Glossary

DEPENDENTS: The spouse and minor unmarried children of an exchange visitor who are accompanying the exchange visitor to the U.S. A minor is a person under the age of 21 years old. Dependents are issued the J-2 Visa.

DS-2019 FORM: The Certificate of Eligibility for the Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status. It is a U.S. Department of State document issued to exchange visitors by J-1 visa sponsors. DS-2019 forms must be presented at the U.S. Embassy/Consulate in order to apply for the J-1 Visa and anytime a participant enters the United States.

DS-7002 FORM: The Training/Internship Placement Plan. It is a U.S. Department of State-controlled document where the host outlines the training they will offer, skills they will teach the participant, and ways they will engage in cultural exchange with the participant. For the convenience of hosts, the PDF of the training plan is automatically generated by Career Training USA’s application system using the host’s responses.

EXCHANGE VISITOR: A foreign national who has been selected by a sponsor to participate in an exchange visitor program and who is seeking to enter the United States temporarily on a J–1 Visa.

HOST COMPANY/ORGANIZATION/EMPLOYER: A U.S. organization at which an intern or trainee pursues an internship or practical training program.

INTERN: A foreign national who either (i) is currently enrolled in and pursuing studies at a degree- or certificate-granting postsecondary academic institution outside the United States or (ii) graduated from such an institution no more than 12 months prior to his/her exchange visitor program begin date.

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATOR: A partner who helps to market J-1 intern/trainee programs, recruit and pre-screen applicants, assist applicants in the application and pre-departure phases, and serve as an in-country contact and liaison between InterExchange and potential participants.

INTERNSHIP PROGRAM: A structured and guided work-based learning program as set forth in an individualized Training/Internship Placement Plan (T/IPP) that reinforces a student’s or recent graduate’s academic study, recognizes the need for work-based experience, provides on-the-job exposure to American techniques, methodologies, and expertise, and enhances the Intern’s knowledge of American culture and society.

J-1 VISA: A non-immigrant visa issued to participants in a U.S. Department of State Exchange Visitor Program. J-1 Visas are required to enter the U.S. for the purpose of participating in an internship or practical training program.

J-1 VISA SPONSOR: A cultural or educational exchange organization, such as InterExchange, designated by the U.S. Department of State to administer educational programs for foreign exchange visitors. The Visa Sponsor determines applicants’ eligibility and issues the DS-2019 form.

J-2 VISA: A visa issued to spouses and dependents of the J-1 Visa holder. J-2 Visa holders are permitted to accompany J-1 Visa holders to the U.S.

SEVIS FEE: A $220 fee paid by interns and trainees to the United States Department of Homeland Security to cover the cost of administering SEVIS. The SEVIS fee is non-refundable and must be paid before applying for the J-1 Visa at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. The SEVIS Fee is included in the program fee and will be paid directly by InterExchange on participants’ behalf.

SEVIS ID NUMBER: A 10-digit number preceded by the letter N that is generated when a J-1 Visa sponsor creates an exchange visitor record in SEVIS. A participant’s SEVIS identification number appears at the top left corner of the DS-2019 form.

STUDENT AND EXCHANGE VISITOR INFORMATION SYSTEM (SEVIS): An internet-based system that maintains accurate and current information on J-1 Visa holders for the duration of their internship or training program in the United States. J-1 sponsors are responsible for ensuring that information in SEVIS is accurate for J-1 Exchange Visitors, and interns and trainees are required to inform sponsors of changes of address, phone number, or employment.

THIRD PARTY: An entity cooperating with or assisting the sponsor in the conduct of the sponsor’s program.

TRAINEE: A foreign national who has either: (i) a degree or professional certificate from a foreign post-secondary academic institution and at least one year of prior related work experience in their occupational field acquired outside the United States, or (ii) five years of work experience outside the United States in their occupational field.

TRAINING PROGRAM: A structured and guided work-based learning program set forth in an individualized Trainee/Internship Placement Plan (T/IPP) that enhances both a trainee’s understanding of American culture and society and their skills in their occupational field through exposure to American techniques, methodologies, and expertise.