Internships Abroad FAQ

This is not sponsorship in the financial sense, but J1 sponsorship or legal sponsor represents a guarantee: The American consulates only accept the application for a J1 visa if a designated exchange organization vouches that an intern, trainee and host company in the USA have met all of the program requirements. Intrax as a sponsor is responsible for the execution of the program in accordance with US regulations. Not every exchange organization is a J1 visa sponsor. Exchange organizations must apply for this and are themselves regularly checked by the US Department of State.

Interns must have studied at least two semesters full-time at a university outside the USA, and the internship must be closely related to the course of studies. Trainees must be able to demonstrate relevant professional experience for at least one year at the end of their studies. These 12 months can also be composed of part-time jobs and internships during their studies. 

Additional requirements for applicants can be found here.

Your host company should also meet the following requirements:

• The internship or training offered will directly relate to the J1 visa applicant’s studies/profession

• In case the company wants to host more than 1 J1 intern/trainee at the same time (regardless of the specific J1 sponsor for each intern), there must be 5 fulltime employees per 1 J1 intern/trainee (5:1 ratio)

• There will have a designed supervisor on site

• Suitable office space is available

• At least half of the employees are U.S. citizens

• The language spoken at work is English

• The internship entails not more than 20% of clerical work

• The company website is in English

• The annual revenue is at least $ 3 million OR the company has at least 25 employees on site OR the company has already hosted a J1 intern or trainee with Intrax as the sponsor and has not changed the company seat. Alternatively, Intrax needs to conduct a company visit (On-Site Visit) for an additional fee

• Proof of Worker Compensation Insurance covering interns and trainees or proof of an alternative, equivalent insurance or proof of official exemption from being obliged to carry such insurance or self-insured

• The internship or training comprises 32 hours minimum per week

• The company may provide a stipend or a non-monetary compensation but is not obliged to do so

• In the field of Hospitality, only 4 and 5-star hotels and resorts and fine dining restaurants are permitted

To request the J1 visa required for an exchange program, you need a document called “DS-2019 form”. This document may only be issued by exchange organizations, like Intrax, approved by the US Department of State. The organization must first check the applicants for the legal requirements and the suitability for the program. The DS-2019 form proves to the US Consulate that you, your American host company, and your internship follow the J1 program guidelines.

Intrax is an official J1-visa sponsor, which means that we have been designated by the US Department of State to issue the DS-2019 form/Certificate of eligibility, a document which you need to present at the US Embassy during your visa interview.

Many of our program participants have received the recommendation and contact data from fellow students who were previously at the company in the USA. Often Career Services and the International Office of the University also help in finding positions in the USA. Sometimes interns have previously gained experience at partner companies or branch offices in their home country or have a personal or family connection to the firm.

Some students successfully use internet research and look for companies, especially those with business connections to their home country or with specializations which closely match the student’s studies. It is important in these applications that you can convincingly argue why the company would benefit from an international intern. It is especially important that you are clear with the company that the J1 Visa process does not cost them any money and does not require much of their time.

At the moment, Intrax can only assist with internship placements in the field of hospitality. We provide 12 months paid positions in 5-star hotels/resorts and fine dining restaurants. If you are looking for an internship in another field, unfortunately, Intrax does not have a placement service at this time.

After Intrax has checked that you and the host company meet all J1 visa requirements and have issued the DS 2019 form.

Hotels and Restaurants must meet the following additional requirements:

• Your internship or training in a hotel or a restaurant may not exceed 12 months
• The Training Plan/DS7002 form must contain a minimum of 3 phases for a 6-month program (4 phases for a 12-month program) with rotations showing a clear evolution in your missions.
• Training plans including housekeeping and bartending missions won't be approved by Intrax.
• Restaurants should be rated as „fine dining“
• A Hotel or Resort must have a minimum of 4 stars.
• Intrax cannot sponsor positions in establishments primarily serving beverages.
• Positions in bakeries and pastry shops will be processed on a case-by-case basis upon evaluation of the variety, level of products and services offered.

