Cultural Exchange Visitor

Trainees & Interns

The American Immigration Council is designated by the U.S. Department of State to sponsor J-1 intern and trainee programs. Intern programs have a maximum duration of 12 months. Trainee programs have a maximum duration of 18 months. Potential J-1 interns must be enrolled in a post-secondary, degree-granting academic program located outside of the United States or graduated within the past 12 months from such post-secondary academic program outside of the United States. Potential J-1 trainees must hold a post-secondary degree related to the field of the training and one (1) year of related work experience, both of which were gained outside of the United States, or have five (5) years of related work experience gained outside of the United States.

The American Immigration Council is designated by the U.S. Department of State to sponsor J-1 participants in the Intern & Trainee category only.  The content of all internship and training programs sponsored by our office fit within the following instructional areas only:

  • Arts and Culture
  • Hospitality and Tourism
  • Information Media and Communications
  • Management, Business, Commerce and Finance
  • Public Administration and Law
  • Social Sciences, Library Science, Non-clinical Counseling, Social Services
  • The Sciences, Engineering, Architecture, Mathematics and Industrial Occupations

Please note, we do not sponsor the J-1 categories of au pairs, camp counselors, college and university students, government visitors, international visitors, professors, secondary school students, short-term scholars, specialists, teachers, or summer work travel.

The Council provides guidance and technical assistance to prospective exchange visitors and the host organization or legal representatives involved in a professional training or internship offer. We do not place applicants with companies and do not recruit students or professionals from overseas. For suggestions on how to find a host organization before applying for sponsorship from us, please view Finding a J-1 Internship in the US. Successful applicants secure an offer from an eligible host organization in the United States before starting an application for J visa sponsorship.  

Am I Eligible?

The Exchange Visitor (J) non-immigrant visa category is for individuals approved to participate in work- and study-based exchange visitor programs. Sponsorship enables foreign nationals to experience life in the United States for a limited period to strengthen ties between the U.S. and the exchange visitors' home countries.

The American Immigration Council is designated by the U.S. Department of State to sponsor J-1 participants in the Intern and Trainee categories. The content of all internship and training programs sponsored by our office fit within the following instructional categories:

  • Arts and Culture
  • Hospitality and Toursim
  • Information, Media, and Communications
  • Management, Business, Commerce and Finance
  • Public Administration and Law
  • Social Sciences, Library Science, Non-clinical Counseling, and Social Services
  • The Sciences, Engineering, Architecture, Mathematics, and Industrial Occupations

Intern

Have you been offered an internship opportunity at an organization based in the United States?  Here are some basic requirements of all private sector internship programs sponsored through the American Immigration Council:

  • Duration of Stay: Minimum 3 weeks, Maximum 12 months
  • Age Requirements: Minimum age 18 years, no maximum
  • English Proficiency: Documented interview to determine enough English language proficiency (conducted by our staff)
  • Repeat Participation: Interns may qualify for sponsorship to return to the United States for additional internship programs if they remain eligible for the internship category. This includes currently enrolled students at the next level of study, or recent graduates who may have completed a previous internship during the course of study.
  • Student or Graduate Status: Evidence of current enrollment or graduation within the past 12 months from a ministerially-recognized post-secondary, degree-granting academic program outside of the United States. Degrees earned from U.S. institutions or dual-degree programs with a U.S.-based degree component do not count toward eligibility for an internship exchange program. The internship training plan and field of academic study must relate
  • Financial Support: Total financial support must equal at least three times (3x) the reasonable cost of rent in the host community for the entire duration of stay.  

Trainee

Have you been approached by a U.S.-based organization interested in providing training to strengthen ties with markets and providers overseas?  Here are some basic requirements of all private sector training programs sponsored through the American Immigration Council:

  • Duration of Stay: Minimum 3 weeks, Maximum 18 months.
  • Age Requirements: Minimum age 18 years, no maximum.
  • English Proficiency: Documented interview to determine enough English language proficiency (conducted by Council staff).
  • Repeat Participation: Trainees are subject to a 24-month bar between repeat participation in exchange visitor programs. Time on the 24-month bar is measured from the date the last exchange program ended.
  • Professional Qualification: Evidence of a post-secondary degree related directly to the field of training and a minimum of 1-year related work experience, both gained outside of the U.S., or a minimum of 5 years related full-time work experience gained outside of the United States. Applicants for sponsorship with degrees from U.S. institutions must be able to tie the training offer to a degree earned outside of the U.S. Applicants who have completed Optional Practical Training (OPT) must still have a degree and work experience gained outside of the U.S. and their training program must be significantly different from their OPT.
  • Financial Support: Total financial support must equal at least three times (3x) the reasonable rent in the host community per month for the entire duration of stay.

Host Organization

Potential host companies must be able to document and/or demonstrate the following to meet basic eligibility requirements:

  • The organizational goals and bona fide internship or training opportunity align with the American Immigration Council’s permitted instructional categories (above);
  • Must employ at least 6 full-time employees on the site where the exchange visitor receives training;
  • Ensures the exchange visitor will not be engaged in ordinary employment and will not be used to fill a position that could be filled by U.S.-based workers;
  • Has the appropriate facility, equipment, and operating structure to provide the proposed training or internship experience (including verified telephone number, physical address, marketing, website, etc.);
  • Employs qualified mentors to provide daily, on-site supervision of trainees or interns;
  • Remains prepared to accommodate a host site visit from the American Immigration Council or the Department of State upon request;
  • >Provides monetary and/or non-monetary compensation directly to the visitor;
  • >Submits verifiable Worker's Compensation Insurance Policy or equivalent (typically a "Certificate of Liability")

We hope you share in our enthusiasm for providing high-quality exchange experiences across the United States. A review of our application checklist and sponsorship fees will help you get you started!

Current

You become a part of the American Immigration Council family once sponsorship is granted.  Exchange visitors with current sponsorship are issued a participant handbook, and mailed an eligibility packet, including an official Certificate of Eligibility (DS-2019) for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status, to help support a J visa application.  Our services include providing you with an additional support system in the United States and helping you maintain status for the duration of your stay.

Alumni

Our exchange visitors remain a part of the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) International Exchange Alumni long after moving on to pursue other endeavors abroad.  The Council’s Cultural Exchange Team is continually impressed by the future potential of private sector program participants and always appreciates hearing updates from program alumni!

ECA also maintains a clearinghouse of networking, subscription journals, and professional development resources for all International Exchange Alumni. We encourage you to register as a former program participant here to keep the benefits of your experience going long after you return home!