IntroductionHow to applyApply now
Administered by FUSIA, a sponsor of exchange visitor internships designated by the US Department of State, FUSIA J-1 Internship, aka, the Cross-Cultural Internship Program (CCIP) is to support corporate global internship and co-op for global experience and for foreign college or university students or recent graduates to gain exposure to US culture and receive hands-on experience in US business practices in the US.
1 Internship offer: The applicant has already identified and confirmed his/her internship with a US company or organization, that the internship duration is within 12 months, and that the anticipated start date of his/her internship is at least 10 weeks from today. Expedite service is available upon request.
2 Academic relevance: J-1 internships are not for exchange visitors to explore a field different from their studies. Accordingly, the internship that the applicant has been offered must be directly related to his/her field of study.
3 Occupational category: The internship is in one of the occupational categories that FUSIA is authorized to sponsor: (a) Arts and Culture, (b) Education, Social Sciences, Library Science, Counseling and Social Services, (c) Information Media and Communications, (d) Management, Business, Commerce and Finance, (e) Public Administration and Law, and (f) The Sciences, Engineering, Architecture, Mathematics, and Industrial Occupations.
4 Age: The applicant aged 18 or older prior to the start date of his/her exchange visitor program.
5 Postgraduate student status: The applicant is currently enrolled full-time and pursuing studies at degree- or certificate-granting post-secondary academic institutions outside the United States; or has graduated from such institutions no more than 12 months prior to the start of his/her proposed exchange visitor program.
6 Academic standing: The applicant is enrolled with good academic standing, which means s/he is not on academic probation, has no academic disciplinary actions imposed against him/her, and have a CGPA of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale or lower but has obtained an exception from FUSIA.
7 Sufficient finances: The Exchange Visitor Program requires J-1 interns to demonstrate that they have sufficient funding to support themselves, and any dependents, for the duration of their program. The applicant must have sufficient financial resources, i.e., grants, scholarship, awards, personal, family, school, etc., of at least USD 425 per month to comfortably support him/herself in the US. S/he is required to keep a minimum reserve of USD 425 x program weeks throughout the program.
8 Good health: The applicant is physically and mentally qualified to participate in an internship program abroad. A health exam is required for three month or longer programs.
9 English proficiency: The applicant has verifiable English language skills sufficient to function on a day-to-day basis in the internship environment.
10 Clean record: The applicant, unless an exception has been granted by FUSIA, has clean immigrant and criminal records, which means s/he has never been arrested or charged a crime, is not associated with, and has not travelled to any US visa-sanctioned countries, and has never been denied a US visa application or entry into the US. Additionally, s/he has no family members who is in the process of a US immigration petition, has no family members who are US citizens or green card holders, and has no family members who have not acted in any way, to the best of his/her knowledge, that may bar him/her entry into the US.
11 Strong intent to return home: J-1 internship is not a steppingstone to another visa, job offers or permanent residence in the US. As such, the applicant's primary intent to join our program and intern in the US is to gain new skills and knowledge. And s/he must have a strong intent to return home within 30 days after completion of his/her program to share his/her cultural exchange experiences.
1 Portrait photo: A portrait photo in digital jpeg format. Ensure that your photo was taken within the past six months and meets the consular interview requirements. Note: A hard copy of your portrait is generally required for a consular interview. Even if your submitted photo is accepted, if it does not meet the requirements, you will be asked to retake a photo at the interview (hence, bring extra cash with you to the interview). Click HERE for the photo requirements.
2 Current/old passports and US visas: Submit an image of the biographic page of your passport (page 1) with an expiration date at least six months after the end date of your exchange program. If your passport has expired or will expire before six months after your exchange program, immediately renew it and provide us with a copy of your renewal receipt. If you have any old passports or valid/expired US visas, upload them as well (page 2 and after).
3 Permanent Resident Card: Upload an image of your government-issued photo ID or equivalent to prove your permanent residence of your stated Legal Permanent Residence (LPR) Country preference.
