J-1 Internships by FUSIA connect eligible foreign nationals and US organizations, promoting a reciprocal exchange of knowledge and culture, thereby enhancing the experiences of both interns and their host organizations.
To get started, review this page to ensure you meet the eligibility criteria and begin with a clear understanding of expectations, ensuring the program is a suitable fit for both interns and host organizations, in line with their respective goals and objectives.
As per 22 CFR 62.4(h)(7), J-1 internships are available to foreign nationals either full-time and actively studying, or recent graduates from recognized degree- or certificate-granting post-secondary institutions outside the US.
1 You must be either currently enrolled full-time and actively pursuing studies or have recently graduated. If graduated, the program start date, as shown on Form DS-2019, must be within 12 months of their graduation date.
2 The academic institution where you are enrolled must be a foreign ministerially-recognized degree- or certificate-granting post-secondary institution outside the United States.
3 Exchange interns sponsored by us must be at least 18 years or older at the start of the program and possess a non-US passport that remains valid for at least six months beyond the program end date.
NOTE: If your passport has expired or will expire soon, you should immediately apply for a passport renewal while completing the rest of the application process. Even the Six Month Club Rule applies, which allows citizens of certain countries to enter the US with less than six months of passport validity remaining, it is still recommended to use a new passport for your trip to the US. If you do not have a passport but possess a valid travel document equivalent, notify your program advisor at the start of your application.
J-1 internships are not intended to replace other visa types or serve as alternatives. Applicants' objectives must align with BOTH practical experience and cultural exposure of the program.
1 The J-1 visa is not a pathway for ordinary employment, nor is it intended to facilitate the replacement of American workers with cheap labor or serve as an alternative to H visas or a solution for bridging visa gaps. We do not facilitate visa program transfers while the program is ongoing.
2 J-1 internships are holistic in nature. They are not solely about gaining work experience but also about fostering cultural understanding. Throughout the program, participants are expected to actively partake in American cultural activities to learn local customs and share their own culture, and post-program, they share these experiences back home, contributing to a broader global understanding.
Before you approach us for J-1 intern visa sponsorship, ensure you have secured a qualified US internship and host organization.
1 Ensure that your proposed internship meets DS-7002 requirements and that your intern visa is utilized for its intended purpose of cultural exchange and practical experience related to your academic field of study.
- Three weeks to 12 months.
- Structured and guided work-based internship program.
- Align with your specific field of study.
- Onsite, fulltime, taking place in an office environment conducive to training.
- Supervisor working full-time, onsite, and and possess relevant professional knowledge.
- No staffing agency should be involved in any aspects of the program.
- No unskilled or casual labor, childcare, elder care, or patient care roles.
- Entry-level and tailored to the intern's skills and proficiency.
2 When registering your account via www.fusia.net/apply, identify yourself as Self-Placed (interns find their own internships).
3 If you need assistance with internship placement, apply through CCIP as a CCIP-Placed intern. Note that hosts within the CCIP-NYC program do not offer any stipend.
CFR 22 Part 62.12(b)(1) requires sponsors to verify that incoming participants have sufficient financial resources to complete their exchange program (including any accompanying dependents) before issuing Form DS-2019.
1 You must have sufficient personal funds, alongside qualified proof, to meet the minimum balance requirement of USD 450 per week, multiplied by the total number of weeks in the program.
2 Personal funds generally refer to readily accessible funds from regular bank accounts (e.g., savings, money market, CDs) owned by the participant and/or their immediate family members, as well as grants/scholarships from a school, government, or private institution. If funds are contingent on meeting criteria like a specific GPA and are not easily accessible or verifiable, they will not be counted.
4 Proof of personal funds is also required when attending a visa interview. Such proof typically refers to bank statements or passbooks that display the most recent financial data with the required total amount, or an official letter signed and printed on letterhead by the fund provider.
5 While up to 50% of the minimum financial requirement may be covered by a stipend earned during the program, you must confirm that you have sufficient financial resources available, even if this income is not received.
Federal regulation 22 CFR 62.20(b) mandates that prospective exchange visitors possess sufficient English language proficiency, as determined by an objective measurement, to successfully participate in their programs and function day-to-day.
This regulation ensures that prospective participants have adequate English language skills to function and thrive in English-speaking social settings and training environments.
FUSIA, as the program sponsor, implements the procedures outlined below to assess English proficiency and collect “objective measurement” evidence for incoming exchange visitors.
To meet this requirement, the applicant will need to choose an objective measurement, such as a transcript displaying a score equal to or higher than the minimum requirement. Additionally, they should provide a self-introduction to demonstrate their written English proficiency, which can also serve as a cover letter for their program application.
#1 IELTS 6.0/9.0 or above
#2 HKCEE/DSE (English Language) D or 4/7 or above
#3 TOEFL (paper) 550/677 or above
#4 TOEFL (computer) 213/300 or above
#5 TOEFL (online) 80/120 or above
#6 A or O-Level (English subject) C or above
#7 CET-4 550/710 or above
#8 CET-6 520/710 or above
#9 College Entrance Examination (English subject) 120/150 (national) or above
#10 IB (English language) 4/7 or above
#11 GCSE/IGCSE (English language) C or above
#12 SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 590/800 or above
#13 SAT Reasoning Test Essay Score (before March 2016) 8/12 or above
#14 GRE 150/170 (verbal) 150/170 (quantitative) 3.0/6.0 (analytical) or above
#15 None of the above, but I can have Part B completed
#16 None of the above, but I was born and grew up from a listed English-speaking country
In the absence of qualified proof of the prospective participant’s English proficiency through a recognized English language test, applicants may have the option to complete and have Part D of PDF #9 signed. This can be done by either a professor who has provided English lectures to the student, a staff member from the applicant’s school with English-speaking expertise, or a staff member from FUSIA.
If a participant was born and grew up in Australia, Belize, Botswana, Canada (except Quebec), Commonwealth Caribbean, Ghana, Great Britain, Ireland, New Zealand, Nigeria, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, or Zimbabwe, they may select #16 under the “objective measurement” menu and upload evidence of their upbringing there, such as a transcript or certificate proving elementary and high school attendance, as PDF #10.
Before the issuance of the DS-2019 form, you must provide evidence of being in good physical and mental health and possessing qualified health insurance coverage that complies with both DOS and our requirements.
J-1 internships come with many rules and compliance requirements. Parties involved in J-1 internships must establish appropriate expectations, commit to allocating sufficient time for applications and program administration, and adhere to program rules and regulations to ensure compliance.
J-1 internships are complex due to numerous rules and administrative procedures. They involve identifying a J-1 visa sponsor, securing a qualified internship and host, completing applications, interviews, signing, and providing supporting documentation.
Unlike B-1/B-2 visas, which require no visa sponsor, or H-1 visas, which are sponsored by the host, and F-1 visas, which are sponsored by schools, J-1 intern visas are required to be sponsored by a Designated Sponsor within the respective category.
A variety of Designated Sponsors are available, each offering unique services and having their own fee structures. Identify the option that best fits your needs.
FUSIA is a Designated Sponsor for J-1 internships and STEM initiatives. We are designated to administer exchange internship programs in the following occupational categories:
62.22(c)(2)(ii) Arts and Culture;
62.22(c)(2)(iv) Education, Social Sciences, Library Science, Counseling and Social Services;
62.22(c)(2)(vii) Information Media and Communications;
62.22(c)(2)(viii) Management, Business, Commerce and Finance;
62.22(c)(2)(ix) Public Administration and Law; and
62.22(c)(2)(x) The Sciences, Engineering, Architecture, Mathematics, and Industrial Occupations.
