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J1 USA

In This Section

Eligibility

In order to qualify for either programme you must meet the eligibility requirements below:

  Intern Trainee
Eligibility

Currently enrolled in a degree or  professional certificate-granting post-secondary (above high school) academic institution outside the USA

OR

Have graduated from such an institution no more then 12 months before program start date
A degree or professional certificate ffrom a foreign post-secondary academic institution and at least one year* of related professional experience acquired outside USA

A degree or professional certificate from a foreign post-secondary academic institution and at least one year* of related professional experience acquired outside USA

OR

Five years* of related professional experience acquired outside the USA

Duration Up to 12 months Up to 18 months **
Repeat Participation Yes, if still a student or recent graduate (current students must return to college for at least one term before reapplying for the Intern visa) Yes, but must wait at least 2 years after the end of a previous J-1 Intern or Trainee program. (This applies to all participants and is not related to Rule 212(e).)
Program Focus Internship must be related to academic field of study

Training program must be related to occcupational field

* If your program eligibility is based on year of experience, your letters of reference must be from former employers who can fully document your lenght of employment. More than 2 letters of reference or additional verification of employment may be required to determine your eligility. Please also note that US work experience cannot be considered for program eligibility, per federal regulation.

** Hospitality & Tourism training programs cannot exceed 12 months. Business Management programs (e.g., Sales/Marketing, Finance) at hotel or restaurant may be allowed for up to 18 month and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Note: Candidates cannot do business only programs (i.e. HR or marketing) at hospitality employers (e.g. hotels, restaurants etc) without hospitality specific experience or education.

ADDITIONAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS:

  • Your host employer must be eligible to host interns/trainees. See www.InterExchange.org/ct-employer-requirements for more details.
  • You must be between the ages 18 and 38.
  • More requirements you will find on the first page of intern/trainee application.

J1 Visa Internship and Training Programmes can be sponsored in the following fields:

The Sciences, Engineering, Architecture, Mathematics and Industrial Occupations:

  • Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering Technology/Technician
  • Aerospace
  • Agricultural/Biological Engineering Bioengineering
  • Architectural Drafting and Architectural CAD/CADD
  • Architectural Engineering
  • Architectural Engineering Technology/Technician
  • Architecture (BArch, BA/BS, MArch, MA/MS, PhD)
  • Architecture and Related Services
  • Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NEW)
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology
  • Biochemistry
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Biological and Physical Sciences
  • Biology/Biological Sciences
  • Biomathematics and Bioinformatics
  • Biomedical/Medical Engineering
  • Biophysics
  • Biotechnology
  • Botany/Plant Biology
  • Cartography
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Chemistry
  • Civil Drafting and Civil Engineering CAD/CADD
  • Civil Engineering
  • Computational Mathematics (NEW)
  • Computer Engineering
  • Computer Hardware Engineering (NEW)
  • Construction Engineering (NEW)
  • Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians
  • Ecology
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
  • Engineering
  • Engineering Mechanics
  • Engineering Physics
  • Engineering Science
  • Engineering Technologies/Technicians
  • Engineering Technology
  • Environmental Biology (NEW)
  • Environmental Design/Architecture
  • Environmental Engineering Technology/Environmental Technology
  • Environmental Science (NEW)
  • Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
  • Food Science and Technology
  • Forest Sciences and Biology
  • General Merchandising
  • Genetics
  • Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
  • Geological/Geophysical Engineering (NEW)
  • Geotechnical Engineering
  • Industrial Design
  • Industrial Engineering (NEW)
  • Interior Architecture
  • Interior Design
  • Landscape Architecture (BS, BSLA, BLA, MSLA, MLA, PhD)
  • Manufacturing Engineering (NEW)
  • Materials Engineering
  • Materials Science
  • Mathematics and Computer Science
  • Mathematics and Statistics
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering/Mechanical Technology/Technician
  • Metallurgical Engineering
  • Microbiological Sciences and Immunology
  • Mining and Mineral Engineering
  • Molecular Biology
  • Natural Resources and Conservation
  • Natural Sciences (NEW)
  • Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
  • Neuroscience
  • Nuclear Engineering
  • Nutrition Sciences
  • Ocean Engineering
  • Petroleum Engineering
  • Physical Sciences
  • Physics
  • Polymer/Plastics Engineering
  • Structural Engineering
  • Surveying Engineering (NEW)
  • Surveying Technology/Surveying
  • Transportation and Highway Engineering
  • Water Resources Engineering