Yes. Even if it is only a four-week unpaid internship with the American friend of your parents, it is necessary to apply for the J1 visa and a J1 visa sponsor such as Intrax has to check whether the intern and the host company in the USA meet the eligibility criteria for the J1 visa. 

No. During the registration with Intrax, your application and documents will be processed online through MyIntrax Portal and the follow-up will be done via email, phone and/or Skype.

After receiving your DS-2019 form at your preferred address, you can apply at any US embassy or consulate which issues J1 visas. If you are currently studying in another country, this is no problem. During your visa interview at the embassy, you should be able to clearly explain your plans immediately after the internship and your long-term plans so that it is clear that you do not intend to stay in the USA after your program. (proof of sufficient home ties)

If you have not found an internship, please feel free to contact us and ask for application tips. It is only necessary to fill out our online application if you have an offer from an American company. If you simply do not have time to apply, you may also consider whether you would like to use our placement program for Internships in the USA.

Your internship may not exceed 12 months. A trainee can last up to 18 months except for the hospitality sector, where the duration of either training or internship is always limited to 12 months.

Yes. However, it is important that your host company meets all the requirements and understands the following aspects:

• Constant ongoing supervision of the intern should be ensured (for example in the case of business travel or illness);
• Suitable office space is available (residential offices are not acceptable); 
• Cultural activities are planned for you;
• The company meets the 5:1 Ratio (5 full-time employees per J1 intern) if they host more than one international intern or trainee;
• They need to be able to explain their motivation for hosting a J1 Intern/Trainee
• In the field of hospitality, the company must be a 4- or 5-star hotel or a fine-dining restaurant

Depending on the annual revenue and number of full-time employees of your host company, a visit of their office by our American colleagues may be required (on-site visit).

This ratio is relevant for U.S. host companies who want to hire more than one J1 intern/trainee at the same time. In this case, five American full-time employees must be present in the workplace for each international J1 trainee. It does not concern companies that have only one J1 trainee. Companies with fewer than five employees may be subject to additional verification to ensure that they can provide adequate supervision and training to the intern.

You and your supervisor decide if the internship will be paid. We as a J1 sponsor only need to make sure you have access to $2000 a month. Whether the money comes from an internship remuneration or whether you have worked previously to save funds or received a scholarship or support from your parents is equally acceptable to us.

If your host company pays you or provides you with a car, rent subsidy, canteen food etc. then the value must be noted in the DS-7002.

It is also important that you do not accept a secondary job during the internship in the USA.

Not for us. For Intrax the contracts are in the form of the Host Company Agreement and the training plan DS-7002 which we send to the host company.

You can apply a maximum of six months before starting your internship in the USA. Otherwise you should register as soon as possible if you have received an offer for an internship. Intrax in the U.S. will issue the DS-2019 form within two weeks of receipt of all documents and the program payment, but business travel, illness, faulty and incomplete documents, the need for an on-site visit, etc. may delay the process.

The J1 visa service program fee is payable after we have received all the documentation from you and your internship company and can ensure that your application complies with all basic guidelines and after we have conducted a short phone or Skype interview with you. When the documents are complete and the interview has been conducted, we will send you the invoice.

Your J1 visa sponsorship with Intrax includes travel medical insurance which meets the department of state requirements for the J1 visa program. Insurance coverage begins on arrival and covers you until the last day of your internship. This policy includes a co-pay of $100 for each medical occurrence. The co-pay for a visit to the Emergency Room is $250. Your policy coverage also includes the TELADOC service allowing you to call and receive a medical consultation over the phone. This service is not subject to the deductible.

You'll find the details of your Insurance coverage in the USA in the brochure.

You may also purchase additional insurance if you plan to stay in the USA for the 30-day grace period after your internship. Please note that our insurance does not cover any pre-existing conditions. If you have such conditions, you should strongly consider taking out additional insurance for the duration of your stay in the USA.

You can learn more about the US insurance system and what to be aware of BEFORE seeking medical help in the US in these short videos: IMG: https://www.envisageglobalinsurance.com/student-zone/global-internships-img/

Depending on embassies and their processing time, the passport containing the J-1 Visa is usually mailed back to you 3 to 5 days after your interview and visa approval at the US embassy.

