no longer be able to keep track of your preferences and interests highlighted by your browsing behavior.

  • What cookies do we use?

We use two types of cookies: per session and permanent. The first ones are temporary files that remain in the user's device until the end of the session or closing the application (the web browser). Permanent files remain on the user's device for a while in the cookie parameters or until they are deleted manually by the user.

  • How are cookies used by this site?

A visit to this site may place the following cookies:
• Site performance cookies;
• Visitor analysis cookies;
• Cookies for geotargeting;
• Recording cookies;
• Cookies for advertising;

  • Do the cookies contain personal data?

Cookies themselves do not require personal information to be used and, in most cases, do not personally identify Internet users. Personal data collected by using cookies can be collected only to facilitate certain user functions. Such data is encrypted in a way that makes impossible to be accessed by unauthorized persons.

  • Tips for safe and responsible cookie-based navigation.

Cookies are everywhere and cannot be avoided if you wish to enjoy the best and biggest websites on the Internet - local or international. Due to their flexibility and the fact that most of the frequently visited sites and the biggest ones use cookies, they are almost inevitable. Disabling cookies will not allow the user to access the most popular and used sites, including Youtube, Gmail, Yahoo and others.
Here are some tips that can help you navigate without worries using cookies:
Customize your browser’s cookie settings to reflect your comfort level with cookie security.
If you share access on your computer, you may want to set your browser to clear private browsing data every time you close your browser. While not as secure as rejecting cookies outright, this option lets you access cookie-based websites while deleting any sensitive information after your browsing session.
If you are very comfortable with cookies and you are the only person using your computer, you may want to set long expiration time frames for storing your personal access information and browsing history.
Install and keep antispyware applications updated.
Many spyware detection, cleanup applications, and spyware removers include attack site detection. They block your browser from accessing websites designed to exploit browser vulnerabilities or download malicious software.
Make sure your browser is updated.  Many cookie-based exploits are based on exploiting older browsers’ security shortcomings.
It is usually possible to stop your browser accepting cookies or to stop it accepting cookies from a particular website. For example, we cannot tell if you are signed in without using cookies, so you would not be able to post comments.
All modern browsers allow you to change your cookie settings. These settings will typically be found in the ‘options’ or ‘preferences’ menu of your browser. In order to understand these settings, the following links may be helpful, otherwise you should use the ‘Help’ option in your browser for more details:
Cookie settings in Internet Explorer;
Cookie settings in Firefox;
Cookie settings in Chrome;
Cookie settings in Safari.

 

  • Security and privacy issues

Cookies are not viruses. They are not compiled pieces of code so they cannot be executed nor are they self-executing. Accordingly, they cannot make copies of themselves and spread to other networks to execute and replicate again. Since they cannot perform these functions, they fall outside the standard virus definition.
Most browsers have built in privacy settings that provide differing levels of cookie acceptance, expiration time and disposal after a user has visited a particular site.
Cookies can be used for malicious purposes though. Since they store information about a user’s browsing preferences and history, both on a specific site and browsing among several sites, cookies can be used to act as a form of spyware. Many anti-spyware products are well aware of this problem and routinely flag cookies as candidates for deletion after standard virus and/or spyware scans.
Other security issues related to cookies:
Since identity protection is highly valued and is every internet user’s right, it pays to be aware of what threat cookies can pose. As cookies are transmitted back and forth between a browser and website, if an attacker or an unauthorized person gets in between the data transmission, the sensitive cookie information can be intercepted.
Although relatively rare, this can happen if the browser is connecting to the server using an unencrypted network (e.g. an non-secured Wi-Fi channel).
Other cookie-based attacks involve exploiting faulty cookie-setting systems on servers. If a website doesn’t require browsers to use encrypted channels only, attackers can use this vulnerability to trick browsers into sending sensitive information over insecure channels. The attackers then siphon off the sensitive data for unauthorized access purposes. It is very important to be careful in choosing the most appropriate method of protecting personal information.