4 Permanent address proof: Upload a copy of your utility bill, government-issued resident ID, or equivalent that displays your English or translated name name and machine-typed address which is aligned with your stated permanent address. If you are a foreign student, your permanent residence should be aligned with your country of origin.
5 Student ID: Upload an image of your school-issued student identification card with the side that displays essential information such as your name, student identification number, programs start and expected end dates, academic majors, and so on.
6 Official transcript (current): Upload a copy of your latest and official transcript issued by your current academic institution. Keep the original transcripts with watermarks for the visa interview.
7 School letter: Provide a support letter from your school to verify your full-time student status, academic profile, etc. The letter should be printed on your school's letter and signed by an authorized school personnel such as the director of the office that support your overseas internship or the dean of student. You may download the template from our application portal. The signee may make changes to the template. If so, please share the edited copy with us before signing. Add the signee's name, title, and department to the signature session before signing. Keep the original with you for the visa interview.
8 Official transcript (old): If you have previously attended another postsecondary academic institution, e.g., transferred form a two-year college or another university to your current school, upload a copy of your last transcript issued by your previous academic institution. Official transcript is required. Keep the original with you which will be required later during the visa interview.
9 Certification of English Language Proficiency: Upload the signed and completed English proficiency certification. Parts A and B are required for all applicants and are entered through Part G in the online application portal. Part C is required if item #16 is selected in Part A. It may also be required on a case-by-case basis, e.g., when an applicant receives a score of 2.0 or below in Part B, when item #15 is selected in Part A, and so on.
10 Transcripts and proof of English proficiency: Upload a copy of the official transcript with the score that corresponds to the score you indicated in Part A in the Certification of English Language Proficiency. Before uploading, circle or highlight your name, test date (expired exam is acceptable), and your score (indicate the minimum requirement next to it). Keep the original transcript with you for the visa interview. If item #16 is selected in Part A, transcript upload will not be required. Instead, have Part C completed by a qualified evaluator in the certification.
11 Medical Clearance & Certificate of Compliance: Upload the completed and signed Medical Clearance & Certificate of Compliance (download the form from the application after completion of Part H in the application portal).
12 Health exam form: If your J-1 internship is 6 months or longer, please have the health exam form completed and signed by a licensed physician.
13 Health insurance policy: Upload a copy of your health insurance policy with annotations to confirm that you plan to purchase meet the minimum requirements. Refer to the Medical Clearance & Certificate of Compliance form (Part F) for instructions.
14 Health insurance certificate and card: Upload a copy of your health insurance card and certificate AFTER you have been accepted to the program. Keep a copy with you for the visa interview.
15 Medical proxy: A medical (or health care) proxy can make decisions about your medical wishes on your behalf when you are unable. If you would like to assign one (preferably someone in the US), provide us with his/her contact, then upload a copy of the completed form that corresponds to your internship state. Medical proxy assignment is optional.
16 COVID-19 vaccination proof: FUSIA requires its participants be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide official proof vaccination. Upload proof that corresponds to your answers in Part E of the Medical Clearance & Certificate of Compliance form.
17 Proof of academic relevance: Upload proof, e.g., transcripts, course syllabus, etc. to support that your field of study is indeed related to the internship. Use a pen to circle the line or paragraph and indicate any remarks.
18 DS-7002 form: Form DS-7002, or Training/Internship Placement Plan (T/IPP) is a controlled document of the Department of State. This form outlines an exchange visitor's program activities and is completed by the host and signed by the intern, supervisor(s), and the responsible officer or alternate responsible officer to be valid. Once this form is completed and signed by the host supervisor(s), the intern will be asked to sign and upload the signed page. Although a digital (Adobe or DocuSign) signature with a timestamp or watermark are acceptable, we suggest interns and host sign with a hand (wet) signature in blue ink.