Intrax is reliable :Intrax has over 25 years of experience with various J1 visa categories. We are transparent: there are no surprise costs to you and our website lists all costs and answers all of the common questions we have received about J1 visas in recent years.

Everything in one place: We have offices in Europe and the USA so we are always on hand whether you are applying or on program.

The DS-2019 is a document for exchange programs that you require to apply for the J1 visa. The Department of State has designated responsibility to exchange offices, such as Intrax (our US headquarters), to ensure that interns meet the visa requirements. By submitting the DS-2019, Intrax provides the guarantee of the eligibility of your internship. Without this document, no J1 visa will be issued!

The DS-7002 is an internship / training plan that must be completed by host company. This section explains exactly what, when and how you learn during the internship, whether you are going through different departments and who will be your contact. The DS-7002 normally only has one phase for interns, since they do not have to have different phases / rotations (with the exception of hospitality internships) For trainees, who usually rotate in the company every three months, the DS-7002 is longer, as a new page has to be filled for each learning phase. This form is also required to apply for the visa.

Once you've logged in to the MyIntrax Portal, you can upload your documents:

• A Copy of Your Passport (only the page with photo);
• Resume (in English);
• Proof of Student Status (only for internship applicants who are still enrolled);
• A Certificate of Enrollment or University Letter (including an English translation if the certificate/letter isn’t already in English);
• Diploma/Certificate of Graduation (only if you have already graduated) - Please include an English translation in case your degree isn’t already in English;
• Intrax contract;
• Financial Statement (only if applicable); If your program is unpaid or your host company pays less than $2000 per month, we need a financial statement. You can either ask your parents or another direct relative to fill in and sign a Letter of Guarantee or you can ask your bank to complete the Financial Statement or to provide their own bank statement in English, also listing the total amount in USD.
• Previous U.S. Visas (only if applicable);

If you have previously been to the U.S. on a visa, please upload a copy of these as well.

We will write your supervisor by email (with you in cc) and send him or her the Host Company Agreement and the Training Plan DS-7002 to complete and return.

If you and your American supervisor have submitted all the necessary documents to us, they are correct, require no on-site visit, you have time for a phone call with us and you pay the invoice immediately, our main office usually needs two weeks from the date of submission to issue the form. 

You can only schedule the interview at the American Consulate when the DS-2019 is issued. In the summer, there are sometimes longer waiting times for an interview. After the visa interview, the consulate needs 3-5 days to send you the passport together with your visa by registered post.

You can apply at the earliest during the first or second semester and start the internship after the beginning of the lecture-free period.

Once you've logged in to the MyIntrax Portal, you can upload your documents:

• A Copy of Your Passport (only the page with photo);
• Resume (in English);
• Proof of Student Status (only for internship applicants who are still enrolled);
• A Certificate of Enrollment or University Letter (including an English translation if the certificate/letter isn’t already in English);
• Diploma/Certificate of Graduation (only if you have already graduated) - Please include an English translation in case your degree isn’t already in English;
• Intrax contract;
• Financial Statement (only if applicable); If your program is unpaid or your host company pays less than $2000 per month, we need a financial statement. You can either ask your parents or another direct relative to fill in and sign a Letter of Guarantee or you can ask your bank to complete the Financial Statement or to provide their own bank statement in English, also listing the total amount in USD.
• Previous U.S. Visas (only if applicable); If you have previously been to the U.S. on a visa, please upload a copy of these as well.

We will write your supervisor by email (with you in cc) and send him or her the Host Company Agreement and the Training Plan DS-7002 to complete and return.

Yes, that is possible. Please let us know as soon as possible so that we can enter the current dates in the SEVIS (Student Exchange Visitor Information System) database. This can be done in an emergency, after the DS-2019 has already been issued. If the shift is more than two weeks, we would request a new DS-2019 from our main office and bill for the changes and re-issuance of the new Form (see fee details on this page).

U.S. The authorities have stipulated that interns and trainees must demonstrate that they have more than $2000 per month. If your internship is remunerated at this level, we do not need any proof as the DS-7002 training plan will serve as evidence of this. If the internship is not paid at all, then we need either a guarantee (from your parents) or a financial statement from your bank for the difference or for the entire $2000 per month. (Please link to the docs in the download) Please inform yourself in advance if you come to a city where even the $2000 are not enough due to high rents.