Management, Business, Commerce and Finance:

  • Accounting
  • Accounting and Business/Management (NEW)
  • Accounting and Finance (NEW)
  • Accounting and Related Services
  • Actuarial Science
  • Advertising
  • Auditing (NEW)
  • Banking and Financial Support Services
  • Building/Construction Site Managment/Manager (NEW)
  • Business Administration and Management General
  • Business Administration and Management, Other
  • Business and Personal/Financial Services Marketing Operations (NEW)
  • Business, Management, Marketing and Related Support Services, Other
  • Business/Commerce
  • Computer/Information Technology Services
  • Administration and Management
  • Construction Management (NEW)
  • Credit Management (NEW)
  • E-Commerce/Electronic Commerce (NEW)
  • Engineering/Industrial Management
  • Fashion Merchandising
  • Finance
  • Finance and Financial Management Services
  • Financial Planning and Services
  • Human Resources Management and Services
  • Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration
  • Insurance
  • International Business/Trade/Commerce
  • International Finance
  • International Marketing
  • Investments and Securities
  • Logistics and Materials Management
  • Marketing
  • Marketing Research
  • Marketing/Marketing Management
  • Merchandising and Buying Operations
  • Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management
  • Merchandising and Buing Operations
  • Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management
  • Operations Management and Supervision
  • Public Finance
  • Public Relations
  • Public Relations/Image Management (NEW)
  • Purchasing
  • Real Estate
  • Retailing and Retail Operations
  • Sales
  • Small business Administration/Management (NEW)

Hospitality and Tourism:

  • Culinary Arts/Chef Training
  • Hospitality Administration/Management, Other
  • Hospitality and Recreation Marketing Operations (NEW)
  • Hotel/Motel Administration/Management (NEW)
  • Resort Management (NEW)
  • Restaurant/Food Services Management
  • Tourism and Travel Services Marketing Operations (NEW)
  • Tourism Promotion Operations

Public Administration and Law:

  • Advanced Legal Research/Studies
  • Economics, General
  • International Business and Law
  • Labor and Industrial Relations
  • Law (LL.B., J.D.)
  • Legal Proffessions and Studies
  • Political Science and Government
  • Public Administration
  • Public Policy Analysis
  • Urban Studies/Affairs

Information Media and Communications:

  • Animation
  • Audiovisual Communications Technologies/ Technicians
  • Broadcast Journalism
  • Business/Corporate Communications
  • Cinematography and Film/Video Production
  • Communication
  • Communication and Media Studies
  • Communication Studies/Speech Communication and Rhetoric
  • Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support Services
  • Communications Technology/Technician (NEW)
  • Computer and Information Sciences
  • Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
  • Computer and Information Systems Security (NEW)
  • Computer Graphics (NEW)
  • Computer Programming
  • Computer Programming/Programmer
  • Computer Science
  • Computer Software and Media Applications
  • Computer Software Engineering (NEW)
  • Computer Software Technology/Technician (NEW)
  • Computer Systems Analysis/Analyst
  • Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications (NEW)
  • Computer Technology/Computer Systems Technology (NEW)
  • Data Modeling/Warehousing and Database Administration (NEW)
  • Design and Visual Communications
  • Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia (NEW)
  • Graphic Communications
  • Graphic Design (NEW)
  • Health Communication (NEW)
  • Information Resources Management/CIO Training (NEW)
  • Information Science/Studies
  • Information Technology (NEW)
  • Journalism
  • Journalism, Other
  • Management Information Systems
  • Management Information Systems and Services
  • Mass Communication/Media Studies
  • Organizational Communication
  • Photographic and Film/Video Technology/Technician and Assistant
  • Photojournalism (NEW)
  • Political Communication (NEW)
  • Prepress/Desktop Publishing and Digital Imaging
  • Design
  • Publishing (NEW)
  • Radio
  • Radio and Television
  • Radio and Television Broadcasting Technology/ Technician
  • Recording Arts Technology/Technician (NEW)
  • System Administration/Administrator (NEW)
  • Technical and Business Writing
  • Web Page
  • Web/Multimedia Management and Webmaster (NEW)+

