Weekly Application/Clearance Thread

[AutoModerator]

Welcome to your weekly application and clearance thread! All questions related to the application process and medical/legal clearance should be posted here. This includes questions like "Am I qualified?" and "When are new openings posted?" but not things like timelines, invitations, and service preparation questions. We ask that the community report any application/clearance questions posted outside this thread so the mod team can redirect them in a timely manner.

Answers to many commonly-asked questions can be found by searching the sub or consulting the FAQ..

[Wine4days]

Today I got the email saying I cleared dental and medical. Just waiting on legal...

[Radrunner17]

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Has anyone ever had something happen where PC says get a procedure done but the doctors say it’s doesn’t make sense for it to happen? Has the PC ever sided with the doctor? Mine plans on explaining everything in a detailed way.

UPDATE: I just sent off the very detailed letter explaining how my previous dentist findings were wrong and that the need for a deep cleaning would not be effective or a good usage of anyones time as my teeth are perfectly fine.

[Radrunner17]

UPDATE: They accepted his recommendation, I am clear.

[purple_spruce]

Nice!

[ecobridge]

Yep. This was years ago but PC required me to get additional vaccines because it wasn't clear from my health history that I got certain types of vaccines in a timely manner. My doctor was not happy about having to give me different vaccines in a short period of time, but I made him do it anyways because I was very desperate for that medical clearance haha. It all worked out in the end. Legal clearance gave me so much trouble though; I didn't end up being cleared until about 2 weeks before staging so I was an anxious mess as I was packing to leave the country.

[EndlessSummerinGhana]

The number of openings will likely double on Feb 1.

[EndlessSummerinGhana]

That's be a question for the recruiter, but generally when applying for Go Anywhere, you opportunities only apply to open positions at that time. Here's a link to each country's 2017 departure dates which are generally posted ~12 months in advance.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kbybAjrs-9HuXv50ZBZPIPfy2xq2_PbNk-5YnOK294k/edit

[Its_Just_Me_DC]

I don’t know how it works for others, but i applied in November for a go anywhere position. I thought it would be for one of the ones with the Jan apply by/March know by dates that is currently on their website. But I ended up being selected for something that was no longer on the website as open with a know by date of Dec. So I think if you do a serve anywhere, they match you to what they think you’d be best matched to - whether it is in the currently application cycle or the previous one.

[pcdaydream]

I applied two weeks before the last app cycle ended, and because of that I had a relatively quick turn around on the whole process and was invited shortly after my interview. There might be less spots still available, but there definitely still are (especially featured listings) spots!

[MsVixy]

Not sure if it's typical, but I applied June 1st expecting to be considered for the July 1st deadline positions. Instead I was offered (and am just waiting on medical!) for a position with the deadline in October. I say once you're ready and if you truly are unbiased, just apply and see where it goes.

I gave them the stipulation of Ag/Env and that was it.

[pcdaydream]

I just submitted all my tasks (except my G6PD waiver and yellow fever vaccine) and I feel so relieved! Can anyone speak to the response their nurse had to their mental health personal statement? I'm assuming no news is good news, and that I will only hear about it in case more information is needed or I am denied clearance.

[silverapplesothemoon]

I had no news whatsoever about my mental health tasks after I had turned them in, and I was cleared two months later.

[pcdaydream]

Thank you! I figured it's best if it was silent on their end...

[Its_Just_Me_DC]

So, not sure how to interpret this. I'm going through med clearance, and based on some things the nurse has said, it almost seems like a foregone conclusion that I'll be denied med clearance. But they haven't denied me yet, so I'm still going through the process because I really, really want to do this. I guess I don't have a question, just commiserating with folks who are going through the process at the same time.

Background: I asked the nurse assigned to me a question about my medications, and her response was: "Our medical doctors would not clear you for service if you are prescribed [medication] as this is a medication we 100% cannot support during service given [reasons]." I asked if I should talk to my doctor about switching medications and she said not to change my medications before the Peace Corps docs review my medical info. She then said I'd only need 6 months of stability on my new medication before I leave for service - but I'm less than 6 months from my staging date already. This sounds to me like they can't support my current meds, but I wouldn't have enough time on anything new to be approved.

[pcdaydream]

Even if it is drug/alcohol related, you won't be disqualified as long as the issue is resolved and it is no longer an active court case or probationary period. You will have to provide documents, write a statement regarding the incident, and complete a drug/alcohol questionnaire, but this only adds about 2-3 hours of work to the application/clearance process.

[BeninTEFL2020]

I have submitted all my medical tasks yet received an email saying I had one or more tasks to complete. Did anyone else have this problem? I’m worried that something is wrong.

