Eligibility
InterExchange Career Training USA is open to qualified applicants from countries outside of the USA. You must first find your own internship or training position at an eligible U.S. company. Our program will provide you the opportunity to gain international experience in the U.S., which will help advance your career in your home country.
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.
