Important Program Documents
Important Program Documents
Career Training USA program participants will receive an acceptance package that includes essential information and documents needed when applying for the J-1 Visa.
As a host employer, you must know about these documents and how they affect your relationship with your participant.
In Summary
- DS-2019:Â Certifies program eligibility and identifies parties involved in the program (participant, host organization, and J-1 Visa sponsor)
- DS-7002:Â Outlines the training that will be offered by the host organization to the intern or trainee
- J-1 Visa:Â Allows the participant to enter the U.S.
DS-2019 Form - Certificate of Eligibility For J-1 Exchange Visitor Status
The DS-2019 Form is a U.S. government document that permits individuals to intern or train with a U.S. company.
The DS-2019 Form:
- Certifies the participant, host, and training program meet program regulations
- Identifies InterExchange as the program sponsor and serves as proof of InterExchange’s sponsorship of the J-1 Visa
- Describes the purpose of the program
- States the time period that the participant is legally permitted to intern or train in the U.S.
- Lists you as the host employer and indicates your office location is the site of activity
Participants are only allowed to intern or train with a valid DS-2019 Form and only during the dates listed in Section #3 of their form. Although participants may only intern or train within these dates, they may enter the U.S. up to 30 days prior to the program begin date.
Participants may also legally remain in the U.S. for up to 30 days after the program end date, unless otherwise specified. This is known as the “grace period. Participants may NOT continue to intern/train with you during their grace period.
DS-7002 Form - Training/Internship Placement Plan
The DS-7002 Form (Training/Internship Placement Plan) is a U.S.-Government document that includes a description of the internship or training program you will provide.
By signing the training plan you have developed, you are acknowledging that the tasks, activities, and objectives outlined in this document will be the training you will offer the participant throughout their program.
The training plan is a binding document, and it is absolutely essential that you follow this plan closely. Failure to do so is a violation of federal program regulations and may result in program termination.
If anything in the plan needs to be changed, either now or once the program has begun, you must discuss this with InterExchange prior to making any changes to the training. All changes must first be documented in a revised training plan signed by you, the intern/trainee, and InterExchange before the changes may officially be put in place.
The J-1 Visa
Once you and your participants are approved to participate in the J-1 Intern or Trainee program and participants have their DS-2019 Forms, they may then go to the embassy/consulate to apply for the J-1 Visa. If approved, a J-1 Visa sticker will be affixed to the participant’s passport by a consular official. NOTE: Canadian citizens are not required to obtain a visa and may travel with the DS-2019 Form alone.
Though InterExchange certifies eligibility to participate in the program, only an embassy or consulate can issue the J-1 Visa. InterExchange has no control over the decisions of consular officials. Though rare, a visa denial can occur. If the participant is denied a visa, please contact us immediately to discuss whether it may be appropriate for the participant to attempt to apply for the J-1 Visa a second time.
The J-1 Visa allows participants to enter the U.S. The expiration date on the J-1 Visa is the last day they may enter the U.S.—not the last day they can intern/train with your organization. The program end date on the DS-2019 Form is the last day participants may complete tasks or activities as an intern/trainee.
In Summary
- DS-2019:Â Certifies program eligibility and identifies parties involved in the program (participant, host organization, and J-1 Visa sponsor)
- DS-7002:Â Outlines the training that will be offered by the host organization to the intern or trainee
- J-1 Visa:Â Allows the participant to enter the U.S.