Arts and Culture for INTERNS only

  •  Arts Management
  •  Cinematography and Film/Video Production
  •  Commercial and Advertising Art
  •  Commercial Photography
  •  Costume Design
  •  Cultural Resource Management and Policy Analysis
  •  Design and Applied Arts
  •  Design and Visual Communications
  •  Digital Arts
  •  Directing and Theatrical Production
  •  Documentary Production
  •  Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts
  •  Dramatic/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
  •  Fashion Apparel/Design
  •  Film/Cinema Studies
  •  Film/Video and Photographic Arts
  •  Game and Interactive Media Design
  •  Graphic Design
  •  Historic Preservation and Conservation
  •  Illustration
  •  Industrial Design
  •  Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies
  •  Interior Design
  •  Intermedia/Multimedia
  •  International/Global Studies
  •  Museology/Museum Studies
  •  Music Management and Merchandising
  •  Music Technology
  •  Music Theory and Composition
  •  Playwriting and Screenwriting
  •  Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology
  •  Theatre/Theatre Arts Management
  •  Visual and Performing Arts

Prohibited Employer Types and Training Locations

Not all employers are permitted to host interns through InterExchange. They cannot approve participants for sponsorship at the following locations:

  • Arcades
  • Bridal companies
  • Camps (Consider our Camp USA program for camp positions)
  • Candy stores/mall kiosks/boardwalk booths and stands
  • Convenience/grocery stores or superettes/mini-markets (consider our Work & Travel USA program for seasonal positions)
  • Call center/customer service/phone operators including tech/help desk support
  • Farms
  • Fast food/quick service restaurants or bakeries (consider our Work & Travel USA program for seasonal positions)
  • Fitness studios/gyms/pools/dance studios/personal training/coaching
  • Garages
  • Gardens/parks
  • Gas stations or toll plazas
  • Landscaping companies
  • Pool management companies
  • Retail stores/locations and boutiques
  • Schools and other instructional facilities
  • Spas/salons/dog grooming companies
  • Staffing agencies

If you require staff at one of the locations mentioned above or would like seasonal staff to assist with tasks that are not appropriate for Intern USA participants, our Work & Travel USA program may be able to help meet your needs.

Prohibited Types of Training

  • Animal care
  • Child care
  • Elder care
  • Clinical work that involves any patient care or contact
  • Sports or physical therapy
  • Psychological counseling
  • Nursing
  • Dentistry
  • Veterinary medicine
  • Social work
  • Speech therapy
  • Early childhood education

Previous J1 Holders

If you have previously participated in the US Work and Travel programme, you can apply for the Internship or Trainee programme provided you fulfill the requirements listed above. You must have spent at least 90 days out of the US since completion of the US Work and Travel programme before you can begin your traineeship. You can begin your application process before the 90 days is up, but you will not be allowed to start the programme until this time period has passed.

Previous participants on the Internship USA programme can participate on this programme again for the full 12 months provided they meet all eligibility requirements.

Applicants who have previously participated on the Internship programme, may apply for the Trainee programme provided they meet all eligibility requirements and provided at least a period of two years has transpired between your return to Ireland from your previous programme and the start of your new programme in the US. You will be able to go for the full 18 months again.

Applicants who have previously participated on the Trainee programme, may re-apply for the Trainee programme provided they meet all eligibility requirements and provided a period of two years has transpired between your return to Ireland from your previous programme and the start of yoru new programme in the US.You will be able to go for the full 18 months again.

Please Note: Your visa is issued at the discretion of the US Embassy and InterExchange cannot accept liability should you not be granted a visa.

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