Tourist & Student Visa Plan : Intern Program J1 visa

Intern Program J1 visa

The J1 is a non-immigrant visa issued to a person participating in a United States Exchange Visitor Program, or EVP. The Intern Program is one of the 15 categories of the EVP.

The EVP is among the most diverse visas for going to the United States and is designed to enable non-Americans to travel within the United States and study or work there as a sponsored exchange visitor while immersing themselves in the local culture. The visionary EVP was created to foster greater understanding between the United States and other countries through educational and cultural exchanges. If you visit the US under the Intern Program you will be expected to return to your home country after the completion of your internship. 

Over 550,000 persons representing 200 countries and territories visited the United States under the aegis of the J1 Exchange Visitor Program every year before the Covid-19 pandemic. Currently California hosts the largest number of exchange visitors, followed by New York and Florida. Internationally, China, Great Britain and Germany are the top three countries from where J1 visa holders come.

The Intern Program represents a distinctive opportunity to young professionals all over the world to visit the United States to both advance their skills and enjoy USA’s life and culture.

What is the J1 Intern Program visa?

Under the Intern Program, non-US college and university students or recent graduates can come to the United States to American culture and lifestyles while receiving hands-on experience in their chosen professional, occupational or business area of study field as an intern with a company. Once the internship ends, interns are expected to return to their home countries to continue.

The Intern Program is very similar to the Trainee Program, and you should explore both to see which one is a better fit for your situation and needs. A key difference is that the Intern Program is for students currently studying while the Trainee Program is for graduates with a year or more of work experience in their chosen professional or occupational area. The Intern Program helps to bridge the gap between academic learning and practical work experience.

Other differences are explained below.

The Intern Program and the Trainee Program are extremely viable and lucrative sources of income for the United States, since participants are expected to cover all their costs. In 2017, 26,250 Interns and 10,918 Trainees who entered the United States are estimated to have spent $662.6 million during their stay.

Like all programs in the EVP, getting the Intern Program J1 visa requires acceptance by an approved sponsor agency or company. It also requires a prior confirmation of employment as an intern with a US company. The sponsoring agency normally helps secure this.

Who is eligible for a J1 Intern Program visa?

To be eligible for a J1 Intern Program visa, you should,

1. Be at least 18 years of age.
2. Be a student pursuing degree or certificate studies at a non-US college or university outside the United States

OR

Have graduated from such an institution no more than 12 months before the Intern Program starting date.

1. Be certified as proficient in English language by a recognized English language test such as TOEFL, or by signed documentation from an academic institution or English language school or through an in-person video or webcam interview conducted by the sponsor.

Before traveling to the US, you will have to work closely with your sponsor and the company where you will receive your internship to develop a detailed Internship Plan and submit it for the State Department’s approval.

Unlike the Trainee Program, which has a two-year Home Residency Requirement, the Intern Program places no restriction on applying for a new internship program as long as you meet the qualifying. The area of internship would need to be distinct from the previous internship and at the next academic degree level. Your internship plan would have to be distinct and different from your previous internship.

In what sectors are you allowed to take internships in the Intern Program?

The Intern Program allows you to participate in the following occupational categories.

Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing

Arts and Culture

Construction and Building trades

Education, Social Sciences, Library Science, Counseling and Social Services

Health-related occupations

Hospitality and Tourism.

Information Media and Communications.

Management, Business, Commerce and Finance.

Public Administration and Law

The Sciences, Engineering, Architecture, Mathematics and Industrial occupations.

You may not work in unskilled jobs or as casual labor, or in work that includes childcare, elder care or any kind of patient care or contact.

How long can you stay in the US with a J1 Intern Program visa?

You can stay in the United States for a maximum of 12 months with an Intern Program J1 visa. In comparison, the Trainee Program allows a participant to stay a maximum of 18 months, except in the agriculture or Hospitality sectors.

You will be required to return to your home country once the internship ends. However, a 30-day grace period is allowed after the official end of your Intern Program to settle your affairs and prepare to return to your home country. During this grace period, you will no longer be under the J1 visa but under the jurisdiction of the Immigration and Naturalization Services. You may not pursue internship related activities, nor seek any kind of employment. If you cross the US border to Canada or Mexico, you may not be allowed re-entry.

How do you apply for an Intern Program J1 visa?

1. Find an approved program sponsor: The first step in applying for the J1 Intern Program visa is finding a designated sponsor. To see a list of 94 designated and approved Intern Program sponsor organizations, click here.

2. Apply for the sponsor’s Intern Program: After researching different sponsors, select one and apply to take part in their Intern Program. Once you are accepted, the sponsor will start a thorough and extensive process that can last several months and require over a dozen documents. Each Intern Program sponsor will have their own distinct application process for collecting information from the participant and the host company where the internship will take place. The sponsor will guide you through the application process and in meeting all the requirements, and be your main single-point contact throughout the application process and your time in the United States.

