How do I get a Child Labor License?

[stein74]

......I'm 14 and live in the state of Texas. My mom is on Medical Disability so she doesn't work. Unfortunately, that means we don't get that much a month. My mom used to be a computer consultant and would travel the world with some of the biggest clients and companies.
......I really want to study abroad this upcoming spring of 2011. I'm in the process of filling out the application for my abroad program, AFS, and when you turn it in, there is a $1000 application fee. My mom is a single mother with 3 kids. The little money we get every month goes straight to bills. Which, in fact, there are a lot of. Are mortgage company for some odd reason wants us to pay more money every month. CitiMortgage has hungry money hounds :P
......My dad was laid off, then moved here to Texas and got a job working at Pepsi. He lives 6 hours away from us, and works a lot, so I don't see him a lot. Usually just once a year. My mom is the only person in our family (besides my bi-logical dad) who went to college and made something of herself, except for an uncle who just went at the age of 40 but keeps getting fired at his jobs because he fights with everyone, and asking my mom's friends for money is unquestionable. It's something that won't be done or asked.
......The only way my mom will turn in the application (there IS a deadline date) is if she knows we can pay for it. I have to turn it in as soon as possible. AFS says that the sooner you turn in your application, the better the chance of you getting the country of your choice. The total fee is $11,000, but we're applying for scholarships (financial scholarships to be exact). So in case I can't get them, my mom still wants me to raise the money. And she said the only way I can get a job is if I LOOK UP HOW TO GET A LICENSE. Then I have to figure out how. She won't help me at all.


** I ALREADY KNOW WHAT THE LABOR LAWS ARE- so please don't give me links showing me what the Child Labor Laws are, what the child can do, etc. etc. etc.
I just need to know how to get the license, thanks!

[jerrick]

obviously you do NOT know what the laws are because if you did you would know that Texas does NOT require a work permit for minors........
http://www.dol.gov/whd/state/certification.htm#Texas
and
http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/LA/htm/LA.51.htm

all you need is proof of age which a birth certificate, state issued ID, or baptismal record will work for....
the department of labor will issue a proof of age certificate if you request it but it is NOT a requirement of law for you to use that particular certificate to prove your age........

[eadweald71]

I know you're not going to like this answer - but listen for a minute to a grandma. I know you would really like to get into the AFS program. But sometimes people don't get to do things they really want to do. And what happens if you come up with the application fee, but then don't get the scholarships for it, or get one but not enough to cover the whole cost? Many scholarships just cover part of the cost, sometimes a pretty small part.

By the way, the AFS website http://www.afsusa.org/usa_en/view/2261 says the application fee is $75, not $1000. That same page mentions that you should budget $300-$1000 for passport and visa fees, and $100-$300 a month for personal expenses - those amounts wouldn't be covered by a scholarship even if you get one.

If you can get a job, it would make a lot more sense to save your earnings toward college. Sure the AFS trip would be a great experience, but college will do a lot more for you in the long run.