For members of the so-called "Six-Month-Club", the passport only needs to be valid until departure from the USA. Other citizens need a passport valid at least 6 months after the end of the internship in the USA.

If your American host company has not yet taken part in the Intrax J1 visa Program, has fewer than 25 employees and less than $ 3 million annual turnover, an Intrax employee must personally visit the company (On-Site Visit) and check that they meet the requirements to host a J1 intern. In this case, you will be charged an additional €250 /$250. If the on-site visit has taken place, these costs are not refundable after a program cancellation. No on-site visit is required for governmental institutions.

For the locations Alaska and Hawaii, we have to ask our partner in advance whether an on-site visit is possible at the desired time. There may also be additional costs for remote locations.

Please note: We would also need to make an additional on-site visit during the program if the host company relocates and does not meet the host company requirements.

These terms refer to the document that ultimately shows what you will do during the internship in the US, what is the relevance of these activities to your studies, how your learning is measured, what methods your supervisor will use, what qualifies the supervisor for the role and that during your stay you still have the opportunity to experience the USA and American life and culture. The document is important to prove that your internship or training is in the spirit of a J1 exchange program.

The DS-7002 gives the opportunity to present the internship in phases. The subdivision into phases is however only necessary for trainees and for internships in the field of ​​hospitality. No phase may take longer than four months.

The DS-7002 will ultimately be signed before you, the Supervisor and Intrax.

DocuSign is a software for electronic signature technology that enables the digital exchange of contracts and signed documents. DocuSign provides authentication services, user identity management and workflow automation.

Docusign works with any internet-enabled device and is quite simple. You will automatically get to the place where you insert your name and then click Finish.

You will receive two emails with links to DocuSign twice:

• To sign the Intrax Terms & Conditions
• To sign the training plan DS-7002.

Before Intrax issues the DS-2019, your documents or application must be sent to the United States. From this time on it usually takes about 2 weeks.

We will forward your application to Intrax in San Francisco if

• we have received all documents from you and your internship firm completely and correctly (please remember that the trainee and the company are responsible for sending us the documents in time.
• we have completed the final interview
• and have received your payment

The process until receipt of the J1 visa is delayed if

• your documents are incomplete
• your payment has not been received by us
• an on-site visit is required
• Intrax can not accept your application because it does not meet the J1 visa guidelines. We would then ask you to change your documents or reject your application
• Intrax can not reach your personnel responsible for a telephone call, where your internship must be confirmed under the J1 visa guidelines
• there are problems with shipping
• the waiting times for an appointment at the US consulate increase

First, you will not automatically receive the J1 visa after issuance of the DS-2019 form, but this document will allow you to make an appointment at the US Consulate to apply for the J1 visa. If you are approved in the interview, your passport with the visa will be sent to you a few days after the consulate interview. There is no guarantee that you will be approved, since the decision-making power lies with the embassy or the consulate. Visa rejections are rare due to the pre-verification of compliance with the guidelines performed by sponsors like Intrax. Reasons for visa denials could be violations of visa regulations in the past, or if one makes statements in the interview that could be interpreted as intentions to stay in the USA and to work there past his or her visa end date.

Your J1 visa sponsorship with Intrax includes travel medical insurance which meets the department of state requirements for the J1 visa program. Insurance coverage begins on arrival and covers you until the last day of your internship. This policy includes a co-pay of $100 for each medical occurrence. The co-pay for a visit to the Emergency Room is $250. Your policy coverage also includes the TELADOC service allowing you to call and receive a medical consultation over the phone. This service is not subject to the deductible.

You'll find the details of your Insurance coverage in the USA in the brochure.

You may also purchase additional insurance if you plan to stay in the USA for the 30-day grace period after your internship. Please note that our insurance does not cover any pre-existing conditions. If you have such conditions, you should strongly consider taking out additional insurance for the duration of your stay in the USA.