19 Financial worksheet: We are required by law to verify that each prospective J-1 intern has sufficient funds to cover the period of his/her stay in the US. With FUSIA the minimum monthly requirement is USD 1,800. Upload the completed financial worksheet to specify your funding sources. The worksheet also specifies the program fee, related expenses (e.g., nonimmigrant visa application fee, SEVIS fee, etc.), and fees charged upon occurrence.
20 Funding proof: Upload evidence as proof of funds to cover your entire stay in the US (total amount must be more than the length of your stay (months) multiply by the minimum requirement of USD 1,700). Acceptable proof of funds includes (1) school-issued scholarship letters (printed on the official school letterhead, signed by the sponsoring department, issued in the last six months, and state the amount, length, and type of funding), (2) three latest, consecutive months of official or notarized copies of bank statements, passbooks, or equivalent (that shows your and/or your family members' names as the account holders, the financial institution's name, type of currency, are dated within the past three months, are in English or translated into English, shows the account balance), (3) loan certificates/letters (that indicate your name, the amount of approved loan; conditional loan approvals may be accepted only if the condition is the receipt of your Form DS-2019, (4) other institutional support/award letters (that are printed on official business letterhead, signed, indicate the institution's name, amount, typea, and length of support). (5) If you are receiving funding from a private sponsor(s), submit a letter(s) indicating the relationship between you and the sponsor(s), the name(s) of the sponsor(s), the amount, type, and length of support. For (2), if the documents belong to your family member(s), submit a proof (e.g., birth certificate in English or translated into English) to show your relationship with him/her/them. Keep the originals with you for the visa interview.
21 Intern Application and Agreement specifies biographical information of the intern applicant as well as important information, terms, guidelines, policies, arrangements, rules, and regulations associated with the intern's participation in the program. Intern applicants are expected to read through this document and confirms his/her submitted information prior to a documented interview conducted by the responsible officer.
22 Billing statement (wire transfer receipt): Upload a copy of the wire transfer receipt according to the program fee indicated in the billing statement after preliminary acceptance is granted, i.e., after you and your host have completed the applications and all the uploads, including any site visits. If a site visit is required, the site visit fee must be paid by the host or intern prior to the visit.
The basics: Your organization is a US-based business, that has established for at least six months, an English website, a company-based email address and physical location, an Employers Identification Number (EIN), and sufficient resources, plant, equipment, and trained personnel available. No home-based businesses, retailing, or staffing/employment agencies positions will be allowed.
Continuous on-site supervision: The primary purpose of J-1 internships is education and cultural exchange. Your organization must ensure adequate training with oversight and learning activities by having at least two full-time onsite employees at each site of activity (to prevent noncompliance, the employee-and-intern ratio will also be taken into consideration) and assign adequate experienced and knowledgeable staff to mentor the interns/trainees. Each J-1 intern requires a main program supervisor and phase supervisor(s) who can be the same or different persons. Both should have proper education background and work experience. Phase supervisor(s)' education background and/or work experience should be in the intern's training field.
Internship offer issued: You have confirmed an internship offer with a prospective intern who is currently a full-time degree-pursuing postgraduate or undergraduate, pursuing s/her studies at an accredited, foreign ministerial-recognized postsecondary academic institution outside of the United States, or have graduated from such an institution no more than 12 months prior to the start date of your exchange visitor program.
Worker's compensation policy: Your organization has workers' compensation coverage (or an insurance policy that provides equivalent or better workers' compensation coverage) for your own employees as well as the exchange interns, or you don't have a worker's compensation policy but have state exemption from requirement of coverage. If any of your intern(s) are not paid the minimum wage, you will need to confirm that the lack of wages doesn't prevent the policy covering the exchange interns.
Consent to a site visit performed by FUSIA (USD 300 per visit/location) prior to program approval. Typically, a host organization that has not participated successfully in any of our training or internship program and has fewer than 25 onsite full-time employees or less than three million dollars in annual revenue would require a site visit. Placements at academic institutions or at federal, state, or local government offices are specifically excluded from this requirement. The purpose of the site visits is for the sponsors to ensure that host organizations possess and maintain the ability and resources to provide structured and guided work-based learning experiences according to individualized Forms DS-7002 and that host organizations understand and meet their obligations.
