I thought I would share a little bit of info regarding the application timeline for those who don't know.I found it really helpful through all this, to have these to compare. I hope this helps anyone applying!
**Please keep in mind I did my application whilst living in London, therefore some of my medical especially took longer than it may have in the US. Most NHS doctors are not familiar with the PC, nor are they willing to be flexible
February 2010: Continue my year(s) long research of the Peace Corps, and decide it’s time to finally apply. Go for coffee with a friend/former volunteer to ask the kind of questions not given on the website lol.
31 March 2010: Begin my Application! Set up my Online Accounts
11 April 2010: Begin work on my Essays and Personal Statements
13 April 2010: Request my Recommendation letters (3 required, I did 4)
1) personal
2)Volunteer
3) Employment
4)Volunteer/Academic
17 April 2010: Submitted 1st part of Application
19 April 2010: Submitted Unofficial Transcript for Masters
21 April 2010: Received Email from my Recruiter re: supplementary materials to be mailed to me including FBI finger print cards and additional skills addendum.
2 May 2010: Received Packet & begin working
12 May 2010: Appointment at the U.S. Embassy to get fingerprint cards taken care of (no one does them over here!)
27 May 2010: Recruiter Email – received my packet of supplementary information
2 June 2010: Recruiter Email asking for county I was born in, and another transcript
7 June 2010: Email from Interviewer setting up time
11 June 2010: Interview via Web Conference
16 June 2010: Post Interview Email, request for a “relationship” survey form to be filled out as I had had one in the previous year... (more papers!)
24 June 2010: Email from Recruiter asking if a June 2011 departure would be possible (originally I put July)
28 June 2010: NOMINATION!!! The first of the big steps!
Program: Business Development
Region: Asia
Departure Date: late June 2011
29 June 2010: Legal Clearance
7 July 2010: Medical Packet in Mail
July – September 2010: More Medical, Eye and Dental Appointments than I can count
· Includes NHS appointments AND private, as some vaccines (varicella for ex.) is not given in the UK and therefore must be obtained privately. Basically...£££££
11 October 2010: Medical Kit Mailed (DHL)
14 October 2010: Kit received by PC
17 December 2010: Toolkit updated ..."look for letter"
20 December 2010: Deferred.....not unusual, but also really frustrating
More Medical required. (email for specifics if really curious). More tests....
· Also Dental waiting for Wisdom teeth removal (takes forever in England on the NHS to get appointments). Note, dental clearance must be done before you leave, but not before you receive final invitation/assignment.
· To make things more complicated ...had to switch doctors, as I have moved.
29 December 2010: Call Peace Corps Nurse and get specific clarification on what is needed
17 January 2011: Doctors Apt
21 January 2011: Lab results received
26 January 2011: Apt to have papers signed with NHS doctor....she won’t sign them! “against the medical policy of the United Kingdom to release you from medical care for any length of time, tell the Peace Corps they’re being fussy”...
· Emergency call to private doctor requesting signature
27 January 2011: Got signatures from private doctors (In your face NHS)
28 January 2011: Fax all final forms to Peace Corps. FINGERS CROSSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
14 February 2011: Return from Amsterdam to find letter from PC, saying SURPRISE....more info needed. ARGHHHHHHHHHH They want a clarification on stuff faxed and claimed they didn't get a few things...2 phone calls later. Nurse says everything seems to be in order and she should get to it today or tomorrow. Fingers Crossed Again!
22 February 2011: Another letter arrives requesting another report and another lab work up as the NHS did not provide them with enough information... I am leaving the country, struggling to get appointments.
10 March 2011: flew back in from Spain last night, leave for Argentina in the morning. Have my doctor appointment for the lab work. (for a healthy person, I have been spending a lot of time at the doctors)
22 March 2011: Call about lab results (phone tag with the nurse) and find out the lab still didn't give half the information on the long list. The nurse offers to call PC to explain. She calls me back and Woohoo PC says it is sufficient.
23 March 2011: Fax everything to PC and hope for the best.
24 March 2011: Email saying they received my fax! a.m.
Email from nurse saying MEDICALLY CLEARED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
25 March 2011: Toolkit states -
Complete. A decision has been reached regarding your medical review. Please look for a letter in the mail.
