J-1 Student Internship Program Requirement

J-1 Student Internship Program Requirements

Internship programs are designed to allow foreign college and university students currently enrolled in and pursuing a degree at an accredited postsecondary academic institution outside the United States to come to the United States to gain exposure to U.S. culture and to receive hands-on experience in U.S. business practices in their chosen field.

The internship cannot serve to fill a labor need. The internship must exist solely to assist the student intern in achieving the objectives of his or her participation in a student internship program. The internship must consist of work-based learning, rather than ordinary employment or unskilled labor. [22 C.F.R. §62.23(i)(7)(i) ].

The student internship program does not have to be in the student's field of study, but it does have to fulfill the educational objectives for his or her current degree program at his or her home institution. All tasks assigned must be necessary for the completion of the student internship program.

The internship tasks in the student internship program may consist of no more than 20 percent clerical work. The internship must expose the participant to "American techniques, methodologies, and technology," expand upon the participant's existing knowledge and skills, and not duplicate the student intern's prior experience.

Duration:

- The internship must be full-time; i.e., consist of a minimum of 32 hours per week.

- Student interns may participate in a student internship program for up to 12 months for each degree/major. Extensions beyond 12 months are not possible.

A student may participate in an internship with or without wages or other compensation, and full-time employment is permitted. To be employed, however, the student needs the approval of the exchange program's responsible officer (Office of International Education) and the student's home institution's dean or academic advisor.

More information on the Student Intern Program can be found at the U.S. Department of State Website

Health insurance is a mandatory requirement for J-1 student interns and their dependents. Failure to maintain adequate coverage as defined by the U.S. Department of State is grounds for termination of legal status.

It is not only unwise to be in the United States without adequate health insurance, it is a violation of J-1 status. Although in many countries the government bears the expense of health care for its citizens, individuals and families in the United States are responsible for these costs themselves. Since a single day of hospitalization and medical treatment can cost thousands of dollars, many hospitals and clinics refuse to treat uninsured patients except in life-threatening emergencies. A good medical insurance plan is the only protection against the enormous costs of health care in the USA. The visitor is required to certify that he/she has the required levels of health, medical, evacuation and repatriation insurance for himself/herself and dependents. The U.S. Department of State defines adequate coverage as:

  1. Coverage of at least $100,000 per accident/illness, with no more than a $500 deductible
  2. Coverage of at least $25,000 for repatriation of remains in case of death;
  3. Coverage of at least $50,000 for medical evacuation to the home country.

As a J-1 visiting scholar at University of Texas at Arlington, you have been admitted for a specific period of time to engage in a particular research or teaching activity, as described on your DS-2019 form. You must take care during your stay to maintain lawful J-1 status, as failure to do so can have serious long-term consequences for you. Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to ensure that your stay in the U.S. remains valid:

  1. Be aware of the expiration date of your status. This is not your visa expiration date; it is the ending date in section 3 of your DS-2019 form. If your appointment at the University is extended, the hiring department must contact OIE before the current expiration date of the current form to have the DS-2019 form extended.
  2. If you complete your program early, more than 14 days prior to the program end date on your DS-2019, you must inform OIE so that we can update your record accordingly.
  3. Do not accept unauthorized employment. The only activity you are permitted is the one described in section 4 of the DS-2019 form. You must consult OIE beforehand if you wish to take up any other work during your stay.
  4. If offered a comparable position at another college or university, discuss your plans with OIE to make sure that the required transfer procedure can be accomplished.
  5. Comply with the U.S. Department of State health insurance requirements for J-1 visa holders and their families. Willful disregard of these requirements will result in termination of your program and your J-1 status.
  6. Keep your passport valid. Passports can be renewed by your consulate in the United States. For a listing of Foreign Embassies in the U.S., go to the USA State Department Web Sites of Foreign Embassies Homepage.
  7. Must report within 10 calendar days not only of address changes, but also of changes to the exchange visitor’s telephone number and email address to Office of International Education
  8. Must report accompanying spouses’ and/or dependents’ departure from the United States prior to the exchange visitors’ departure dates? and without the intention of returning to accompany the J-1 for the remainder of his or her program.
  1. Request for DS-2019 using the form below.
  2. The following sections of Form DS-7002 below has to be filled by the department.
    • Site of Activity section on page 1
    • Training Internship placement plan on page 2
  3. Submit the packet of documents listed below in the forms section to OIE.
  4. OIE will process DS-2019, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) status, and DS-7002, Training Internship Placement form. And the Office of International Education will then contact the host department at UTA.
  5. Upon arrival to the US and prior to the beginning of the internship program, students must show proof of mandatory health insurance.
  6. Upon completion of the internship program, the sponsoring department (supervising professor) will need to do a concluding evaluation for the internship.
  7. Internships lasting more than six months must do a midpoint and concluding evaluation.
  8. Copies of evaluations have to be submitted to Office of International Education to be added to the intern’s file.

$150 (CASE MANAGEMENT AND PROCESSING FEE PAID BY SPONSORING DEPARTMENT TO THE OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION)

  1. Visit the Office of International Education so that our staff can validate your program participation, verify mandatory health insurance coverage, and provide you with helpful information about getting settled in Arlington.
  2. New scholar orientations are every Friday from 3 to 4 p.m. The Office of International Education is located at 1022 UTA Blvd.
  3. If you are not able to arrive by the program start date indicated on your DS-2019, OIE must be notified so that a new DS-2019 can be processed if appropriate.

Forms

  1. Exchange Visitor Information Form
  2. Memorandum for DS-2019
  3. Form DS-7002
  4. Training/Internship Placement Plan Agreement

Additional documents:

  1. Verification of current student status / enrollment at home institution
  2. Verification of English language ability (through a sponsor-conducted interview, by a recognized English language test, or by signed documentation from an academic institution or English language school). Signed documentation from the academic institution preferred.
  3. Verification of sufficient finances to support self and dependents if applicable for the entire stay in the United States
  4. Copy of passport ID page (if available)
  5. Resume or CV
  • J-1 Scholars->USD 1,438/month
  • J-2 Spouse -> USD 417/month
  • J-2 Child -> USD 417/month

 

Contact for J-1 Student Interns

For specific questions and concerns, please contact us at jinfo@uta.edu or at (817) 272-2355.

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