Next Step Connections Reviews

Throughout this program, I have learned massive of knowledge and skill from the businesses, entrepreneurs; experience from travel and culture. I think this programs would be the base for my professional development. Not only for study, I also traveled, experienced and had a bigger view worldwide . Thanks to NSC providing us with useful information about the trip and guided us during the program. I really appreciate the helps and supports from this program that could help me in my future career.

Shanghai really opened my eyes to how uniquely different China is from the rest of the world, and how Shanghai, in my option, is probably the most underrated citiy in the world. Doing an internship in Shanghai, out of my comfort zone, is an important story of my life that I still continue to share to people until this day.

Going to Shanghai in my teens while still studying at university took some courage, and luckily I had that courage and drive, to really step out of my comfort zone and explore a truly different environment whilst at the same time being in a professional working environment - gaining a huge deal of various professional skills, people skills, travel skills and most importantly, life skills. All at a place where I would have never have thought to be before - making it all the more fun!

I interned at an Hong Kong-based Real Estate company. While real estate did not really appeal to me so much before my internship, it does now after my internship. Real estate investing is now a subject that I take a lot of interest in and has already helped me establish a few future plans of my own in that field for my years to come.

To wrap it up, I suggest that if you want to be different, and if you want to do a unique internship abroad in a unique location like Shanghai, China. Then I suggest you go to Shanghai, China or any other major cities in China. In the business world, it is getting very competitive, espeically for millenials straight out of university like me. And from my experience, an internship abroad like this can give a much needed competitive advantage to effectively 'market yourself' in a noisy, competitve world.

Lastly, I don't like to think too much, which helped stop me from any unessecary mental delays while applying for this summer internship role. I just simply did it. Applying took me less than a week to do, and the memories and experiences that I gained from it will be sure to last me a lifetime. That's not a bad investment at all.

Stay far away!!! I hope that my awful experiences can save others the stress, heartbreak, and a lot of money. Next Step Connections is so disorganized and poorly run that I had to put off my internship the first time (they didn’t get me the paperwork on time). Since then, then they asked me to lie to the visa consulate, had me working in China on a tourist visa which I found out is illegal, *and* had me working at a site where I was essentially a secretary when they knew that my school required substantive legal work.

For background: I am a third year law student. I hoped to get a bit of international law experience in Shanghai and committed to Next Step Connections over CRCC Asia (I have so many regrets… I used CRCC for my study abroad as a college student and had a great time). I chose NSC because it was cheaper and they said they could get me an internship with a law firm which was slightly more prestigious than the firm CRCC offered.

And then things quickly unraveled. I was initially slotted to intern with the firm for the fall semester of my third year in 2016. I let NSC know *months* in advance that I needed my visa handled before I left for my summer internship, since I was interning in a government agency in another Asian country where it would be very, very difficult for me to apply for a Chinese visa. They dragged their feet until it was too late. Even if I applied for an expedited visa (otherwise I would have to take a weekend trip to the state with my nearest immigration consulate – not possible with the time I had left) it would have cost me around $500. They blamed the supervisor of firm, saying that it was because he was on a business trip that week for why the single page letter was late. As if they didn’t have months to do it beforehand! Or as if fax machines, scanners, and e-mail don’t exist…

So I sucked it up and said fine, I’ll wait for my final semester in law school. It wasn’t ideal but I wanted the experience. This time, they told me that instead of a tourist visa I’ll need an M-visa, according to firm policy. And then they asked me to break the law and then they were wrong about it!

They told me to withhold material information from the consulate. They told me to not tell her that I was going to China for an internship. They didn’t give me any information on what I should tell her instead, so I ended up stumbling over some lame excuse because I (1) had no idea what to say and (2) wasn’t very comfortable lying to a government employee. When they asked what I said (because of course I was denied) they scolded me and told me to say “x” instead. When the second attempt didn’t work, because the consulate said I didn’t have all the necessary paperwork just like the first time, they just doubled down as if somehow Next Step Connection / their dumb scheme was correct and the *immigrant consulate* was wrong.. This was another huge red flag but it was too late to bail out.