You can learn more about the US insurance system and what to be aware of BEFORE seeking medical help in the US in these short videos: IMG: https://www.envisageglobalinsurance.com/student-zone/global-internships-img/

The DS-160 is an online form that each visa applicant must complete to book the appointment at the U.S. Consulate. After completing the questionnaire, you will receive a confirmation page which should be printed out. You have to take this confirmation to the embassy appointment along with the other required documentation.

When your DS-2019 form is issued and shipped, you will receive detailed instructions on how to schedule an interview and a checklist summarizing the required documents for your appointment:

• Your passport; 
• DS-2019 form (2 sheets);
• Training plan/DS-7002 form;
• Confirmation page of your appointment (a document including two barcodes);
• Confirmation page of your DS-160 form (to be received upon booking your appointment);
• SEVIS Fee payment confirmation/ (paid by Intrax);
• One 5 x 5 cm (2 x 2 inches) color photograph taken within the last 6 months. This web page has information about the required photo format.
• Financial Certification (any documents showing that you have enough readily-available funds to cover all expenses while you remain in the United States) 
• Evidence of home ties such as rental agreement, a university letter, a job contract etc.

First, SEVIS stands for Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. This is an online database of the U.S. Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security. It serves for the tracking & monitoring of all exchange visitors, e.g. regarding the current location and the program data. The fee for SEVIS is $220 per person. It is included with Intrax in the program costs. Intrax will register you in the database as soon as your DS-2019 is issued.

Please take only the necessary documents (in a transparent plastic cover) with you. For safety reasons, electronic devices (including mobile phones, smart watches, etc.), backpacks, suitcases and larger bags may not be carried into the consulate. These items cannot be stored in the embassy so you must make alternative storage arrangements. Be punctual but do not show up too early. The interview itself will probably take just a few minutes. Please remember that an internship visa is not a work visa. It is not about work and job, but about interning and learning. Answer all their questions honestly.

No. ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) applies only to travelers without a visa. As an intern or trainee in the U.S. you have a J1 visa for entry.

No, unfortunately not. The requirements regarding the J1 visa require that you are already in higher education, have a degree or 5 years relevant professional experience.

Before you leave, prepare the following:

• Make copies of all documents, including the passport.
• You should know your first address in the U.S. as you must specify this on entry. If your first address is a hotel or hostel, print a copy of your booking confirmation in case an agent at the border asks for a proof.
• Clarify in advance with your bank the fees and conditions for withdrawing money abroad. Perhaps your bank has a partner bank in the US? Because if your internship/training is paid, it will be mandatory for you to open a bank account. It is good to know in advance which bank can offer you the best condition as a temporary visitor in the U.S. Think about a bank which will not make it too hard for you to close your account at the end of your stay.
• Inform yourself about the process of your insurance in case of illness and accident. Read and understand your medical coverage. Remember that the Intrax insurance only covers you in the U.S. and until the end of your internship/trainee program. You should plan further coverage if you travel outside the U.S. during your program or if you plan to make use of your grace period.
• If you are taking regular medications, please take an English-language note from your doctor and the medication in the original packaging. Find out how you can get these drugs in the U.S.
• Be informed and plan how you will get from the airport to your lodging place.
• Ask if your phone/smartphone is contract-bound, whether you can extend the contract, or use a new SIM card if necessary. The J1Sim Phone operator is specialized in limited-time international contracts. You can order a SIM card free of charge on this website. When you arrive in the USA or just before boarding the plane, you can activate this SIM card by choosing the desired package on this page.

Even if flights booked at short notice are expensive, we can only recommend following the advice of the US Consulate: only book the flight when you have received the J1 visa. Sometimes there are long waiting times for the appointment, which in the worst case can lead to missing the beginning of the internship. In very rare cases, the consulate decides on "administrative processing" which means additional processing time and can also move the program start.

For entering the USA, you need your passport and the original DS-2019 form. You should also know your first address and specify it on arrival if requested. We recommend that if you are staying in a hotel or hostel at first, to keep a copy of your booking confirmation.

You will also either receive a form of customs on the aircraft or upon arrival at the airport register digitally at the customs where a digital photo of you is taken and the fingerprints of both hands are scanned. Afterwards, an official will ask you about the reason for your stay. Again, note that a J1 visa is not a work visa. So do not talk about work or job.

