Your spouse and/or children may apply for the J-2 Visa to accompany you to the U.S. or join you later. Each dependent (spouse and/or unmarried child who is under the age of 21) wishing to enter the U.S. together with you should apply to CICD for J-2 Visa sponsorship at the same time you are submitting your application for the J-1 Visa. If a dependent wishes to join you in the U.S. later, they may apply separately to CICD. For information on fees, please visit our Fees & Refunds page.
You and your dependents need to possess sufficient personal funds to cover all living expenses while in the U.S., pay for round-trip air travel, and purchase adequate health insurance, both for yourself, your spouse and children. J-2 Visa dependents are not allowed to accept any employment while in the U.S. (unless under exceptional circumstances). Please note that applying for a J-1 or J-2 Visa at a US embassy or consulate does not guarantee that you or your dependents will actually be granted the J-1 or J-2 Visa.
Yes. It is required. All trainees and their dependents on the J Visa must be covered by a qualified health insurance plan that complies with the insurance coverage requirements of the U.S. Department of State for the entire duration of the training program. Before CICD can approve sponsorship, you and your dependents must show evidence of such compliant coverage, or purchase insurance through CICD.
To satisfy insurance requirements, your and your dependents’ insurance coverage must insure for at least:
Yes. If you need general health and accident insurance coverage, you can purchase the CICD provided health insurance plan. This plan insures for:
CICD recommends that you purchase health insurance for the period you spend in the U.S. before your J-1 training begins as well as for the “Grace period” (the 30-day time period which you may spend in the U.S. after you have completed your J-1 training program. Please contact CICD directly about insurance coverage for dependents.
Apply as an Intern if you are foreign national who (1) is currently enrolled
in and pursuing studies at a degree- or certificate-granting post-secondary
academic institution outside of the United States or (2) graduated from
such an institution no more than twelve (12) months prior to the program
begin date, and intend to enter the United States to participate in a
structured and guided work-based internship program in your specific
academic field.
MAXIMUM INTERNSHIP PROGRAM DURATION: 12 MONTHS
Apply as a Trainee if you are a foreign national who has either: (1) A
degree or professional certificate from a foreign post-secondary academic
institution and at least one year of prior related work experience in your
occupational field acquired outside the United States, or (2) Five years of
work experience outside the United States in your occupational field, and
intend to enter the United States to participate in a structured and guided
work-based training program in your specific occupational field.
MAXIMUM TRAINEE PROGRAM DURATION: 18 MONTHS
Only U.S. Department of State-designated J-1 visa sponsors like CICD are authorized to issue and send you the DS-2019 Form, also called Certificate of Eligibility. You need the DS2019 form to apply for the J-1 visa, which allows you to be a trainee/intern in the USA.
J-1 Visa Sponsors help ensure that your internship:
Sponsors also provide you with important guidance, problem solving, and orientation materials.
The total time required to process your J-1 sponsorship application depends on how quickly you and your host company provide CICD with all necessary materials and information – as well as how busy the Visa Section is in your local US Embassy or Consulate.
Once you receive the necessary documents from CICD, you will need to apply for the J-1 Visa in-person at a U.S. consulate or embassy in your home country. This process may take anywhere from one day (if you can apply in person) to four or more weeks, depending on the specific consulate or embassy where you apply.
We recommend you submit to CICD your application for J-1 sponsorship well in advance of the desired start date of your training to avoid possible delays.
Only a US consulate or embassy can grant your J-1 visa for your internship or trainee program. J-1 sponsors like CICD cannot guarantee that a US consulate or embassy will grant any particular applicant the J-1 Visa.
SEVIS means: “Student and Exchange Visitor Information System.” This
system tracks participants in the J-1 (as well as other) Visa categories
during their stay in the U.S. As part of the sponsorship process, and to
issue to you the DS-2019 Form, CICD registers you in SEVIS.
When you submit your J-1 Visa application including your DS2019 and
DS7002 to a U.S. consulate or embassy, the visa officer will access the
data that CICD entered into SEVIS for you.
Whenever there is a change in your U.S. contact information or in your
program or visa status you are required to immediately contact CICD to
update your SEVIS record. Failure to do so could result in a significantly
early end to you program. If your J-1 Visa Program is terminated, your
SEVIS record will reflect this and may have a negative impact on future
visa applications.
To maintain your visa status and positive SEVIS record, it is very
important that you inform CICD in advance of any potential changes to
your original program or to your or your host company’s U.S. contact
information.
Yes, but only if you otherwise comply with Department of State regulations and meet the eligibility and qualification requirements for becoming a Trainee or Intern.
Click here for more information about the subject fields CICD sponsors.
T/IPP means “Training/Internship Placement Plan,” normally called a “Training Plan”. The T/IPP is the framework and summary of the activities you and your host company follow for the duration of your program. Host organizations cooperate with CICD to complete and sign a Form DS–7002 to verify that your training activities are appropriate and consistent with the program objectives. All parties involved in internship and training programs must agree that participants are seeking appropriate level training activities. Programs are normally tailored according to the skills and experience levels of the individual participants.
The Form DS–7002 is required for your J-1 visa interview at the US Embassy or Consulate.
T/IPPs must:
Normally, yes. You can apply for the J-1 Visa only at a U.S. consulate or embassy outside the U.S. If you have secured documents for CICD sponsorship for the J-1 Visa but are unable or unwilling to apply for your visa in your home country, you may be able to do so in another (third) country. For example, if you are already in the U.S., you might consider applying for the J-1 Visa at a U.S. consulate in Canada. However, CICD discourages visa applications in third countries since your chances of obtaining the J-1 Visa may be diminished there . Consular policy on such applications may change with little or no advance notification, so be sure to confirm the State Department’s policy in advance of applying this way.. You should make every effort to apply in your home country for your visa.