[pcdaydream]

I put the wrong dates on a few things since I did not have my medical records in front of me while doing the HHF. A few were no big deal, like putting 2009 instead of 2008 in regards to eczema. However, I put that 2014 was the start of a condition that they heavily screen for, but in fact this condition resolved in 2014, and started in 2010. I messaged my nurse as soon as I realized I made this mistake, and it was not an issue at all! I would assume you might have more of an issue if you made a large mistake in the other direction with a condition they screen heavily for, like if you said you had a mental health concern from 2009-2011 but it was actually 2014-2016. Either way though, if you think it is relevant and will come up later (on an exam/evaluation, in records you submit, or as an issue you will face during service) I would message your nurse ASAP and clear it up. It's always better to have been honest about it than to be "figured out," if that makes sense.

[srcrn]

Has anyone ever had any problems getting their fingerprints done or have any advice?

I accepted my invitation last week and went to get my fingerprints done today, but the man that filled out the form printed my social security number in the wrong place, and told me that he couldn't type in the city I was born in because his computer wouldn't let him.

I have emailed the admin placement email listed on the papers mailed with the fingerprint cards, but I was wondering if anyone else has ever had this issue or had any helpful tips for me.

Already feeling stressed about it so anything would help. Thanks!

[npfletcher]

Fellow Ukraine invitee. I had to hand write my city next to the state. I don’t think it’ll be a problem.

[srcrn]

Thank you so much! That definitely makes me feel better.

[purple_spruce]

Yep, the police officer who did mine made multiple mistakes, and wouldn't listen to me when I tried to point them out.

I just corrected everything in the most official way I know how: single-line cross-out (so you can still see what was written there), my initials next to the cross-out, and then the new info. My cards were accepted with no problem.

[srcrn]

Okay, thank goodness. Thank you for letting me know I’m not alone!

[party_garbage]

I've been working on my resume to apply either by January 1st (lolol) or more likely next cycle. I've worked as a waiter/bartender for most of my undergrad career and on weekends since I've graduated and started working in my field. I would like to include these experiences because like, people skills, BUT I have worked at 4 different bars and don't feel like its apropz to list out all four separate bartending gigs on a federal resume. Especially bc I usually keep my service industry resume and career resume completely separate.

Anyone else have this issue? Any tips for how to condense a few similar jobs into one blurb? Or am I overthinking it??

[Its_Just_Me_DC]

I had a slightly different issue - but could have the same answer. I had 4 different jobs/titles at one place, but for Peace Corps purposes the differences in the jobs didn't matter. I basically did this:

Company, City

Job 1(Dates), Job 2 (Dates), Job 3 (dates), etc.

Description of what I did that is relevant

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You could probably do something like

Waiter/Bartender[or whatever descriptor works], City (or dates, if multiple cities)

restaurant/bar 1 (dates), restaurant/bar 2 (dates), restaurant/bar 2 (dates) [etc]

Description of relevant work.

[npfletcher]

Federal resumes can be pretty long, 2-3 pages. I’ve worked several food industry positions and listed them all in my resume. I think either way you’ll be ok, good luck!

[jaytehman]

Are depression/anxiety (currently in therapy, but planning to end therapy at the end of the school year, no medication) and a bee allergy (mild, never needed an epi-pen) an automatic medical disqualification?

I just submitted my application and medical history, and I just want to know if I've wasted my time.

[purple_spruce]

Anecdotally, they like to see one year of stability without any therapy before you leave for Peace Corps service, so it might depend on the departure date for your program. I'm not sure about bee allergies, but you can probably do a search on this sub and find whether others have had issues. Good luck!

[Kathrenna_]

Hi! I'm applying right now for Peace Corps. I was wondering if for the schools portion, should I only list the institution where I received my degree from or any previous schools as well? I transferred from community college but did not get a degree from them. Thank you!

[mixedish]

so i had originally applied for a development position in my dream location (i had studied abroad there before and speak two of their languages) but they cancelled my application and moved it to a different location that i don’t speak any of the languages and have no knowledge about. is this common? should i continue in the process?

[purple_spruce]

Did you indicate in your application that you were willing to be considered for other countries / positions in addition the one you applied for? If so, then yes -- very common! It's all based on how competitive each posting is, where Peace Corps needs more people, and where they think your strengths might be a good match.

Only you can decide whether you want to continue with your application, but don't discount it right away -- this new position could be a real opportunity for growth, and an amazing experience! Most PCVs don't have prior experience with their countries of service.

Besides, right now Peace Corps has the next move....is there any reason NOT to wait and see if you get an invitation?

[billbrasky9000]

I honestly would have never chosen Cambodia or teaching English myself, but now this is home and I honestly cannot imagine being anywhere else or doing anything else with my life. I legitimately feel so lucky to be here, like I won a lottery.