I was on my third attempt at getting this business visa before I had to get an emergency flight to Washington D.C. and talk to the consulate myself because otherwise I would miss my non-refundable flight. Again the consulate denied me.

At this point I still didn't have a China visa... So I use an expedited service to apply again in Tokyo and I’m denied because I don’t have the paperwork for an M-visa. Eventually I had to accept a tourist visa because my spring semester was going to begin.

So I spent three weeks and $200+ on expedited visa services in the US, $400~ for an emergency flight to Washington D.C. to speak to the consulate and get my passport, and another $100+ in Japan for expedited services. I’m not entirely sure of the yen to US dollar conversion, so it's likely more. At no point during this entire experience did Next Step Connections offer an apology and they were so blasé about asking me to lie so many times and to so many people...

It was only until later, when I started researching China visa laws, that I found that there is *no issue whatsoever with disclosing that you’re using an M-visa for internship purposes*. Next Step Connections had me lying, flying around everywhere, because they were uninformed of one of the basic functions of their organization.. which is getting applicants into the internship site country.

I entered China with a tourist visa and the firm would not accept me because it has strict policies that all interns must be under an M-visa. This was heavy on my mind and so I began researching why… and it turns out that it’s illegal for a person to enter China on a tourist visa and intern. The person can be fined, sent to jail, and deported for violating this law. I didn’t know it at the time I began my internship at the backup site and it blows my mind that Next Step Connection would violate the law by placing interns in these businesses… and never even let me know so I can make an informed decision!

Obviously, as someone who wants to work as an attorney in China, I would never want to endanger my ability to enter China again or risk going to a Chinese prison!

I was unaware of how stupidly dangerous continuing on with an internship would be, so I let NSC pair me with a law firm that they claimed was international, English speaking, and would have work for me. NSC was aware that the requirements of my internship course were multifold but that there were two primary requirements: (1) all sites must be approved by the internship coordinator of my law school and (2) I must do substantive legal work.

Because I wasn’t able to get a business visa, I didn’t wind up at the law firm I was approved for and there wasn’t enough time for my school to vet this new firm. And even if there had been, the firm would have never been approved because of point two.

I didn’t do an ounce of legal work my entire time at this firm.

At my other internships I’ve written memorandums that have turned case decisions, I helped influence policy matters on federal government agencies, I’ve helped whole families gain US citizenship… and at this firm? I was a secretary. I occasionally did English edits to legal documents (correcting someone’s grammar is not legal work, in case you’re wondering Next Step Connections). But mostly my supervisor dictated e-mails to me for me to send out. I also edited resumes and made a website for my supervisor’s side project, not related to the firm at all. The only person who spoke passable English was my supervisor. There was no legal work for me available at all.

The entire experience was extremely isolating... and I spent the next few weeks feeling deeply depressed. I spent thousands of dollars, flew around the world, stressed and cried… just to stare at my computer and pirate television series for my supervisor while occasionally sending out e-mails he dictated nearly word for word. I did this for a few weeks before my professor determined that there was not enough time for them to assess my placement site. Even if there was, again, it would not have passed the “legal work” requirement.

So I wasted the application fee, the program fee, and nearly $1k in visa runs. Nevermind the waste of actually flying to China and staying there for weeks... And when I vented my frustration to Next Step Connections they trotted out a number of excuses with a total lack of apology but they wanted to meet to “make things right”. When I told them I was tired of their excuses and wanted to know how they were going to “make things right” they just stopped e-mailing.

TL;DR. They dragged their feet on necessary visa requirements twice, asked me to lie to government employees (for no reason…), did not inform me I was breaking the law when I was working as an intern on a tourist visa, and paired me with a law firm that had no legal work available when they knew that it was a substantive requirement of my course. When I told them them about my frustrations they offered no apologies but lots of excuses and then stopped replying.

Use an organization that’s more professional, even if they cost a little more… At least you won’t be putting yourself at risk and you may actually get to do substantive work. I suggest CRCC Asia, I had a great time with them as a college student. I really hope this saves someone from making the same mistake I did...