Training on the J-1 Visa Program may last up to 18 months. Internships may last up to12 months.
Potentially. Check out our Available Positions page for our current list of available J-1 training and internship positions.
CICD has been very successful in providing host companies with great international participants. Please contact us about our individually tailored intern/trainee placement service or post your position(s) directly on our website.
If your original training program lasts less than 18 months and if your host organization supports your request for additional training, it may be possible to extend your program up to a maximum program duration of 18 months. Please contact CICD well in advance of any extension request.
If your original internship program lasts less than 12 months and if your host organization supports your request for additional intern activities, it may be possible to extend your program up to a maximum program duration of 12 months. Please contact CICD well in advance of any extension request. You must maintain a “good status” on your J-1 Visa and provide CICD all necessary documentation and application forms at least 30 days prior to the program end date indicated on the ‘TIPP’ and contracts. If your extension application is received late (less than 30 days prior to the program end date) and CICD decides to consider the late request, a US$200 nonrefundable late fee is required in addition to the regular US$550 extension fee. Please see our fee and refund policy for details. To request an extension of training/internship, please contact us, so we can send the necessary application materials to you and your host organization.
If your spouse and/or children are with you in the U.S. on the J-2 Visa, they may request an extension of their stay at the time you submit your application to CICD. If all extensions are approved by CICD, your dependents may remain with you for the period you are allowed to stay in the U.S.
Travel outside the U.S. is restricted during your program extension, unless you obtain a new J-1 Visa that is valid for the appropriate dates and duration of your extended program. You must contact the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to check whether your travel plans comply with current laws, and regulations.
Please note that CICD cannot guarantee that we can accept any particular program extension application. If CICD denies an application, the denial is final and CICD is not required to provide explanations.
We strongly suggest you and your prospective U.S. host organization make a realistic estimate of whether the proposed additional training activities in an extension are justified, and how much time will be necessary to complete all aspects of an extended program before you submit the extension proposal to CICD.
Yes. Applicants who have previously participated in a traineeship may be eligible to participate in additional training and internship programs under the following conditions:
If you have appropriately applied for the program and not previously violated U.S. visa regulations and your J-1 Visa application is denied by the U.S. embassy or consulate with jurisdiction over your place of permanent residence, you may be eligible for a partial refund (of your payment of the total application fee) after CICD has received back from you the DS-2019 Form that we issued to you. Please see our fee and refund policy for more details.
You should immediately contact CICD’s coordinators during normal business hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time. For very urgent situations and emergencies only, you should contact CICD’s 24-hour phone line. For life-threatening emergencies, call ‘911’ immediately. As your J-1 Visa sponsor, CICD acts as your advisor and liaison between you and your host organization. Please contact us with any concerns or problems you feel you may have. You are required to notify us immediately if you encounter any potentially significant problems during your program. Informing us right away dramatically increases our ability to help resolve successfully any of your problems and concerns.
No. The conditions of the J-1 intern/trainee visa strictly prohibited you from accepting any employment in the U.S not described in your raining/internship T/IPP, and/or performing any work in the U.S. If you engage in unauthorized employment and/or work, you will be in violation of program regulations, and subject to immediate program termination. There is a chance that you may face deportation and/or other penalties through the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Many host organizations provide their trainees/interns with a monthly stipend that helps them pay for rent and other living expenses.
Whether or not your training/internship is paid or unpaid, it is your responsibility to have sufficient funds to cover all living expenses for the duration of your program in the U.S., pay for round-trip air travel, and purchase adequate health insurance, both for yourself and any dependents who accompany you.
We recommend that you come to the U.S. with a minimum of 1,200 U.S. dollars (plus 600 U.S. dollars for each accompanying dependent) in order to be able to pay for living expenses during the first month of your stay It is
likely that you will receive your first paycheck at least 4 weeks after the starting your program.
In addition, you must ensure that you have at least 900 U.S. dollars for yourself and 450 U.S. dollars per dependent per month to cover basic living expenses for the remainder of your and your dependents’ stay in the U.S.
Please note that your actual living expenses may be significantly higher, depending on your life style, the location of your training/internship, and other factors.
When you apply for your J-1 visa, you will be required to show to the U.S. consular officer proof that you have sufficient personal funds at least in the amount stated in item 5.g. on the DS-2019 Form that CICD issues you; e.g. we suggest that you bring a copy of your most recent bank statement, or copies of other financial documents “proving” your financial
responsibility.
After you have successfully completed your J-1 program, you are permitted to remain in the U.S. for thirty (30) days past the program end date indicated on your DS-2019 form. During this 30-day “Grace Period”, you are no longer considered “on the program”, and you are under the jurisdiction of the USCIS. You must no longer train or intern at an organization. The USCIS grants this period to allow you to settle your affairs, travel and visit other points of interest in the USA, and to prepare your return to your home country. You may not continue your program and you may not take paid or unpaid work during this grace period. Although you may travel inside the United States during the Grace Period, we recommend that you DO NOT travel internationally – outside the USA –a nd attempt to return to the USA during the Grace Period: Your visa expires on the date indicated on your DS2019 form. With an expired visa, you will not be permitted re-entry to the U.S.
If you plan to stay in the USA for the Grace Period, for your own safety and security, we also highly recommend that you purchase health insurance for the duration of the Grace Period either independently, or through CICD.
Follow all CICD program rules and US Department of State regulations for the duration of your program. Please visit our Staying in Status page for more information.
