Visa J1 Internship USA

If you wish to do an internship as a student in the United States, you must complete the formalities for entry into the United States before your departure for the USA. A J1 visa is required for an internship in the United States.

For a stay of less than 90 days in the United States: You can complete the formalities for entry into the United States directly by Internet by clicking on the online form. There is no need to obtain a visa or an appointment at the American Embassy.

However, your electronic travel authorization does not allow you to work as an intern in the USA. It allows you to enter for a tourist stay or for certain specific activities of which the internship is not part.

What is the J1 visa?

The J1 visa is an entry permit for students and young professionals (up to the age of 38) that allows them to stay in the United States for a maximum of 18 months. They can do an internship (paid or not, with or without a contract) or a summer job. This visa allows :

• to stay between 1 and 18 months in the United States;
• to pass and obtain the American driver’s license;
• to be assigned a social security number;
• to make as many return trips outside the country during the validity of the visa.

On the other hand, the J1 does not allow :

• to sign another work contract, you need an H1B visa for that;
• to work as an au pair;
• to change employers and internships;
• to extend the initial duration of the internship.

The J1 visa itself is divided into 4 different visas depending on the type of work you may have found:

• J1 Intern for students from higher education institutions or not;
• J1 Trainee for graduate students;
• J1 Work and Travel for students without a degree or work experience to complete an internship between June and September for a salary not exceeding $1200/month;
• J2 for spouses or children of J1 visa holders, allowing them to accompany the visa holder but also to study.

How to obtain a J1 visa?

Unlike an ESTA authorization, and like many visas, obtaining a J1 visa can be long and tedious.

To start, you must find a sponsor. A sponsor is an organization accredited by the U.S. government to assist applicants in obtaining a J1 visa. The latter must verify your eligibility and then issue you the 2019 DS form.

The 2019 DS Form is the document that acts as the internship agreement between you and the company. It includes all the information related to the internship: start and end dates, the mission assigned, the number of hours worked, the amount of the remuneration, etc. Once you have completed the form, you will need to approach the American embassy to compile and submit your file, including the 2019 DS. The final step will be an interview, in English, with a US government official. At the end of this session, you will know if your application is accepted. If so, you will receive your passport and visa by mail within 4 days.

Note : Be careful not to confuse J1 visa or F1 visa.