No intent to displace American workers: Your organization must have no intent to displace full- or part-time or temporary or permanent American workers or serve to fill a labor need through our J-1 intern program and ensure that the positions that trainees/interns fill exist primarily to assist them in achieving the objectives of their participation in training and internship programs. Accordingly, the J-1 intern positions must not be listed on career sites as the same positions for full-time or part-time employees.
Abide by employment laws: We encourage hosts to pay the intern a stipend (e.g., salary, stipend, and per diem) to facilitate his/her stay in the US. If your organization is not offering a salary equal to or more than the federal and state minimum wage, the internship must pass the US Department of Labor's seven-point FLSA test for unpaid interns (https://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs71.htm) and meet any state/city requirements to offer unpaid internship opportunities.
1 Proof of viable US entity: A document that shows the official name of the host company or organization's name and its Employer Identification Number (EIN) to ascertain that the company or organization providing training is a viable entity.
2 Worker's compensation insurance policy or equivalent: A copy of the workers' compensation policy or evidence of state exemption from requirement of coverage, or evidence of an insurance policy that will cover the exchange interns with equivalent or better coverage. Acceptable proof can be the insurance certificate that shows the organization name, policy number, expiration date, and address that matches the primary site of activity as dated in Form DS-7002. If the interns are not paid the minimum wage, the host should also submit documentation, e.g., a letter issued by the insurance company or agent to confirm that the lack of wages doesn't prevent the policy covering the exchange interns.
3 Site visit form: If your company or organization has not participated successfully in any of our training or internship program and has fewer than 25 onsite full-time employees or less than three million dollars in annual revenue, a site visit form completed and signed by our site visitor and your host representative is required.
4 Form DS-7002 or Training/Internship Placement Plan (T/IPP) verifies that all placements are appropriate and consistent with the objectives of the trainees or interns as outlined in their program applications and as set forth in their T/IPPs. This form must be fully completed by the host with requisite signatures before issuing a Form DS-2019.
5 Host Application and Agreement specifies basic information about the organization and the listed supervisors as well as important information, terms, guidelines, policies, arrangements, rules, and regulations associated with your organization's participation in the program as a host. A documented interview conducted by the responsible officer will be given to the listed Main Program Supervisor (MPS/POC) and any Primary Phase Supervisor(s) (PPS) followed by signing of this form by the involved supervisors.
Designated sponsors charge an institution fee that supports their costs for administering and carrying out the responsibilities of exchange programs. Here shows our program extension fee charged to self-placed J-1 interns.
Non partner schools Partner schools Payment methods
USD 1,600 up to 3 months USD 1,500 up to 12 months Wire transfer (international or US)
USD 65 for each additional month Flat rate Zellepay (US)
Fees charged upon occurrence
- FedEx/UPS (16 oz.): USD 85 global, USD 35 domestic
- Forms DS-2019/DS-7002 reissuance: USD 50 per form/incident (USD 35 for partner school interns)
- Travel validation: USD 50 per incident (USD 0 for parter school interns), plus domestic FedEx/UPS courier
- Site visit: USD 300 per site, if required, can be paid by the intern or host through Zelle
- Bank fees, e.g., Payment processing fee, e.g., check cancellation USD 35 per incident, any wire transfer charges, credit card payment charges, if applicable
Remarks
- Program and related fees are typically paid by the interns, any site visit fee is typically paid by the host.
- Program fee is due upon preliminary acceptance and must be received before Forms DS-2019 and DS-7002 issuance.
- Any site visit fee must be received prior to the visit.
- Program fees are typically paid by wire transfer, payee is responsible for any bank charges.
- See the Intern Agreement for refund policy and terms.
