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
- Request for Form DS-2019, complete pages 4-5
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
- Submit the Intern Evaluation within 15 days of the internship’s end date
If the internship is longer than 6 months
- Submit the Intern Evaluation within 15 days of the midpoint of the internship, and
- Submit another Intern Evaluation at the end of the internship
QUESTIONS?
Contact Robyn Brown at 330-972-6798