3. Secure an Intern position in the United States: In many cases, the sponsoring agency will also help you secure an Intern position with an approved employer.

4. Submit a DS-7002 Internship Plan: The company that will host your internship is required to submit a DS-7002 Internship Plan to the program sponsor, outlining the details of the internship, its overall goals, and the names of your supervisor and mentor.

4. Get a DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status: The actual application and selection process may vary from sponsor to sponsor but all of them include a Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status issued by the program sponsor, attesting that you are eligible and have been selected to participate. This certificate, known as Form DS-2019, is a document vital to your visa application.

5. Get a DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status: The actual application and selection process may vary from sponsor to sponsor but all of them include a Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status issued by the program sponsor, attesting that you are eligible and have been selected to participate. This certificate, known as Form DS-2019, is a document vital to your visa application.

6. Apply for a DS-160 J1 non-immigrant visa: This is a nonimmigrant visa application form DS-160 that can be completed online here.

8. Book an interview appointment with the US consulate.

What documents are required for a J1 Intern Program visa interview?

The following is a minimum list of documents that you must carry to the interview.

1. Passport: Valid for at least 6 months after the end date of your program.
2. Proof of Student Status: A letter from your college or university confirming that you are enrolled in and actively pursuing a degree or a full-time course of study
3. Job Offer: A completed Employment Offer as an intern on the prescribed form.
4. Form DS-2019 (Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status). This will be issued by your program sponsor once you have been accepted into an exchange program.
5. Receipt for Form DS-160 non-immigrant visa application. Once you apply for the DS-160 online and pay the visa fees of $160, you will receive a receipt, which you must carry to the interview.

1. Photograph. A complete description of the format requirements is here.
2. Consulate appointment confirmation.
3. SEVIS fee payment confirmation. This is normally $220. The sponsor may require you to pay this, or pay it themselves and share the confirmation document with you.

You may need to furnish other documents to the sponsor as part of their selection process. These requirements may vary from sponsor to sponsor and from country to country.

How much does a J1 Intern Program visa cost?

There can be up to three parts to the fee for getting a J1 Intern Program visa,

Program fees: This is a sum which can vary from sponsor to sponsor and country to country and be as high as $2,400. It is paid to the sponsor agency to cover program administration costs, health and travel insurance and the charges for entering your details in the SEVIS database. Again, since this may vary from sponsor to sponsor, it is a good idea to ask your sponsor what is specifically included in the program fees.

DS-160 Non-Immigrant Visa Application processing fee: This is currently US$ 160 but may be subject to change. Check with the local US Embassy or Consulate for up-to-date fees.

Visa Issuance fee: In some countries, an additional Visa Issuance fee may be charged when the visa is issued. Check with the local US Embassy or Consulate for up-to-date fees.

Applying for a J1 Intern Program visa is not an intense process, but it may require patience and attention to detail. Once you have found a suitable sponsor and been accepted into the exchange program, you will receive all the guidance and support you need from your sponsor to make a in securing your J1 Intern Program visa.

Restrictions of the J1 Intern Program visa

The J1 Intern Program visa is subject to a so-called Home Residency Requirement. This means that certain other US visas will be unavailable to you for two years after you complete your internship program. During this two-year period, you will have to be resident in your home country. The non-immigrant visas affected include H, L and K, as well as legal permanent residency in the US.

The J-1 Home Residency Requirement does not prevent you from applying for another J-1 visa, an F-1 visa, or certain other types of employment visas including the O-1, E-3 visa, E-1/E-2 visas, and several other nonimmigrant visa types.

Need more help?

If you still feel that you would like to have professional help in making your application or would like to consult a lawyer who specializes in immigration and visa matters, click here to see some of your options, including how to access our exclusive list of professional immigration lawyers.

If you have questions or would like clarifications, please send us an email and we’ll do our best to get back to you within 24 hours with an answer.

Students were prohibited from trying to enter the USA under the J1 Intern Program visa under Proclamation 10052, titled Proclamation Suspending Entry of Aliens Who Present a Risk to the U.S. Labor Market Following the Coronavirus Outbreak.

The proclamation, which suspended entry into the United States of any alien with a J1 visa under an Intern Program, among several others, became effective from June 24, 2020.  The proclamation expired on March 31, 2021 and has been neither renewed nor replaced by the Biden administration.  Visa applicants who were previously refused visas due to the restrictions of Presidential Proclamation 10052 are asked to reapply by submitting a new application including a new fee

Please check with your nearest US Embassy or Consulate for up-to-date information.