Program fee covers:
- Screening and selecting eligible foreign nationals to participate in FUSIA J-1 Internship based on the regulations
- Governing the exchange activity
- Appointing responsible and alterative responsible officers to work with our exchange visitors (EVs)
- Reviewing, approving, and issuing necessary documents, e.g., Forms DS-7002 and DS-2019
- Assisting EVs with J-1 visa application
- Providing guidance and support to hosts/EVs to ensure compliance
- Filing incident and other reports to the government
- Publicizing and distribute program materials
- Managing exchange programs, e.g., briefings, evaluations, promoting cultural activities, etc.
- Providing EVs with pre-arrival information and an orientation
- Monitoring the arrival and program progression
- Maintaining documents for seven years as per federal regulations
Program fee also covers:
- Creating and maintaining EV records through a propriety application portal aligned with SEVIS
- Conflict intervention and after-hour contingency support
- Connecting EVs with alumni (on a case-by-case basis)
- Program certificate (upon successful completion)
- Future job/graduate program application reference (upon good performance)
- Personalized reference letter by RO (upon good performance)
Program fee doesn't cover:
- Airfare (est USD 1,500-2,000)
- Health insurance (est USD 50-75 per month)
- SEVIS fee charged by the Dept. of Homeland Security (USD 220)
- Nonimmigrant visa application or MRV fee charged by the Dept. of State (USD 160, non-refundable, click HERE)
- Reciprocity fee charged by the Department of State after the visa interview to some passport holders (click HERE)
- Living and personal expenses including entertainment, housing, transportation, travel, mobile phone service, etc. (vary by individual; suggetst a minimum of USD 1,700 per month)
- Tax filing
- Any bank transaction fees
Designated sponsors: Sponsors are public and private entities designated by the State Department to act as exchange sponsors to carry out the sponsorship responsibilities of exchange programs by charging a fee. FUSIA is a designated sponsor in the J-1 intern category. Examples of our responsibilities include screening and selecting eligible foreign nationals, appointing officers to work with them, issuing necessary documents, monitoring the arrival and program progression, creating and maintaining SEVIS records, promoting and facilitating cultural activities, supporting and monitoring activities during exchange visitors' stay in the US.
Responsible officers and alternate responsible officers are individuals appointed by the designated sponsor to advise and assist exchange visitors. These officers issue DS-2019 forms and conduct official communications with the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on exchange visitors' behalf.
ECA, US Department of State: The Exchange Visitor Program is administered under the oversight of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Private Sector Exchange, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the US Department of State. ECA designates, monitors, and partners with program sponsors to conduct educational and cultural exchange programs through which qualified foreign nationals can come to the US to study, teach, conduct research, work, and train. It also monitors regulatory compliance of the sponsors, evaluates program, category, and sponsor-specific data from SEVIS, annual management audits, surveys of exchange visitor participants, and data requests to track program statistics, identify systemic compliance issues, and detect program trends.
State Annex SA-5, Fifth Floor, Washington, DC 20522-0505, jvisas@state.gov (non-emergency issues, questions, and concerns); 1-866-283-9090 (J-1 visa emergency hotline)
Consular section, US consulate or embassy: An applicant approved by a designated sponsor applies for his/her J-1 visa at a nearby US consulates and embassies. A visa interview is given by a consular official who will determined whether to grant a J-1 visa.
Exchange (J-1) interns: Foreign national students and recent graduates of foreign post-secondary academic institutions accepted to an exchange visitor program by a designated sponsor.
Host companies or organizations (hosts): A host is a US-based institution, private or nonprofit entity that provides the training/internship program in which an exchange (J-1) trainee/intern participates. To become a host of an exchange trainees/intern(s), the institution/entity must show that they have sufficient resources, plant, equipment, and trained personnel to provide the onsite training/internship experience, that they have no intention to replace American workers with J-1 trainees/interns, that it abides by the general (CFR 22 CFR Part 62) and sponsor-imposed requirements, etc. A site visit is required for hosts that have not previously participated successfully in the sponsor's training and internship programs and that have fewer than 25 employees or less than three million dollars in annual revenue. Placements at academic institutions or at federal, state, or local government offices are specifically excluded from this requirement.
