About Internship

INTERNSHIP/TRAINING PROGRAM

The Internship USA Program places foreign university students, recent graduates or young professionals in their field of study through J1 Intern and Trainee Visa categories of the U.S. Government Exchange Visitor Program. Highly qualified and motivated professional individuals prove invaluable assets to almost every business.

Type of visa: Inten/Trainee of J1 visa

Duration: Intern: up to 12 months; trainee: up to 18 months; hospitality/tourism placements up to 12 months

Participant profile: currently enrolled in or recent graduates of a degree or certificate granting post-secondary academic institution outside the U.S. , or have 5 years of experience in their occupational field; good level of English; age 18-35 years old

Employer/host company eligibility:

• Host companies are expected to provide J-1 interns with meaningful training experiences that enhance their professional skills while providing insight into American business practices and culture. All companies must have a suitable workspace for the intern equipped with the necessary tools for the activities involved and should also support and supervise the intern throughout the training program.
• Host companies must offer an internship program in one of these fields
  • Arts and Culture
  • Business, Management, Commerce, and Finance
  • The Sciences, Mathematics, Architecture, and Industrial Occupations
  • Information, Media, and Communications

Host companies involved in the following industries may not accept  J-1 interns:

• Economy hotels (lower than three star/diamond rating)
• Fast food franchises
• Recruiting agencies
• Home offices (some exceptions)
• Single location retail shops

All internship programs must be designed to enhance the professional aspects of the J-1 intern. The program should create opportunities that advance his/her skill set. J-1 interns are therefore not allowed to participate solely in unskilled labor or clerical tasks. Examples of unskilled labor include:

• Clerical tasks
• Bartending
• Cashier
• Maid services
• Outdoor maintenance services

Certain fields require some work experience that could be classified as unskilled and this is acknowledged by regulations. For example, office coordinators must understand the importance of paper filing, just as hotel managers must be able to appreciate the work done by maid services. To meet these industry standards, J-1 interns are allowed to spend up to 20% of their time performing unskilled or clerical activity. This should be reflected in the Training/Internship Placement Plan.

Candidate requirements:

• Spend no more than 20% of their time on unskilled or clerical tasks;
• training activities of least 32 hours per week;
• Not displace American workers;
• Remain at the same host company throughout the program (with limited exceptions) and not find a second host company;
• Plan to return to their home countries following the program.