Living Abroad FAQ

If your internship, Work and Travel or Camp Counselor position is paid, Federal and State Income Tax (10 – 15%) and City/Local Tax (5 – 8%) will be automatically deducted from your income. Between January and February, you will receive a document called “W-2 form” from your host company. This document includes all compensation paid and all deducted taxes during the previous fiscal year. You will need to complete tax documents and return these to the IRS with your W-2 form before April.
You will find a tax calculator on this link: Intern Pay Calculator. At the end of your program, you can file a tax return. Please refer to your Exchange Visitor Resource Library.

Apart from volunteer activities such as with charities, no other jobs or internships are allowed while on a J-1 visa. It is strictly forbidden to hold a part-time job while on a J-1 visa.

Living expenses in popular cities on the East and West Coast are higher than other places in the USA. We suggest that you have access to $3000 - $4000 before starting your program for initial expenses such as transportation from the airport, temporary housing in a hostel/hotel while searching for a permanent place, first month rent and deposit, unexpected expenses, and any emergencies. In order to plan financing your internship in the USA, it helps knowing how much you will be paying for food, hygiene and personal care products, transportation etc. The IRS publishes the national standard on average living expenses across the USA and an example of how much is expected to be spent for one person for different living necessities: https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/national-standards-food-clothing-and-other-items.

You can also use the following two websites to get detailed information about the price of potatoes, shampoo, transportation, and restaurants in specific U.S. cities: Cost of Living Calculator

In addition, many states have a sales tax which is never included in the price you see, but always added at the cashier. The tax varies between 3 and 10% and means that you need to add this tax to the price listed on any product.

Intrax does not support a change of visa type. We advise you to apply for another visa category in your home country.

After completing any program with the J-1 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 the Grace Period, you may not be active in your host company.

The insurance you get with Intrax does not cover you during the grace period, it is then your responsibility to contact our US office to extend your insurance to cover you for the grace period.

No, social benefits are for citizens and permanent residents.

A culture shock is different for everyone. The important thing is to be aware that it is something many people experience when going abroad, whether it is their first time or not being in a new country, a culture shock can happen to anyone. The Intrax team recommends talking to a friend, whether from your home country or someone you have met in your host country, and not to deal with a cultural shock alone. It is a completely normal state of mind and it is a feeling that can happen at any stage of your time abroad. For some, it happens upon arrival, while for others it may only occur halfway through the program. Just remember, it is normal and you are not alone!

You should get by with 100 € per week for groceries and drugstore articles. US students are usually pleasantly surprised that food is less expensive in Berlin than at home There are a few website detailing the cost of living to help you prepare your budget for your internship abroad:

https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Berlin

https://www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living/berlin

Every once in a while, you will surely go out for lunch with your colleagues. Be prepared that you will rarely find places serving tab water for fee. The monthly ticket costs 63 € and allows you to use all means of public transportation in Germany: subway, S-Bahn, bus, tram and local trains. The public transportation system in Berlin is easy to use, comparatively reliable and safe. You will easily figure out your way from your home to your host company using www.bvg.de/en. Be ready to show your ticket to the bus driver and to controllers in the subway. The public transport system function on a “honor system” – with random checks.

Please note: Cash is used much more frequently in Germany! Credit cards are not accepted in all stores or restaurants, so always carry some cash with you. Visa is very common. American Express will be almost impossible to use. Check for bank withdrawal fees and maybe withdraw larger sums at a time, leaving some of your cash at the hotel.

Stores: VAT is already included in the Sales Fee. Tip is 10%. No need to tip more due to minimum wage. (13.90 € in 2026)

For hospitality internship and Work & Travel participants, your host company may be able to provide housing or assist you with your housing search.

If you participate in the AmeriCamp program (camp counselor), housing and meals will be provided.

For all other programs, you are responsible for finding your own accommodation. Your host company is usually the best source of information, as they know the local area and may be able to advise you on available housing options.

Rent can be very expensive in popular cities such as New York or San Francisco. A one-bedroom apartment in the city center may cost more than $3,000 per month. Therefore, many interns choose to rent a furnished room in a shared apartment.
You should generally budget between $500 and $1,400 per month for a room in a shared apartment, depending on the city and distance from the city center. Landlords often require the first month’s rent in advance, as well as a security deposit (sometimes up to three months’ rent). For utilities (electricity, heating, air conditioning, water, and trash) and internet, plan for an additional $100–$200 per month.

‍Avoiding scams: Unless your host company has provided you with a specific housing recommendation, we recommend booking a hotel or hostel through an official platform for your first few weeks. This will give you time to visit apartments or shared accommodations in person, meet potential roommates, and verify the housing before signing a lease or making any payments. Never send your credit card information or pay a deposit or application fee before visiting the accommodation and confirming that the offer is legitimate.

The Social Security Number (SSN), also referred to as a Social Security #, is a personal identification number used in the United States, including for foreign nationals.
If you are paid during your program in the United States, obtaining a Social Security Number is required.

Step 1: Find your I-94 number
After arriving in the United States, you can access your I-94 number here:
https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/search/recent-searchEnter your passport information to retrieve your I-94 record.

Step 2: Apply for your Social Security Number (SSN)
You can apply for your SSN approximately 2 business days after your MyIntrax Portal check-in has been validated. The online application, appointment scheduling process, and list of required documents are available here:
https://www.ssa.gov/number-card/request-number-first-time

‍You will need to bring the following documents to your appointment:
- Social Security Application Form (SS-5): http://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf
- Your DS-2019 form
- Your passport containing your J-1 Visa
- Your I-94 record
- A copy of your Training Plan or summer job confirmation
- Additional identification documents if your passport was issued less than one year ago

You can also find this information in your pre-departure email and in the “Resources” section of your MyIntrax online account.

Housing costs depend both on the neighborhood you want to live in and your decision to share a flat or to search for a studio or single apartment for yourself. For the summer months, prizes for short-term housing tend to go up. You should calculate 800 - 1.500 € per month, plus another 100 € per month for utilities. There might be a security deposit of 1-3 months rent.

We will be there to give you advise and point you to housing portals such as www.easy-living4u.de and https://wunderflats.com for short-term furnished apartments.

For shared flats, there is for example https://www.medici-living.com/ and www.wg-gesucht.de/en/. Here is a holiday housing portal with fees per night: https://www.ferienwohnung-zimmer-berlin.de/en/search_result.php.

You can ask for our input and we are willing to help with communication with your potential future landlord or housemates to reduce the risk of a housing scam. The actual booking of your place to live will be your responsibility.

You do not have an automatic right to vacation but some host companies arrange free time for holiday especially on the J-1 Intern or Trainee program. If you want to leave the US you may need a Travel Validation from Intrax on your DS-2019.

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 program in the USA.