Main Program Supervisor/POC (MPS/POC) and Primary Phase Supervisor (PPS): MPS/POC and PPS(s) are full-time individuals employed by the host organizations identified to supervise the exchange visitor and program as indicated on Form DS7002 (or the training plan). Each exchange visitor or training plan should have MPS/POC and one PPS for each phase. MPS/POC is responsible for overseeing the entire program, while PPS(s) provide daily, onsite supervision to the exchange visitor. Both must have proper educational and professional background to train the exchange visitor. PPS should have an educational background and/or professional experience specifically related to the training field of the exchange visitor.
1 Unlike other nonimmigrant work visas, J-1 interns are not sponsored by employers or their host organizations. They are sponsored by their designated sponsors.
2 Issuance of the J-1 visa, like all non-immigrant visas, is at the discretion of consular officers viewing visa applications at US embassies and consulates. This means that even if an individual is accepted to an exchange visitor program and have received your DS-2019, the consular officers decide if you receive the J-1 visa.
3 Some exchange visitors are subject to a two-year home-country physical presence requirement stipulating that they return to their home country and stay for at least two years at the end of their exchange visitor programs before they can apply for some visa types such as L and H. Exchange visitors requesting a waiver from the requirement typically need to apply at their home countries' embassies or consulates in the US.
4 Some categories (including J-1 intern) of the Exchange Visitor Program permit a spouse and/or unmarried children, under 21 years of age, to accompany an exchange visitor to the United States. These individuals may apply for J-2 visas with the permission of your sponsor. FUSIA Is not accepting J-2 applicants at the moment.
5 J-1 internships must not exceed a duration of 12 months.
6 BridgeUSA is the new identity of the US Department of State's Exchange Visitor Program of private-sector exchanges.
1 Stay in touch with sponsor: Sponsors are the initial and primary contact for questions about the regulations or any aspect of the exchange programs. Host organizations should notify sponsors promptly of any concerns about, changes in, or deviations from Form DS-7002 during training and internship programs and contact sponsors immediately in the event of any emergency involving trainees/interns. Exchange visitors should stay in touch with your sponsor and keep current with any change which may affect your J-1 visa status.
2 Entry-to-exit medical insurance: Exchange visitors are required to have qualified medical insurance in effect for themselves and their dependents for the duration of the program. Medical insurance is purchased prior to the visa interview. FUSIA J-1 interns may make their own arrangements to identify their own insurance carriers or use one suggested by us. FUSIA requires its participants to maintain qualified US entry-to-exit insurance.
3 Reflections, timesheets, and photos/videos: FUSIA J-1 interns are required to submit reflections and timesheets on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis (frequency depends on the program length), an evaluation upon completion of each phase, and cultural activities with photos or videos taken on a regular basis. Each phase evaluation must be signed by the host supervisors and intern.
4 Internship only: An exchange visitor entering the United States in a specific program category must only engage in that category and the activity listed on his/her Form DS-2019. It's important that s/he complies with the specific program and sponsor provisions of the regulations relating to his/her exchange category.
5 Abide by laws and rules: Host organizations should abide by all federal, state, and local occupational health and safety laws, and program rules and regulations set forth by the sponsors, including the completion of all mandatory program evaluations.
6 Complete Form DS-7002: Host organizations are required to complete Form DS-7002 and sign to verify that all placements are appropriate and consistent with the objectives of the trainees or interns as outlined in their program applications and as set forth in their T/IPPs.
Federal regulations (22 CFR 62.22) govern J-1 intern and trainee programs. It's important that you understand and agree to abide by them, as well as US laws and sponsor rules and recognize that:
1 Entry-level: J-1 interns are seeking entry-level training and experience; accordingly, all placements must be tailored to the skills and experience level of the individual intern.