NSC was great help in letting me find an internship. They provided constant support and were always prompt in replying to any queries i had, wheather it was for visa requirements, about the industry or just about life in Hong Kong
They made the whole process as smooth as possible. I would definetly reccomend NSC if your looking for an internship in Asia as they have great contacts and are very professional.

My 3 months Hong Kong internship has exceeded my expectations. Being the key getaway to one of the world's largest economy, Hong Kong serves as a main platform where various international firms establish their presence into China and Asia. Because of this reason Hong Kong offers a major opportunity to gain practical business experience and a good start point to a bright career. Aside of the challenging and competitive business environment, Hong Kong diversity in culture is another aspect that makes this city the ultimate internship destination. Like many expats from every part of the world, I am amazed with the fusion of Chinese tradition and modern western influence that has resulted into an interesting culture in itself. In this vibrant city that is indulged with diversity, I never ran out of exciting things to discover. Next Step Connection (NSC) local support in Hong Kong have provided me with more than the needed service to adapt in this new strange city. They are always available and ready to assist whenever necessary.

Most of all through this experience, i have gained a strong bond friendship with the NSC team.

Hong Kong was always a dream destination for me. I made that dream into a reality when I decided to take a finance internship there with NSC. This was my first time interning abroad and thanks to the helpful staff at NSC, I had a great experience and broke out of my comfort zone. I loved the NSC group gatherings including fun cultural activities with other international and local interns. Through my internship, I had a chance to work with finance professionals, get a taste of a real working life, and become independent. I discovered my professional side and strength to adapt to a foreign country. I would recommend everyone to intern abroad to discovery yourself and the rest of the world.

When I took two months of intership in Bangkok earlier this June, I expect to get exposed to another face of Asian culture. Next Step Connections has been really helpful in facilitating and make sure that I get those cultural experience, while at the same time also challenge me to continuously improve my capacity as holistic learner. In short, I learn many things during the internship. And having it in Bangkok means that its not only during my working hours, but also everytime & everywhere in the city. Thank you NSC!

My experience in Hong Kong was awesome. Even though we were there to research the manufacturing industry in Hong Kong we still managed to have loads of fun sightseeing and going on outings during the weekend. Visiting Disneyland Hong kong, and the Big Buddha were the highlights of my trip. As well as, exploring various street markets, and experience new types of food.
Accomodation during the trip was great, Holiday Inn Express provided our group with excellent customer service, and an excellent experience overall.
Our guide, Jacky, was really friendly and engaging. He was always well presented, and willing to answer any questions and provide directions and recommendations of places if we wanted to go anywhere.

My stay was great! The team made me feel very welcome in a really unfamiliar place and helped me to settle in. The included tours allowed me to see a lot more than I thought I could in two weeks. The business visits were an insight and gave me heaps to write about in my research. Overall I was able to step out of my comfort zone and enjoy a trip that I was initially nervous about.

My trip began with a sight-seeing trip of Hong Kong Island, where we visited the beautiful Victoria Peak (a great selfie opportunity!), the Aberdeen fishing village, and the Stanley Market. The team introduced us to the MTR system early on which made it so easy to get around. Our business visits included Li & Fung, Qualidux, Memorigin, and Jetta. These gave us an insight into the manufacturing industry in HK. Some of the more memorable experiences involved trying new foods -BBQ pork buns, egg waffles, and even fish stomach -, catching a show in Macau, and haggling in the markets. Even though this was a research study tour, the cultural experience has taught me so much and encouraged me to try new things. Definitely something I won’t forget!

I didn't have the re entry visa for Hong Kong. Initially, I did not even know how to reach there. The staff of Next step (Jacky) was very helpful as I needed a re entry visa into Hong Kong. He took me to the immigration of HK and help me along the application process. This is because I have a different passport than other participants. I didn't realised until I was going out of HK just one day before. I would say it was fun and seen government offices and buildings besides my visa issue.