Applicant Checklist
Check Your Eligibility
- For Interns, please review the Intern Requirements
- Internship field must directly relate to your academic background
- Must be enrolled full-time at a campus-based, post-secondary academic institution and have completed at least 1-year of studies
- Or, must have graduated within 12 months of the internship start date (must submit application more than eight weeks before this eligibility expires)
- For Trainees, review the Trainee Requirements
- Training field must match your occupational experience/background
- Must have 5 years of related work experience OR 1 year of related work experience if you also have a degree from a post-secondary academic institution
- Your related work experience must have been:
- Full-time
- Acquired outside of the United States
- Completed after you earned your degree
- Ensure your training program is in one of the fields that InterExchange is designated to sponsor
- Review the Host Employer Requirements to ensure your Host has:
- At least 5 full-time employees on-site
- Been operational for at least 6-months
- An active English-language website
- A company-based email (no @gmail.com accounts)
- If applying for a hospitality program, review the Hospitality Guidelines
- If training at a hotel or restaurant, you must have taken sufficient classes in Hospitality or Restaurant Management
- We do not permit business-only programs at hotels or restaurants
Collect Your Application Documents
Note: ALL documents submitted into InterExchange must be in English or translated into English. Upload both the translated and original documents to your application.
For Interns, upload the following supplemental documents:
- Proof of Student Status or Proof of Graduation
- Ensure the following is included:
- Your full name
- Academic Field/Major
- Whether you are enrolled full-time or part-time
- The date the document was produced
- Ensure that any letter is on official university letterhead
- If using our Proof of Student Status template, ensure that it is signed and stamped by your school
- Ensure the following is included:
- Academic Transcript
- Ensure that you have at least 4-5 courses related to your internship field
- Ensure your name is visible on the transcript
For Trainees, upload the following supplemental documents:
- Current and Previous Employment Verification Letter(s)
- Ensure the following is included:
- Your role
- Your responsibilities
- Dates of employment
- Date the document was produced
- Whether your position was full-time or part-time
- Ensure that any letter is on official company letterhead
- Ensure that a business card is provided if your employer uses our Employment Verification Letter template
- Ensure the following is included:
- Proof of Graduation (applicable for Trainees who have obtained a degree + 1-year of work experience)
- Ensure the following is included:
- Your full name
- Your university name and degree field
- The date of graduation
- Ensure that any letter is on official university letterhead
- Ensure the following is included:
For ALL applicants, upload the following required documents:
- A copy of your Passport
- Proof of Funds
- Specify the currency on your available balance
- Name of account holder must be stated
- Indicate the date the document was produced
- Ensure that your sources of funding amount to at least $1500 per month of your program
- If you will not be paying for housing in the U.S., the total should amount to at least $750 per month of your program
- If using our Proof of Funds template, ensure it has been signed and stamped by your bank
- Provide a Letter of Support if you will be supported by someone else. This must include:
- The name of the person who will be supporting you during your program
- Their signature
- The date the document was produced
- Fee Disclosure Form
- Ensure that you sign the Fee Disclosure within your application. (This will appear above the Participant Agreement once you have submitted your program fees and you and your host employer has completed their application).
For J-2 Dependent Applicants, upload the following:
- A copy of dependent’s Passport
- A signed Dependent Agreement Form for all dependents who are 18 or older
Review and Sign Your Training Plan
- Invite your Host Employer to the online application
- Ensure your host completes the DS-7002 Training Plan within the online application
- Refer them to the Training Plan Guide for help
- Ensure there is at least one phase for every 3-4 months of training
- Check that all Training Plan Phases are signed
- Ensure that the following Host Forms are completed (a “” will be next to each section if completed)
- Company Basics
- Participant Information
- Compensation
- Host Employer Agreement
- Ensure all Host Employer Documents are uploaded:
- Worker’s Compensation Certificate
- Business Registration (if a DUNS # is not provided in Company Basics)
- Sign the Participant Training Plan Agreement once your employer sends you the Training Plan to review
- Ensure your host completes the DS-7002 Training Plan within the online application
Submit Program Fees
Submit Full Payment. Review the program fees and refund schedule
Submit Application into Initial Review
Once all items above have been completed, you can submit your application to start the review process! Don’t forget to review our application process and our application processing timeline to ensure you get your J-1 Visa on time.