2 Structured and guided work-based training and internship: J-1 Internships enhance the skills and expertise of exchange visitors through participation in structured and guided work-based training and internship programs, improving participants' knowledge of American techniques, methodologies, and technology.
3 No substitutes for ordinary employment or work purposes, no casual labor jobs, and no duties more than 20% clerical work:J-1 intern programs must not be used as substitutes for ordinary employment or work purposes, nor may they be used under any circumstances to displace American workers. J-1 interns/trainees cannot work in unskilled or casual labor positions, or in duties that involve more than 20 per cent clerical work, or in positions that require or involve child care or elder care; or in clinical or any other kind of work that involves patient care or patient contact, including any work that would require trainees or interns to provide therapy, medication, or other clinical or medical care, e.g., sports or physical therapy, psychological counseling, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, social work, speech therapy, early childhood education.
4 No cooperation with staffing/employment agency: J-1 internships must not engage or otherwise cooperate or contract with a staffing/employment agency to recruit, screen, orient, place, evaluate, or train trainees or interns, or in any other way involve such agencies in an Exchange Visitor Program training and internship program.
5 Cultural component: As a central part of the experience, J-1 visa exchange programs include a cultural component that gives exchange visitors the opportunity to engage more fully with Americans and share their cultures with their US host communities. It's important that the hosts emphasize the cultural aspect of the program in the training plan.
6 Credibility: J-1 internships must not place trainees or interns in positions, occupations, or businesses that could bring the Exchange Visitor Program or the Department into notoriety or disrepute.
Form DS-7002 or Training/Internship Placement Plan (T/IPP) is an official document from the US Department of State that defines the agreed-upon training or internship objectives, outline the proposed internship program and exchange activities, and provides details on how the J-1 internship will be supervised, what the exchange visitor to do, what skills to learn, how the performance to be measured, and so on to help ensure that the exchange visitor gets qualified trainings and cultural exchange experience. Upon approval from the sponsor, an exchange visitor will present the signed form at the visa interview.
How to complete
- This form is completed by the prospective host through our application portal then generate the PDF
- Depending on the length of the program, training plans are divided into definite phases or components
- Each phase should build upon the previous phase to show a progression in the training
- Each EV must have at least one training plan phase with each covers definite periods of time
- Phases can overlap but there must be no gaps between the phases
- Give specific phase names, e.g., orientation, implementation, and advanced implementation. Do not just write phase 1, 2, and 3
- Be specific and detailed in your responses, avoid general terms without elaborating further, give examples.
- Each one phase training plan has 5 pages; each additional phase repeats pages 3 to 5
- Add at least one new phase every three months, i.e., a six-month program would consist of at least two phases
What to note
- Familiarize all involved parties with the details and agree to its content of each training plan
- Report any changes to FUSIA within 48 hours (this form must be updated and resigned)
- This form has two versions. We may either use the fillable template or SEVIS generated PDF
- Adobe or Docusign signatures are acceptable, but we suggest to sign in blue ink and bring the wet sign pages to the interview
Form DS-2019, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status, is the controlled document used in the administration of the exchange visitor program and basic document to support an application for an exchange visitor (J-1) visa. Only designated sponsors are authorized to issue this form. The original signed form is required at the visa interview.
- Identifies the exchange visitor and their designated sponsor and provides a brief description of the exchange visitor's program, including the start and end date, category of exchange, and an estimate of the cost of the exchange program
- Certifies that admission into a program has been accepted and that the exchange visitor has demonstrated sufficient financial resources to stay in the US for the length specified on the DS-2019 form
- Issued by designated sponsors to prospective exchange visitors they have screened and selected for participation in the exchange visitor program
- Permits a prospective exchange visitor to seek an interview at a US embassy or consulate to obtain a J visa to enter the United States (once this form is completed and issued, the EV can take the original to schedule a visa interview appointment and apply for a J-1 visa at a US embassy or consulate for the J-1 visa)
Forms DS-2019 and DS-7002 are created in a web-based system known as the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) administered by the Department of Homeland Security.
