Resources for University Advisors
Resources for University Advisors

Resources for University Advisors

Career Training USA: Fast, Affordable, Reliable

Do your students want to intern in the USA? Let InterExchange help them navigate the J-1 Visa!

InterExchange Career Training USA provides J-1 Visa sponsorship to candidates who have already secured internships or training programs in the United States​. ​Our process​ ​makes it quick and easy for interns to gain J-1 Visa sponsorship and complete a professional internship in the U.S.

For more than 50 years, InterExchange has sponsored thousands of J-1 Visa programs. We’ll take care of your students while they intern in the USA so you can focus on their professional development and career preparation.

Career Guidance Webinars

Over 2,000 students attended our free Career Guidance Webinars in 2020. We plan to roll out both new and updated sessions to mirror the internship search process for students. Planning an internship in the United States can be both exciting and overwhelming, and we want to ensure that your students are provided with the best resources to make their internship experience as successful as possible. The webinars will focus on both internship application strategies and general career guidance, ranging from Searching for Internships in the U.S. to to Using English in the U.S. Workplace.

Register for the webinar(s) of your interest!

Please share the Career Guidance Webinars schedule with students who are beginning their job or internship search!

Frequently Asked Questions

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What is the J-1 Visa?
The J-1 Visa is a non-immigrant, cultural-exchange visa issued through the Exchange Visitor Program. The J-1 Intern Visa allows students and recent graduates to intern at an eligible host organization in the U.S. for one to twelve months. Your students from past years who have gained relevant work experience may also be eligible to train in the U.S. for up to eighteen months on a Trainee visa The J-1 Visa is different from an ESTA waiver as the J-1 program allows participants to legally intern or train with a host organization, receive payment, and apply for a social security number. ESTA holders are not permitted to participate in internships of any kind.
Per U.S. Department of State Regulations, all J-1 participants are required to obtain a J-1 Visa sponsor in order to participate in the Exchange Visitor Program. As a designated visa sponsor, InterExchange screens and selects applicants and their host organizations for participation in the Exchange Visitor Program. We also support and monitor exchange visitors throughout their stay in the United States.

The intern program is open to students who are currently enrolled full-time and actively pursuing studies at a foreign ministerially-recognized degree, or certificate-granting, post-secondary academic institution outside the U.S.

The program is also open to students who graduated from such institutions less than 12 months before the start of the internship in the U.S.

J-1 Interns must pursue an internship that is related to their academic field of study. These additional eligibility requirements also apply.

Yes, former students or alumni who have graduated more than one year prior to the start of their program may be eligible for the J-1 Trainee Visa if they have one year of full-time, post-graduate professional work experience outside the United States related to the field of training.

J-1 Trainees must pursue a training program that is related to their professional work experience field. These additional eligibility requirements also apply.

Yes, all interested employers must meet the eligibility criteria.

We do not offer placement services. Instead, InterExchange Career Training USA focuses on ensuring that interns will train with companies and supervisors that best meet the educational background of the intern and will provide a high-caliber training environment. Because we do not place participants, our team can critically review training plans without bias and remain impartial in rare occasions when conflicts arise between hosts and interns.

However, to assist in initiating the internship process, we offer a wide variety of internship-search resources, including tips on creating an American-style resume and applying and interviewing for internships. To better assist participants, we have also compiled a list of host employers that have successfully hosted Interns/Trainees with InterExchange in the past. We are happy to share these resources with prospective applicants.

Our program fees include application processing (including a thorough review of the host employer, training plan, and participant eligibility), issuance and shipping of J-1 Visa sponsorship documents such as the DS-2019 and DS-7002 Forms, pre-departure materials, and 24-hour emergency support for the duration of the program. InterExchange’s fee also includes:
  • The $220 SEVIS Fee, paid directly to the Department of Homeland Security on behalf of all participants
  • Accident and sickness insurance for the duration of the program and 30-day grace period at end of program
  • Online orientation for living and adapting to life in the U.S.
  • Extensive U.S. cultural resources, including travel resources and guides for visiting the U.S.
  • Coordinated cultural activities (for participants in select cities)
  • Free U.S. SIM card

On average, it takes six to eight weeks to apply for sponsorship and obtain a J-1 Visa. However, processing times can vary depending on individual situations. Applicants should review the application checklist to ensure their application is complete upon initial submission. Once an application is marked complete by our team, the application enters a 10-day review period. During this time, we will carefully review the host organization and training plan. We’ll also contact the candidate to conduct a brief interview over Skype or Google Meet.

For students seeking to minimize the review period, InterExchange has an expedite option. For an additional charge, the full review can be done in just three days!

There is no deadline for the Career Training USA program. We accept applications on a rolling basis, year-round.
The sooner the better! While we realize this is not always possible, we recommend that students start their application at least two to three months before their internship start date. Students can avoid many pre-departure anxieties and issues by starting the process well in advance of their intended departure.
U.S. government regulations require that all participants in the Exchange Visitor Program have a State Department-designated sponsor. In addition to screening participants, sponsors monitor participants’ health and safety, support participants who may have questions or concerns, and check in with participants regularly to ensure their internships in the U.S. are going smoothly.

InterExchange prides itself on keeping costs low and reviewing applications as quickly as possible. However, we don’t sacrifice quality for review time. Our team thoroughly reviews training plans to ensure that interns will receive relevant and adequate training during their time in the United States.

InterExchange Career Training USA takes the skill-acquisition of participants seriously. We have instituted host employer requirements above the minimum standard set by the State Department. Our Participant Services Coordinator also maintains regular contact with participants throughout the program to ensure they learn as much as possible from their experience.

We know there are a lot of questions about the J-1 Visa process, and our resources might not cover every individual situation. However, we take time with each participant to answer questions before, during, and after the application review. Give us a call or send us an email if you or your students have any questions at all.

InterExchange Career Training USA can also organize a webinar or on-campus presentation for any of your students who may be interested in learning more about finding internships in the U.S. and applying for the J-1 Visa.

Please contact our team if you’d like to discuss webinars, campus visits, university or departmental-specific questions, discounts, university accounts, or anything else! We’re happy to learn more about how InterExchange Career Training USA can serve the needs of your students.