REGISTRATION

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You are required to pay a non-refundable registration fee of $75 and a deposit of $500 USD in order to secure your spot in the Japan Bound Experience Program OR a $350 program fee for the Japan Bound Exchange. Your spot will not be secured until we receive your deposit (Experience) or program fee (Exchange). The program fee for Japan Bound Exchange is fully refundable for cancellations made before 7 days of the program's listed start date. If we do not receive your program fee within one week of your application being submitted, your child's position in the program will be forfeited. We accept late applications, however we cannot guarantee that such applications will be accommodated. An additional fee may be charged for accommodating late applications.

 

Deposit can be paid by credit card through Stripe on Moment's secure platform, or by check made payable to GPI US Inc. and mailed to:

GPI US Inc. 
800 Wilshire Blvd Ste. 200
Los Angeles, CA 90017

 

PAYMENT TERMS

The $500 deposit will be applied towards the participant’s tuition balance. The deposit is fully refundable for cancellations made before March 1, 2020, but after March 1, 2020, it is non-refundable. Subsequent payments can be made in monthly installments or in one lump sum determined at the time of registration. If you complete your registration after March 1, 2020, your deposit will be due within 24 hours of the completion of the registration to secure your spot and is non-refundable thereafter.

 

Any remaining balance for the program fee must be paid no later than 2 months prior to the departure date (April 19th, 2020), which can be paid by check or credit card.

 

All credit card and PayPal payments (other than the initial $500 deposit) are subject to a 3% fee for Visa, Mastercard, Discover or PayPal payments, and a 4% convenience fee for American Express payments.

 

TRAVEL INSURANCE

All families are required to purchase travel insurance during the program. Proof of purchase of travel insurance is required to participate. Failure to show proof of purchase of travel insurance will result in the forfeiture of the participant's spot on the program. Although it is entirely your decision which insurance company to use we do not recommend or favor any particular insurance company, World Nomads does offer travel insurance. If interested, you can request an estimate here: World Nomads Insurance Quote

 

WHAT’S NEXT?

After completing your registration, you will receive an automated email that contains an acknowledgment form. If you have not received such email within 24-hours of registration, please contact us either by email at japanbound@gpius.net or by calling us at (781) 539-5785 and leaving a message.

 

Please pay your deposit within one week of your registration. We will not secure your child's spot on the trip until after receiving the deposit. Applications are submitted through our communication and registration platform, Moment. Applications received outside of these hours will be processed the next business day. All forms that must be completed by parents and physicians, packing lists, travel tips, travel insurance information, and any other important information can be found on the respective Moment pages for each program. Hard copies of the essential legal/medical forms can be mailed to participants upon request. Our contract and release must be signed by all custodial parents (or guardians) and the participant. There are serious penalties for violation of certain rules, including a participant being sent home at the parents’/guardians’ expense. Our participants are expected to comply with all of our rules and regulations.

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PRIVACY POLICY:

We are committed to keeping your information safe and will never disclose or share any of your/your child’s personal, medical or financial information to anyone without your express consent. To prevent unauthorized access, maintain data accuracy, and ensure the correct use of information, we have implemented physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect online and through mail. You can review our Privacy Policy here at www.japanbound.net/privacy-policy.

 

REFUND POLICY

Your $500 deposit will be applied towards the participant’s tuition balance. The deposit is fully refundable until March 1, 2020. After March 1, 2020, the deposit is non-refundable. If you cancel or withdraw from the program more than 90 days prior to the departure, the tuition paid as of the cancellation date less the deposit is fully refundable. If we incurred any additional expenses in connection with the participant, such expenses will be deducted from the refund you will receive. If you cancel or withdraw from the program for any reason less than 90 days prior to the departure date, any tuition paid by you is not refundable and you are required to pay the remaining balance of the program fee, if any, at the time of cancellation. Credit card information must be on file with us if you have not paid the entire program fee by 90 days prior to the departure. We accept cancellations only by WRITTEN NOTICE which can be sent to us by email or fax.

 

Participants will be sent home at their expense if they are dismissed from a program as a result of a violation of our rules and regulations. Such participants will forfeit their tuition and will be responsible for additional costs incurred in connection with their early dismissal including but not limited to airport transfers, new flights and time spent by our staff handling all of the additional travel logistics, which will be billed at $100 per hour.

 

The terms and conditions of airline tickets may vary depending on each carrier/airline. Some airline tickets may be non-changeable and others may be non-transferable. You are encouraged to carefully read and understand the terms and conditions.

 

In the event that you need to cancel or change airline tickets, we are not responsible for any fees incurred. 

 

ADDITIONAL COSTS

We will obtain any medical or dental treatment that we, in our sole discretion, determine is necessary or advisable for the health of the participant and the group. Parents/guardians agree to pay all costs and expenses incurred directly or indirectly in this regard. We attempt to reach the parent/guardian when the care is sought or deemed advisable and when any medications are recommended or prescribed.

 

VISAS & PASSPORTS

Participants are required to maintain a passport for all international travel with at least 6 months of validity from the last day of the trip. If you/your child travels with a passport that expires within 6 months, airlines may deny travel and the immigration officer may deny their entry into the country. You are solely responsible for the maintenance of the passport(s) in order to prevent such travel interventions. We will not be responsible or liable for any damage, loss, claims and/or expenses arising out of, caused by or related to the travel interventions.

 

If the participant is NOT an American citizen, whether or not residing in the U.S., it is the sole responsibility of the parent/guardian to determine whether a visa or travel permit is required for the participant to enter Japan. If you determine that a visa is necessary, you are solely responsible for obtaining such visa or travel permit at your expense.