28 March 2011: Called Placement to Confirm that my file had been passed & they were aware of my foreign address
29 March 2011: Medical Clearance letter arrived in London
01 April 2011: Placement emailed requesting updated resume and transcript. I emailed them back immediately. File moved to the Placement Specialist. Should hear in 4-6 weeks!
12 May 2011: I emailed my Placement Assistant for any update & she responded that due to Federal Budget Cuts, many programs are being pushed back. She said many applicants will be asked depart after the New Year. She then told me my file was still under review and that my Placement Officer would be in contact in 3-4 weeks.
This of course means that based on their "you will have an invitation 6 weeks before departure" rule, I won't be making my original nomination of late-June. This also means my region must be re-opened? No information. Saying a few prayers, checking my horoscopes & stalking anything Peace Corps related....Patience, Patience, Patience...
19 May 2011: I update my Placement Assistant about my further volunteer experience with Habitat for Humanity
26 May 2011: Left the Placement Business Desk a voicemail asking if I had been assigned to a Placement Officer, and if so, since it would look like I'm not making my original nomination, have I be re-nominated to another region?
27 May 2011: PO responds that I have in fact not been placed in my original nomination and they are now looking at Oct-Dec Placement Worldwide.
14 June 2011: PO emails to set up Final Placement Call for the end of this week!!!
17 June 2011: Phone call with PO, lasted about 10 minutes and then INVITED!!! Leaving late-September for Eastern Europe/Caucasus!!! Looks like might be Azerbaijan!
22 June 2011: INVITED to the Republic of Azerbaijan!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Days Since Application Submission (So Far)....443 Days
Peace Corps PSA - Click Here!
14 February 2011: Return from Amsterdam to find letter from PC, saying SURPRISE....more info needed. ARGHHHHHHHHHH They want a clarification on stuff faxed and claimed they didn't get a few things...2 phone calls later. Nurse says everything seems to be in order and she should get to it today or tomorrow. Fingers Crossed Again!
22 February 2011: Another letter arrives requesting another report and another lab work up as the NHS did not provide them with enough information... I am leaving the country, struggling to get appointments.
10 March 2011: flew back in from Spain last night, leave for Argentina in the morning. Have my doctor appointment for the lab work. (for a healthy person, I have been spending a lot of time at the doctors)
22 March 2011: Call about lab results (phone tag with the nurse) and find out the lab still didn't give half the information on the long list. The nurse offers to call PC to explain. She calls me back and Woohoo PC says it is sufficient.
23 March 2011: Fax everything to PC and hope for the best.
24 March 2011: Email saying they received my fax! a.m.
Email from nurse saying MEDICALLY CLEARED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
25 March 2011: Toolkit states -
Complete. A decision has been reached regarding your medical review. Please look for a letter in the mail.
28 March 2011: Called Placement to Confirm that my file had been passed & they were aware of my foreign address
29 March 2011: Medical Clearance letter arrived in London
01 April 2011: Placement emailed requesting updated resume and transcript. I emailed them back immediately. File moved to the Placement Specialist. Should hear in 4-6 weeks!
12 May 2011: I emailed my Placement Assistant for any update & she responded that due to Federal Budget Cuts, many programs are being pushed back. She said many applicants will be asked depart after the New Year. She then told me my file was still under review and that my Placement Officer would be in contact in 3-4 weeks.
This of course means that based on their "you will have an invitation 6 weeks before departure" rule, I won't be making my original nomination of late-June. This also means my region must be re-opened? No information. Saying a few prayers, checking my horoscopes & stalking anything Peace Corps related....Patience, Patience, Patience...
19 May 2011: I update my Placement Assistant about my further volunteer experience with Habitat for Humanity
26 May 2011: Left the Placement Business Desk a voicemail asking if I had been assigned to a Placement Officer, and if so, since it would look like I'm not making my original nomination, have I be re-nominated to another region?
27 May 2011: PO responds that I have in fact not been placed in my original nomination and they are now looking at Oct-Dec Placement Worldwide.
14 June 2011: PO emails to set up Final Placement Call for the end of this week!!!
17 June 2011: Phone call with PO, lasted about 10 minutes and then INVITED!!! Leaving late-September for Eastern Europe/Caucasus!!! Looks like might be Azerbaijan!
22 June 2011: INVITED to the Republic of Azerbaijan!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Days Since Application Submission (
Peace Corps PSA - Click Here!