Yes, an income tax will be deducted from your payment. However, you only have to pay the Federal Income Tax as well as the (if any) State Income Tax and City Income Tax. Social Security Tax, Medicare and Federal Employment Tax do not apply to you. In February, you will receive the W-2 form, which you need to submit the tax return, so that some of the taxes can be refunded. There are various tax companies that do this for you and withhold a percentage or a fixed sum.

Yes, if your are receiving a monetary compensation during your internship or trainee program, you will need to apply for Social Security but you can only do so once you have arrived in the U.S. Your host company can only pay you if you have applied for a SSC. 

The social security number is a very important number in the US is often abbreviated as SS # or SSN. This number serves as a universal identification of individuals – even for foreigners and for persons who do not pay in to the American Social Security system. Without a SSN it is difficult to open a bank account in the US or to take out insurance. It can also cause problems with your driving license.

As a rule, American host companies need to have a Workers' Compensation Insurance, which also covers  interns in the event of an accident during their internship, on their way to and from the internship and during business travel. If your host company does not have Workers' Compensation Insurance or does not cover interns, the company must prove that it offers an equivalent alternative or that it is exempt from the requirement.

If the internship is not remunerated and you only go to the USA for a few months, then you do not need to open an account. But please clarify in advance how you should pay the rent. If you are paid during the internship, you usually need an American account. Enquire at your local bank if there is a cooperation with an American bank.

The program dates are stated on the DS-2019.

You can enter the USA up to 30 days before and stay up to 30 days after the internship. The expiration date on the visa indicates the latest date you are allowed to enter the US (e.g. after a trip during the program).

Conflicts are rare because the American employers and colleagues appreciate the fact that someone is coming from so far to gain work experience in the U.S. For this commitment and openness you will get a lot of respect. However, you must also be committed and professional! If misunderstandings occur, you should contact your supervisor. Intrax can enter the conversation for clarification as a second step.

For On-Program Support please call 1-888-224-0450 extension 2 or email INTsupport@intraxinc.com.

Please note that your stay is linked to your visa position. You cannot cancel and remain in the United States. If your internship is terminated, you have to leave the U.S. If you have found another position, this must also be checked by Intrax and for an additional fee, a new DS-2019 form should then be issued for the new position and company. 

A change of internship is only possible in certain rare cases and after examination and approval by our American partner. You may only hold internships, which have been mediated or approved by a sponsor. For a change to be approved, there must be extenuating circumstances as to why you cannot continue with your first internship.

Apart from volunteer activities such as with charities, no other jobs or internships are allowed while on a J1 visa. It is strictly forbidden to hold a part time job while on a J1 visa.

You do not have an automatic right to vacation but some host companies arrange free time for holiday with the J1 interns. If you want to leave the US you may need a Travel Validation from Intrax on your DS-2019.

Yes, during the internship, you may travel both within the US and leave the US.

If you plan on leaving and re-entering the USA during your internship, you need to apply for a travel validation with Intrax two to three weeks before you plan on traveling.

You will find the details about the process and the form to be completed and signed on this link: Travel Validation form.



You do not need a Travel Validation Request for trips shorter than 30 days to Canada, Mexico, or the adjacent islands when the purpose of this trip is tourism.

After the internship, during the 30 days Grace Period, you can only travel within the USA.

Yes, you may travel within the United States, Canada, Mexico and adjacent islands (30 days maximum) for the duration of your program and for 30 days prior to the start of your internship. If you wish to travel to other countries during your internship, you will need to apply for a “Travel Validation”.

You also have an additional 30 days (Grace Period) after your internship and before returning to your home country. During the Grace Period, you cannot travel outside the United States and then return to the United States, your J-1 Visa will no longer be valid at  U.S. Customs. This rule also applies also to Canada, Mexico and adjacent islands. During the "grace period", any exit is therefore final.

You may enter the USA up to 30 days before the start of the internship and have 30 days (Grace Period) after your internship until your departure.

