How It Works

How it works

Find everything you need to know in order to experience American culture and add international skills to
your resume on our Internship or Trainee Cultural Exchange programs.

Process

Review the steps below to be one step closer to interning or training in the U.S.!

To intern or train in the United States, you will need to be sponsored for a J-1 Intern/Trainee Visa. If you are approved for J-1 Intern/Trainee Visa sponsorship through InterExchange, you will then need to obtain a J-1 Visa from the U.S. Embassy/Consulate in your home country so that you may enter the United States.

Pre-Application

Find an internship

Attain your ideal position using our resources for finding a U.S. internship.
InterExchange does not provide placement services for internships or training programs.

Determine your eligibility

Review the participant requirements and host employer requirements.
Review the program costs and fees.
Take our Eligibility Quiz to ensure you and your employer are eligible to apply.

Completing an Application (7-14 Days)

Create & complete your application

Create your account and start your online application.
Use our applicant checklist for steps on completing the application.

InterExchange Initial Review (1-2 Days)

Submit your Application into “Initial Review”

During the “Initial Review” stage, we check if the application submitted by you and your host is complete.
If the application is incomplete, we will move your application to “Participant Review” and will email you with a list of revisions that need to be made. Once you and your host have made the required additions/revisions, you must resubmit your application.
You may need to repeat this process until your application is complete and ready to be reviewed. “Initial Review” is NOT a detailed review. It is to ensure the documents/information needed to conduct a formal review are included in the application.

InterExchange Full Review (10 Days)

Your Application is moved to “In Queue”

Once your application is complete, it will be placed in our queue for a formal review. We review applications in the order they are completed.

Formal Application Review

When your application is “Under Review,” we take a qualitative look at your application and training plan. The formal review takes around 1-2 business days.
We will be in touch if there is anything needed from you or your host.

Interview with InterExchange

In the course of the formal review, your application status will be changed to “Pending Interview,” and the reviewer will email you to schedule a video interview.
- Depending on your scheduling flexibility, interviews are typically scheduled and completed within 1-2 business days.
If your host employer does not require a site visit, the interview is typically the final step before an application decision is issued.
If your host requires a site visit, your application status will be changed to “Pending Site Visit,” and we will contact your host to schedule and conduct a site visit of their office.
- Site visits typically occur within 1-2 weeks, but may take longer if your host cannot meet with us sooner.

Final Decision for your Application

Once the interview and site visit (if required) are complete, your application may remain on hold until we receive any pending items. Typical reasons an application may remain on hold include:
- Pending Training Plan revisions from your host organization
- Awaiting receipt of final payment of program fees
- Pending confirmation of final program dates from you and your host
After all pending items have been received by InterExchange, you will receive our final decision via email within 1-2 business days.

Embassy Interview (1-2 Weeks)

Schedule and Attend your Visa Appointment at the U.S. Embassy/Consulate

Once approved, InterExchange will electronically issue the documents you need to attend a visa interview at a U.S. Embassy/Consulate abroad.
Use our guide on applying for the J-1 Visa for steps on how to complete the DS-160 visa application and schedule your interview at the embassy/consulate.
View estimated embassy/consulate wait times for an interview.
Once your appointment is scheduled, review our tips on preparing for your interview and gathering the required documents.

Issuance of Visa (3-7 Days)

Receive your Visa and Prepare for Departure

If consular officials approve your visa, they will keep your passport and return it to you with the visa inside within 3-7 days.
Once you have received your visa, you are free to finalize your travel arrangements!
Complete the required online orientation within your InterExchange dashboard and utilize our resources to prepare for your program and life in the U.S.

Application processing times vary based on individual cases and the completeness of your application. We always strive to process each application as quickly as possible. However, embassy interview wait times can also differ by city and time of year. If you have any questions, check our Frequently Asked Questions or email us at [email protected].

In a rush? Consider our expedited review option. For an additional fee, we will review your completed application in just 3 days!

Requirements

You must first find your own internship or training position at an eligible U.S. company. Review the eligibility requirements below to determine which J-1 Visa category you are eligible for.