 

You are solely responsible for obtaining and/or preparing any documentation that is necessary for the participant to enter Japan. It is the sole responsibility of the participant to present such documentation at the time of entry into the country.   We will not be responsible and liable for any damage, loss, claims and/or expenses arising out of, caused by or related to the denial or refusal of entry to any country for the programs offered by us.

 

FLIGHTS AND TRANSPORTATION

Participants are responsible for booking their own flight and it must arrive on the designated arrival day. Our staff will be at the designated locations at the destination airport at the time of both the participants’ departure and arrival to supervise them and provide necessary support.

 

We will not be responsible for any delay, cancellation or strike of flights, public transportation such as buses, trains, ferries, metros and the like) and reserve the right to arrange alternative transportation as necessary. You are responsible for any additional costs or expenses incurred as a result of such delays or cancellations.

Upon final payment we need to see a copy of your flight itinerary and proof of travel insurance. Failure to submit these documents along with final payment may result in forfeiture of your spot. 

 

Flights within trips:

All intra-trip flights are chaperoned by our staff.

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Missed flights:

In the event that a participant misses the group flight, we will assist in arranging alternative flights. However, you are solely responsible for additional expenses incurred in connection with the flight missed by the participant.

 

PHOTOS

You and the participant hereby grant permission to GPI US and its affiliates and subsidiaries to take and use: photographs, digital images, videotapes, audio recordings or quoted remarks of participants for use in reports, bulletins, news releases, website and/or promotional materials of GPI US and its affiliates and subsidiaries. You and the participant acknowledge and understand that, by signing this form, this permission cannot be withdrawn at a later stage and you are not entitled to payment now or in the future with respect to photographs, digital images, videotapes, audio recordings or quoted remarks of the participants. You may request to have your photo consent removed by e-mailing japanbound@gpius.net.
 

LOST, STOLEN OR DAMAGED PROPERTY AND LOST LUGGAGE

We will not be responsible for the loss and/or recovery of any lost, stolen or damaged belongings. If the participant’s luggage is lost at the airport, our staff will assist in reporting the lost luggage with the airport or airline. However, it is your sole responsibility to follow up with the airport or airline for the recovery of the lost luggage.  If you determine that the participant can continue to participate in the program without his/her luggage, you must make arrangements to ensure that the participant will have enough clothes and supplies during the program.

 

DISCLOSURE:

You are expected to disclose any physical or mental conditions of the participant that may potentially affect the participant’s ability to participate in the program. Withholding such information will be a violation of our contract and we will seek all remedies for damages caused by such violation. This obligation continues until the program is completed and you are required to report to us any additional conditions discovered after the completion of your registration.

We require all participants to submit their medical forms by March 1st or within 1 week of submitting your deposit (if applying after the March 1st deadline). 

 

CANCELLATION, RETURN AND INSURANCE

We REQUIRE all participants to purchase travel insurance for protection against trip cancellation, modification, unforeseen circumstances, delayed flights, additional costs incurred due to events including but not limited to medical or family emergencies and lost luggage. Information about purchasing the travel insurance is available upon request.

 

You are required to provide proof of travel insurance as a condition of participation in the program.  In Japan, hospitals and medical clinics may not accept patients without proper insurance.

 

We reserve the right to dismiss any participant for disruptive, unbecoming, immoral or disobedient behavior at our sole discretion.  Dismissed participants must be picked up by their parents/guardian or sent home by plane within 12-24 hours of dismissal. Participants will be sent home at their expense if they are dismissed from the program as a result of the violation of our rules and regulations. Such Participants will forfeit their tuition and will be responsible for additional costs incurred in connection with their early dismissal including but not limited to airport transfers, new flights and time spent by our staff handling all of the additional travel logistics, which will be billed at $100 per hour. If participants encounter or witness others committing any offense, they must immediately notify a trip leader or our staff.

 

GPI US Inc. reserves the right to cancel or change the program itinerary, location, dates or duration for any reason at any time. You are solely responsible for any expenses incurred in connection with such cancellation or change.

 

ATTORNEYS’ FEES

In the event that there is a dispute or claim arising out the foregoing terms and conditions and the participation of the program, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.

 

GOVERNING LAW

This Agreement shall be governed by and enforceable under the laws of California. 

 

ARBITRATION

Any dispute arising out of the foregoing terms and conditions and the participation of the program shall be submitted to and determined exclusively by binding arbitration in conformity with the procedures of the California Arbitration Act (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. Sec 1280 et seq., including section 1283.05 and the Act’s other mandatory and permissive rights to discovery).  The arbitrator shall be a retired California Superior Court Judge and shall be subject to disqualification on the same grounds as would apply to a judge of such court.  To the extent applicable in civil actions in California courts, the following shall apply and be observed; all rules of pleading (including the right of demurrer), all rules of evidence, and all rights to resolution of the dispute by means of motions for summary judgement, judgment on the pleadings, and judgment under Code of Civil Procedure Section 631.8.  All expenses and costs which are specific to the arbitration, including the arbitrator’s fees and any costs of conducting an arbitration which would not occur otherwise, shall be bore equally by each party. 

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I have accurately and fully completed this online registration form, and agree to the foregoing terms and conditions. I will promptly review all materials provided by GPI US and complete all forms that are necessary. I give my permission for my child to participate in GPI US Japan Bound program activities conducted by GPI US or a subcontractor and fully release and waive GPI US, its affiliates and subsidiaries and its contractors from any and all liability associated with, arising out of, or related to the program participation.

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