J-1 Visa Information for InterExchange Interns and Trainees

Skip to information on Traveling Internationally or Extending Your J-1 Visa

If you are a participant on the 12-month International Student Internship Program (P-4-11837) or the 18-month International Practical Training Program (P-4-05739) you will enter the United States on a J-1 exchange visitor visa sponsored by InterExchange, and are considered an exchange visitor to the USA.

You should always carry with you:

Your passport, with the J-1 visa stamped or pasted in it.
The DS-2019 form.
The I-94 departure card, attached to your passport by the immigration officer upon entry, which shows the last day you may be in the United States on this J-1 visa.

This J-1 visa allows you to:

Participate in a training program as an intern for up to 12 months or as a trainee for up to 18 months. This particular J-1 visa DOES NOT allow employment outside of the training program and is NOT extendable past the numer of months indicated above.
Obtain a Social Security number
Obtain a U.S. driver’s license

This J-1 visa does not allow you to:

Change your host employer or gain employment outside of your training program
Extend your training program past 18 months.

Traveling Internationally

Your visa should be issued as an “M” or “Multiple” Entry Visa. This indicates that you may travel in and out of the United States up until the date your J-1 visa expires. To return to the U.S. after a visit to another country other than a contiguous territory or adjacent islands, you must inform the Responsible Officer or Alternate Responsible Officer of InterExchange of your plans and also have her/him sign the section on the bottom right of your DS-2019 form indicating that you continue to be in good standing and that you are approved for travel.

Come to the InterExchange office, or mail your DS-2019 to us. Please include a cover letter that includes your dates of travel, your destination, and a return address where we can send the DS-2019 form.
If you would like us to overnight the DS-2019 form back to you, please include $20 for shipping, or pay online.

We strongly recommend that you send to InterExchange your DS-2019 form at least 30 days prior to your intended departure. If you wish to travel outside the U.S. and re-enter after the date of validity of your J-1 visa, or if you wish to remain in the U.S. past this date, you must apply for a tourist visa. For further information, please contact United States Citizenship & Immigration Services [USCIS (formerly the INS-Immigration & Naturalization Service)] at http://uscis.gov/, (800) 365-5283.

Extending Your J-1 Visa

You must apply for an extension with InterExchange, at least 45 days prior to the end of your current program (NO EXCEPTIONS). You will need to submit a new Learning Agreement & Training Plan completed by you and your current host employer. You will also need to submit a short essay describing why you would like to pursue additional training in your field in the United States at your host company. You will need to explain in your new Learning Agreement & Training Plan what additional training in your field is now being requested, and why this additional training is now deemed to be beneficial to your overall career goals.

Extending Your Insurance

If you are covered by health insurance issued by InterExchange, an additional fee of $40 per month is due for each month requested in the extension application. If insurance was not purchased through InterExchange a Confirmation of Existing Health Coverage Form must be completed attesting that your insurance coverage is valid for the entire period of time requested in the extension. Extensions are not guaranteed, and only a small percentage of applicants will be granted an extension based on the strength of their application for an extension.

If Your Visa Extension is Approved

You will receive an extension DS-2019 form covering the additional months of your training program. If you will remain in the U.S., you will not need to do anything except keep the original DS-2019 form attached to the extension DS-2019 form. If you travel outside of the U.S. during your extension period, you will need to check in your passport to see if your J-1 Visa is still valid. If it expires before or during the period you intend to be outside of the U.S., you will need to go to the U.S. Embassy, preferably in your home country, to apply for another J-1 Visa. The costs associated with the application for an extension J-1 Visa at the U.S. Embassy are your responsibility. There is a risk that you will not be granted another J-1 Visa if you apply from your home country. InterExchange strongly advises trainees not to travel outside the U.S. during the extension period.