	Intern	Trainee
Eligibility	Currently enrolled full-time in a degree or non-vocational, professional certificate program in a college, university, or other post-secondary academic institution of higher education outside the U.S. OR;	Must hold a degree or non-vocational, professional certificate from a college, university or other post-secondary academic institution of higher education outside the U.S. and at least 1 year of related professional experience from outside the U.S. OR;
	Have graduated from such an institution no more than 12 months before program start date, and submit an application more than 8 weeks before this eligibility expires.	Have at least 5 years of related, full-time professional experience from outside the U.S.
	Interns must have finished at least 1 year of their degree program and have completed sufficient academic coursework in their academic field before their program start date in order to be sufficiently prepared for their U.S. internship.	All trainee applicants must also be able to document their current and previous related occupational experience from current/former employers outside the U.S, and it must be clear from recent work experience that the participant is actively pursuing their career outside of the U.S.
Duration	Up to 12 months	Up to 18 months*
Program Focus	Internship must be directly related to academic field of study	Training program must be directly related to occupational field/work experience
Repeat Participation	Yes, if previous participant is a current student or recent graduate (current students must return to school for at least one semester before reapplying for the Intern visa)	Yes, but previous participant must wait at least 2-years after the end of a previous J-1 Intern or Trainee program before reapplying. (This applies to all participants and is not related to Rule 212(e).)

*Hospitality programs cannot exceed 12 months, regardless of your visa category.

Not sure if you meet our requirements? Take our eligibility quiz!

All program participants must also:

Understand that the purpose of this program is not to serve as a work program but a cultural exchange opportunity for interns and trainees and the employees of the host companies.
Complete an internship or training program with an eligible host organization in a field sponsored by InterExchange.
IMPORTANT: Review our requirements for employers who want to host.
Complete and submit a full application, including full payment of program fees and all required supporting documents.
Be at least 18 years old.
Be interviewed in-person, over the phone, or via webcam by InterExchange or an approved InterExchange partner.
Have verifiable English language skills and possess comprehension of English terminology within your field.
Not be submitting a degree from an online university. However, an online degree from an accredited in-person university may qualify. Contact us if you have questions about your degree’s qualifications.
Be covered by sufficient accident & sickness insurance for the length of your stay in the United States prior to your arrival, in accordance with U.S. State Department regulations. Insurance is included in your program fee and may not be declined.
Be able to prove access to sufficient funds to support yourself during your time in the USA (including housing and living costs). All of your sources of funding should amount to at least $1500 per month of your program. If you will not be paying for housing, the total should amount to at least $750 per month of your program. NOTE: InterExchange will also factor your monthly compensation into this amount. If you are getting paid by your internship host, you must still demonstrate that you have access to funding to cover any settling in costs. This is typically enough for 2 months, but this may vary depending on your location and situation.
Be applying for the J-1 Visa from outside the USA throughout the application and review process. If you require a change of status to obtain the J-1 Visa, you will not be eligible to apply through InterExchange.
Have not recently completed a degree and/or optional training program (OPT) within the USA. Similarly, if you recently spent a significant amount of time in the U.S. on a visa or tourist waiver, you may not be eligible to apply at this time. Contact InterExchange to discuss your circumstances before applying.
Show that, if completing additional J-1 Intern/Trainee USA programs, you are learning new or more advanced skills in your new program than those learned in your prior J-1 Intern/Trainee USA program.
Not be returning to a former Work & Travel host (InterExchange will not be able to approve this in most cases). In some circumstances, you may be able to return to the same Intern/Trainee host at which you completed a previous Intern/Trainee program. You should contact us to discuss further if this applies.

Program Purpose

The primary goals of InterExchange Career Training USA programs are to enhance your skills and expertise in your academic or occupational field and to improve your knowledge of American business techniques, methodologies, and technology.

Career Training USA programs cannot be used for ordinary employment or to displace American workers. Internship programs should allow you to develop practical skills in your academic field that will enhance your future career and bridge the gap between your education and practical work experience. Training programs must include bona-fide training and not simply be additional work experience.

The program will help increase your understanding of American culture, while also enhancing Americans’ knowledge of your culture, customs and practices. Through this program, you will help to promote mutual understanding and develop relationships and extended networks that will last through generations as you move into leadership roles in your home country.

Costs

As a nonprofit organization, InterExchange keeps its fees as low as possible, while delivering the superior service international interns and trainees need to have a successful experience.

Unlike many other sponsors, our fees include accident & sickness insurance for the duration of your program, as well as the SEVIS fee paid directly to the U.S. government. Review all inclusions; we have no hidden fees!

In a rush? Consider our expedited review option. For an additional fee, we will review your completed application in just 3 days!

Program Fees

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To start an application, you must first find your own internship or training position at an eligible U.S. company.

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