Review the eligibility requirements below to determine if your company meets the J-1 Intern/Trainee program requirements.
InterExchange Career Training USA can provide visa sponsorship for one or more participants, from anywhere in the world, and is open to eligible companies who meet the U.S. Department of State regulations.
Is My Company Eligible?
Your company must meet the following requirements to be eligible:
NOTE: Programs exceeding 6 months must be paid at least the state and local minimum wage
Training provided to interns and trainees must also be primarily in-person. Intern/Trainees may participate remotely no more than 40% of their program (e.g., two out of five days per week) if your organization has instituted partial remote policies.
If your company has fewer than 25 employees and less than $3 million in revenue, we’re required by the State Department to perform a site visit before approving you for the program
Required Documents/Information
All companies must also provide the following required documents/information:
- Proof of a workers’ compensation policy or equivalent insurance that covers J-1 participants (or proof of exemption)
- Either a DUNS number or copy of your business registration
- Obtain your business registration here
- A Federal Identification Number
What Training Can I Offer?
J-1 internships and training programs are intended to provide work-based training in an eligible field, enabling candidates to enhance their skills and prepare for their future careers. These programs may NOT be used for ordinary employment purposes or to fill a labor need. Therefore, host employers must:
Is My Industry Eligible?
InterExchange is designated to sponsor programs in a wide range of fields that fall under the following categories:
- Arts & Culture
- Information Media and Communications
- Management, Business, Commerce and Finance
- Public Administration and Law
- The Sciences, Engineering, Architecture, Mathematics and Industrial Occupations
- Hospitality and Tourism
- If you are offering a program in the hospitality industry, be sure to review our hospitality requirements
- Review our full list of approved training fields
What types of training are prohibited?
Not all employers are permitted to host Interns and Trainees through InterExchange. We cannot approve participants for sponsorship at the following locations:
- Agricultural settings, such as farms or in wineries’ harvesting operations
- Arcades
- Bridal companies
- Camps (consider our Camp USA program for camp positions)
- Candy stores, mall kiosks, boardwalk booths, and stands
- Convenience and grocery stores or superettes/mini-markets (consider our Work & Travel USA program for seasonal positions)
- Call center, customer service, or phone operators, including tech and help desk support
- Fast food or quick service restaurants or bakeries (consider our Work & Travel USA program for seasonal positions)
- Fitness studios, gyms, pools, dance studios, personal training, or coaching
- Garages
- Gardens or parks
- Gas stations or toll plazas
- Landscaping companies
- Pool management companies
- Real estate agencies
- Retail stores or locations and boutiques
- Schools and other instructional facilities, including teaching & coaching
- Spas, salons, or dog grooming companies
- Staffing agencies
If you require staff at one of the locations mentioned above or would like seasonal staff to assist with tasks that are not appropriate for Career Training USA participants, our Work & Travel USA program may be able to help meet your needs.
If you are unsure whether the internship or training program you are offering falls under our list of fields, please contact Career Training USA.
In addition, we are not able to sponsor programs in which Interns or Trainees would participate in:
- Animal care or any handling of animals
- Child care
- Clinical work that involves any patient care or contact
- Dentistry
- Elder care
- Social work
- Sports or physical therapy, psychological counseling
- Teaching
- Veterinary medicine
