J-1 Student Interns

Check this list before beginning:

  • J-1 Student Interns must be currently enrolled in and pursuing a degree at a foreign post-secondary academic institution outside the U.S.
  • The internship must be a structured and guided work-based learning program that partially or fully fulfills the student’s post-secondary academic degree requirements at his or her home institution.
  • The internship must provide on-the-job exposure to American techniques, methodologies, and technologies.
  • The internship must enhance the intern’s knowledge of American culture and society.
  • Interns cannot work in unskilled or casual labor positions or in positions that require or involve childcare, elder care, or medical patient care or contact.

PART I:

ESTABLISHING ELIGIBILITY

1. Ensure that the internship program meets the regulatory requirements:

  • Minimum of 32 hours/week with no more than 20% clerical work, and
  • The supervisor must:
    • Be willing to provide continuous on-site supervision and mentoring of the intern
    • Conduct periodic evaluations of the intern

2. Check on past participation by student

  • Verify if the student has ever participated in the J-1 Student Intern category in the past
    • There is a cumulative limit of 12 months at each degree level

3. Certification letter for both elements:

A letter signed by the registrar, dean, or someone of an equivalent position at the home institution can fulfill this.

  • Obtain proof that the student is currently pursuing a degree program in his home country, and
  • This internship will fulfill educational objectives of that degree program

4. Screening interview for qualification:

According to the regulations:

  • The supervisor must conduct a thorough, documented screening of the potential intern by video conference or webcam (by phone if video conference is unavailable) to determine that they are qualified.
  • You can combine this screening interview with the English Language Proficiency Interviews if you summarize on the form that you discussed topics relevant to determining they're “fit” for the position
    • (e.g., academic background, relevant experience, etc.)

PART II:

COMPLETING DOCUMENTS

1. Intern's supervisor fills in:

  • Sections 1 and 4 (pages 3-5) of the DS-7002, Training/Internship Placement Plan (T/IPP)
  • You will need to know: 
    • The student’s current major and expected program completion date (MM-DD-YYYY)
  • See some examples of how to complete Section 4
  • There is no need to sign the T/IPP at this point. Signatures will be collected after the International Center prints the T/IPP from the SEVIS database.

2. The International Center will:

  • Fill in Section 2
  • Fill in the Sponsor portion of Section 3
  • Create the T/IPP in the SEVIS government database
  • Send the document electronically to the host department

3. Host department:

  • Collects signatures on the T/IPP (electronic is okay)

SUBMITTING ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS

1. Invitation letter: (similar to a visiting scholar invitation letter)

  • Be sure to include # of hours per week and that intern will be self-funded
  • Any information on the letter should be consistent with what is in the DS-7002
  • Review the invitation guidelines (scroll down to Host Visiting Scholars, then Invitation Letter Guidelines)

2. Student Intern Agreement:

Download the template that fits the intern’s situation based on the source of funding.

  • The Agreement must be signed by host professor, chair, and dean on the UA side
  • After obtaining their signatures, send this to Robyn Brown
    • She will pass it along to the Office of General Counsel for review before the Office of Academic Affairs signs.

3. If intern will be paid:

  • Submit a Position Request signed by Dept/College
  • Please attach this to the Student Intern Agreement, so it can be passed along to the provost
  • Check with HR to see whether a Search Waiver is needed
  • A PAF will also be needed later

4. If the intern is unpaid:

  • Submit a zero-pay PAF signed by Dept/College, attach to the Agreement

5. Request for Form DS-2019

6. Approval

After the International Center receives all the required documents above and OAA has signed the Student Intern Agreement and HR paperwork, the host department can:

  • Officially invite the student
  • Obtain the intern and the home institution’s signature on the Student Intern Agreement
  • Collect pages 7-9 of the Request for Form DS-2019 from the intern
  • Collect the intern’s supporting documents (passport copy, proof of funding, etc.)

PART III:

INTERNATIONAL CENTER PROCESSING

The International Center will:

  • Create the Form DS-2019
  • Prepare welcome information for the scholar
  • Inform the host department and scholar when the DS-2019 is ready

The host department will:

  • Express mail the DS-2019, T/IPP, and welcome information to the student intern

PART IV:

APPLY FOR VISA

  • Student Intern applies for J-1 visa

PART V:

ASSESSMENT

If the internship is 6 months or less

If the internship is longer than 6 months

QUESTIONS?

Contact Robyn Brown at 330-972-6798