- SEVIS is used to collect and maintain information on the status of non-immigrants and their dependents in the sponsor's program during their stay in the United States.
- Data in SEVIS must be accurate and updated; failing to maintain accurate and current information of the exchange intern and his/her host organization could result in serious consequences and may affect the exchange intern's ability to remain in or return to the United States.
- The I-901 SEVIS Fee is mandated by Congress, charged to the F and J visa applicants, to support the program office and the automated system that keeps track of students and exchange visitors and ensures that they maintain their status while in the United States.
- Click HERE to pay the I-901 SEVIS fee (or, you can add the amount to your wire transfer (we will pay this fee along with issuance of your SEVIS ID)
Form DS-160 or Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application form, is an online form required to be completed prior to a visa interview. At the interview, consular officers use the information entered on Form DS-160 to process the visa application and, combined with a personal interview, determine an applicant’s eligibility for a nonimmigrant visa.
How to complete
- Download a sample form with pre-populated fields from the application portal
- Refer to the sample form for specific instructions
What to note
- DS-160 is not completed until after your sponsor has issued your SEVIS ID
- Safari and Microsoft Edge are not supposed (use IE 11 or higher, Firefox or Chrome 58)
- Answer all questions accurately and completely, or you may have to correct and reschedule your visa interview appointment
- Once the initial interview is scheduled, you are limited to the number of times you can reschedule their appointment
- If you have multiple passports, please use the same passport you used to apply for our internship program
- If you miss your scheduled appointment time, you may need to pay the visa application fee again to reschedule
Where to access DS-160
Access the online DS-160: Click HERE
What's the next step
- Once completed, print out the barcode page (keep a hard copy for the visa interview)
- Schedule an interview appointment with your
local embassy or consulate at which you wish to apply for the visa
- Pay the visa application process fee
Program application
The Exchange Visitor Program Welcome Brochure: Click HERE
Federal Regulations (22 CFR, Part 62): Click HERE
Department of State’s Exchange Visitor Program of private-sector exchanges (BridgeUSA): Click HERE
Visa application
Photo requirements: Click HERE
Form DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application: Click HERE
Nonimmigrant visa application fee: Click HERE
Schedule a visa interview appointment: Click HERE (instructions) and HERE (schedule an appointment) (update the URL to reflect your location)
Reciprocity fee: Click HERE
Successful applicants will be issued Form DS-2019, or Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status, that permits a prospective exchange visitor to seek an interview at a US embassy or consulate to obtain a J visa to enter the US.
Review our website. Be clear with the program objectives, benefits, and cost estimates associated with joining the program and living in the US and be sure that you meet our program requirements and can provide proof. Once you've decided to join the program, gather supporting documents as some of them may take time and contact us for an initial discussion.
Read meConfirm your internship placement offer with your desired host and invite your prospective supervisors to visit our website. Ensure that it meets the program requirement and is comfortable with J-1 intern program operational guidelines and regulations.
Register online accounts (both the intern and all the supervisors) to gain access to the application portals. Once registered, log on to the application portal to complete your application and uploads. Do not sign any forms until we have reviewed your submissions. If a site visit is required, contact us to arrange an appointment. An advance payment of the site visit fee is required.
Create accountOnce both applications are completed, contact us for a preliminary review and comments. Once both applications are finalized, submit the program fee, and request an interview with the intern and all the supervisors. At each interview, we will go over the agreement and training plan with the intern or supervisor and ask questions to ensure that all involved parties are aware of the rules, operational guidelines, and consent to the content of the training plan.
If accepted, we will sign Form DS-7002, issue Form DS-2019, and send the original to the intern via FedEx/UPS. We will also move on to the next stage, applying for a J-1 intern visa at US embassy or consulate that includes filling out Form DS-160, paying the SEVIS fee, scheduling and preparing for an interview appointment, and more.
