J-1 STUDENT INTERN PROGRAM
General Information
The program provides foreign students the opportunity to participate in a designated exchange visitor
program while participating in a student internship program which fulfills the student’s academic goal.
Such an exchange is intended to promote mutual understanding by fostering the exchange of ideas
between foreign students and their American counterparts.
Student intern is a foreign national enrolled in and pursuing a degree at an accredited post-secondary
academic institution outside the USA; the student is participating in the student internship program in
the USA that will fulfill the educational objectives for his/her current degree program in the home
institution. In order to participate in the program, the student needs to obtain a J-1 visa in a “Student
Intern” Category.
Student Eligibility Requirements
1. The student is currently enrolled in a degree program at the post-secondary institution outside
the United States and in good academic standing.
2. Upon completion of the internship, the student will return to the home institution to complete
the academic program and obtain a degree.
3. The student’s internship program is approved by the academic advisor at the home university.
4. The student must be admitted by the US institution to participate in its internship program.
5. The student has verifiable English Language skills sufficient to function on a day-to-day basis in
the internship environment. English Language proficiency must be verified through a sponsorconducted interview, by a recognized English language test, or by signed documentation from
an academic institution or English language school.
6. The student intern is primarily in the US to engage in a student internship program rather than
to engage in employment or provide services to an employer.
7. The student must have sufficient finances to support himself/herself and dependants during the
entire stay in the USA.
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Program Requirements
1. Before accepting a potential intern, the academic Department must complete the Form DS-7002,
TRAINING/INTERNSHIP PLACEMENT PLAN (T/IPP), secure the requisite signatures, and provide
copies to each signatory. The Form DS-7002 must be signed by the student, the internship
supervisor, and the Responsible Officer (the international advisor) at the OIP. The Form DS-7002
is needed for a student’s J-1 visa application.
2. Internship must be full-time (minimum of 32 hours per week).
3. The student will not displace American workers, and will not serve to fill a labor need.
4. The intern position exists solely to assist the student intern in achieving his/her academic
objectives.
5. Prior to conclusion of the internship program, academic department must evaluate the student’s
work; the evaluation must be signed by both the supervisor and the student. If the program
lasts longer than six months, it must be midpoint evaluation. The academic department must
retain evaluations for three years after the student’s internship is completed.
Employment
1. The student intern may engage in employment during the internship in accordance with the
Training/Internship Placement Plan (T/IPP). It can be full time, with or without wage or other
compensation.
2. The student must have employment authorization from Responsible Officer in the Office of
International Programs (OIP) and approval of the student’s academic advisor at the home
institution.
3. Duties of the student intern, as outlined in the T/IPP, will not involve more than 20 per cent
clerical work, and all tasks assigned to the student are necessary for completion of the
internship program.
Note: 1. The student may not be placed in a position that required child or elder care, or any patient care, providing
therapy, medication, social work, psychological counseling, as well as in an unskilled or labor position.
2. Students engaging in the “Hospitality and Tourism” internship of six months or longer must have at least three
departmental or functional rotations.
Duration of Participation
A student intern may participate in the Exchange Visitor Program for up to 12 months for each
degree/major. The internship program must be at the institution listed on his/her DS-2019.
Financial documentation
A student must have finances to support himself/herself for the entire period of stay in the
United States. The amount of funding must be sufficient to cover living expenses (housing,
insurance, books, etc.) and tuition expenses if, according to the T/IPP, the student will need to
enroll in classes. The estimated amount of living expenses is $1000 per month; if family
members accompany the student, additional funding at the amount of $300 per month for each
dependent is required. You need to list your dependents on the form “J-1 Student Internship
Program Application”.
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Tuition can be estimated based on the number of credits the student will need to take.
The bank statement(s) must be official and in English. Scanned documents are acceptable if of
good quality and clearly readable. If the student has a sponsor, the sponsor’s support letter and
the bank statement(s) must be submitted.
Taking academic courses during internship program
If the Training/Internship Placement Plan (T/IPP, Form DS-7002) requires the student to take
classes, the student needs to apply for academic admission to the Office of International
Programs (OIP) for undergraduate classes, or to the Graduate School if classes are on the
graduate level. The application form can be downloaded from the website
http://www.uakron.edu, Admissions. The application should indicate the academic status as a
“Guest Student”, and visa status will be a J-1, “Student Intern” category.
Health Insurance
As a J-1 visa holder, the student is required to have health insurance for himself/herself and any
accompanying family member. The insurance requirements can be found in the US Department
of State’s Exchange Visitor Program Welcome Brochure (will be included in the packet along
with the form DS-2019), http://exchanges.state.gov/jexchanges/docs/welcome_broch2008.pdf.
The student needs to present evidence of health insurance when checking in at the OIP.
Required Documents
The following documents must be submitted to the OIP:
1. The letter of acceptance to the internship program from the academic department ;
2. Student Internship Program Application;
3. The application for admission to the academic program if the internship includes academic
courses or the letter of admission;
4. DS-2019 Request Form;
5. The Form DS-7002 completed and signed;
6. English Proficiency Form;
7. Financial documents reflecting sufficient funding;
8. Passport page with the student’s name;
9. Passport pages with the dependent’s name for each accompanying family member if the
student arrives with family members.
Upon submission, the OIP will issue the form DS-2019. It will be sent to the academic department along
with the form DS-7002 and orientation information for mailing to the student. The student must have
forms DS-2019, DS-7002, acceptance letter, financial documents in order to apply to the US Embassy for
a J-1 visa in a “Student Intern” category.
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