After completing any program with the J1 visa, you have the opportunity to stay for up to 30 days in the USA. During this time you may only travel within the USA, so you should not travel to Canada or Mexico and then re-enter. You may also travel to the USA up to 30 days before the start of the program if you receive the visa on time. During Grace Period, you may not be active in your host company. The insurance you get with intrax does not cover you for the grace period, it is then your responsibility to contact our US office to extend your insurance to cover you for the grace period.

Theoretically, your internship company can terminate your internship at any time. Neither we nor our American head office have any influence on this. Unfortunately, we cannot provide you with a new job in case of termination. However, you may have the opportunity to look for a new internship on your own. The new internship company must first be checked and approved by our U.S. office. If the company has fewer than 25 employees or less than $ 3 million annual revenue, it must also be inspected personally.

For On-Program Support please call 1-888-224-0450 extension 2 or email INTsupport@intraxinc.com.

No, the J1 visa is only issued for a specific internship in a particular company. For a second J1 visa, you must leave the country and make a second application. There should be at least one semester between the two internships.

If your host company has several offices in the USA and from the outset it is clear that you should be used at several locations, you can apply for it. However, it will cost extra to intern at multiple sites. We then need a host company agreement and a training plan from each branch as well as the validation call and, if necessary, on-site visit.

It is possible to apply to extend your J1 visa up to the maximum duration for your program. This means Internships and Hospitality Trainee programs can be extended up to a maximum of 12 months of the total duration of the program. Other Trainee programs can be extended up to 18 months. It is not possible to extend beyond this.

Please note that if you leave the United States after you renew your internship, you will need to apply for your visa again. Your return to the U.S. can be denied to you, even if your placement extension has been approved by your sponsor.

This is an important topic and you should discuss dress code and any other important rules with your supervisor in advance.

You will get a certificate of participation from us upon completion of the program. You should ask your supervisor to write a Letter of Recommendation a few weeks before your internship ends. We do not have any influence on this, but if your colleagues and supervisors are satisfied with you then you should receive a very positive Letter of Recommendation.

The U.S. State Department sets strict rules regarding waiting time between visas:

• Between two J-1 Intern Visas: 1 semester of study (90 days if you have graduated in the meantime)
• Between a J-1 Intern Visa and a J-1 Trainee Visa: 2 years
• Between two J-1 Trainee Visas: 2 years
• Between a J-1 Trainee Visa and a J-1 Intern Visa: 1 semester of study
• Between any other Visa category and a J-1 Intern/Trainee Visa: No minimum time – but you cannot apply while in the U.S. We will need proof of departure if you still have another valid visa.

Yes, if you are married and/or have children under the age of 21, they may accompany you for your internship. For them to do so, you need to apply for a J2 visa. Upon registering in the MyIntrax portal for your J1 visa, you can also register your J2 family members. You could also register them at a later point.

In order to be eligible to apply for a J2, the J1 partner must be married to the J2 partner. Accompanying children must be under the age of 21 and unmarried. (Please note, if they turn 21 while in the U.S., they need to return home or apply for a new (different- F1, M1, J1) visa as their J2 visa will expire when they turn 21).

For each family member, the J1 visa holder must provide proof of funds of $2000 per month for the entire duration of the program. If the J1 intern or trainee is already on program and receives a monthly income amounting to the required monthly sum, three J1 pay stubs would suffice as proof. Alternatively, we would accept bank statements or a letter of guarantee from immediate family members.

Apart from the insurance and financial proof, we also need a copy of the marriage certificate (including an official English translation), a copy of each child’s birth certificate, and passport copies for each family member (page with biographical data).

Intrax issues a DS-2019 form for each family member. Each J2 applicant must apply for the J2 visa at a U.S. Consulate. You each need to fill in the DS-160 form, but you can make one embassy interview appointment for the entire family.

On a J2 visa, children are entitled to visit the local high school. A child or spouse may also enroll to study full-time or part-time without the need to apply for a F1 visa. A spouse can apply for a work permit (I-765 – Application for Employment Authorization) for up to one year. The prospect of earning a salary does not waive the need for financial proof of $2000 per month prior to program start. Also, the application for the I-765 might take several months to process.