Frequently Asked Questions

To qualify as a J-1 intern, you must:

Be at least 18 years old
Be enrolled in an accredited academic institution or have graduated within 12 months of your internship start date
Have upper-intermediate or advanced English language skills
Intern in a field related to your academic or professional background

To qualify as a J-1 trainee, you must:

Be at least 18 years old
Have a diploma from an accredited academic institution and at least 1 year of relevant professional work experience (or 5 years of relevant professional work experience if you do not have a post-secondary degree)
Have upper-intermediate or advanced English language skills.
Train in a field related to your academic and/or professional background.

To qualify for the 1-Year Graduate USA Visa Program, you must:

Be at least 18 years old
Have graduated from an Irish university and will be starting your program within 12 months of graduation.
Have an Irish passport
Intern in a field directly related to your academic background

Search CIEE’s available internship or training positions or read our guide on how to get a position.

Yes! CIEE partners with host organizations throughout the U.S. that offer internship opportunities. Search CIEE’s available positions. New internships are added regularly, so check back often to find a placement that fits your needs and goals.

Contact your CIEE international representative. They can assist you with your application and provide guidance throughout the application process. If there is no representative in your home country, do not worry! Contact CIEE directly at contact@ciee.org.

CIEE international representatives are independent, locally owned companies from around the world that collaborate with CIEE to offer internship and training opportunities to participants like you. In addition to acting as your primary contact throughout the application process, your CIEE international representative can also assist with:

Eligibility questions and application submission
Program payment
Program orientation
Embassy troubleshooting
Travel booking (in some cases)

J-1 intern programs can last from 3 weeks to a maximum of 12 months. The minimum J-1 trainee programs can last from 3 weeks to a maximum of 18 months depending on your field of training.

Additional notes:

Internships for participants of the 1-Year Graduate USA Visa Program must be a minimum of 4 weeks and may last up to the end date listed on your DS-2019.
Hospitality training is limited to a maximum of 12 months by the U.S. Department of State. Management training at a hospitality location, however, may be eligible for up to 18 months. Please see our Industry-Specific Guidelines for Hospitality for more information.

Program costs vary, but will include:

Access to hundreds of internship opportunities available through CIEE and a personalized matching process for participants and host organizations. (for placements only)
J-1 Visa Sponsorship for eligible participants (see What Is CIEE’s Role as the Visa Sponsor above).
Thorough vetting of host organizations
In-depth participant orientation
Health insurance coverage (not applicable to participants of the 1-Year Graduate USA Visa Program)
Robust support, including opportunities for cultural and professional networking
Responsive customer service and 24-hour emergency support
Program monitoring through evaluations
Help with J-2 visas for qualified participant dependents (not applicable to participants of the 1-Year Graduate USA Visa Program)

Your CIEE international representative will be able to provide more information about specific program costs and health insurance coverage.

CIEE advises applicants to allow at least 4 to 6 weeks for the application process once they have accepted an internship or training position. Expedited processing may be available for an additional fee. Applicants should speak to their CIEE international representative if they have any questions about processing times.

There are certain internships and training positions that are prohibited under the J-1 visa by U.S. Department of State regulations. These include:

Au pair, maids, or other domestic work such as babysitting or housekeeping
Camp counselors
Medical trainees (involving hands-on therapy, counseling, or positions that include making diagnoses)
Pharmacists
Veterinary trainings involving hands-on care of animals
Pilots or crewmembers on ships or airplanes
Teachers
Temporary or staffing agency employees
Manual laborers

There are also certain activities that cannot be part of an internship or training:

Unskilled casual labor positions
Childcare or elder care
Any work involving direct patient care or contact including work that would require participants to provide therapy, medication, sports or physical therapy, counseling, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, social work, speech therapy, early childhood education, or other clinical or medical care
A position that requires more than 10% clerical or menial work
Activities that CIEE may deem as harmful to the applicant or the program

There are also limitations on internships and training in other fields. Please see our industry-specific guidelines.

Before you travel to the U.S. for your J-1 program, you must apply for a J-1 intern or trainee visa at the U.S. Embassy or consulate in your home country. Please note that visa issuance is solely at the discretion of the embassy or consulate at which you apply. If your visa is denied, please contact your CIEE international representative for assistance with the next steps. A visa can be denied for many reasons, and you may be able to make another appointment and try again.

If you are receiving a stipend as part of your internship or training position, you will be subject to any applicable federal, state, and local income taxes. You will not be subject to Social Security, Medicaid, or federal unemployment tax.

Yes, but you will need a travel validation signature on your DS-2019 and a Letter of Good Standing from CIEE. If you are planning to travel abroad, you should contact CIEE at least 2 weeks prior to your trip.

For more information, please read our guide to traveling in the U.S. and abroad.

No. J-1 interns and trainees are not allowed to have a second job during their internship or training position.

Our customer service team is here to help you navigate and resolve any problems that arise during your internship or training position. They will work with you to address the issue and may also contact your host organization to determine their willingness or ability to resolve the problem.

You can call CIEE customer service at 1-888-268-6245 or email contact@ciee.org.

Requests to change host organizations are granted on a case-by-case basis and are not guaranteed. If you think you need to change your host organization, you should contact CIEE at contact@ciee.org or 888-268-6245 as soon as possible to discuss your situation.

For more information, please read our guide to extending, changing, or ending your program.

Yes! You can extend both internships and training positions. However, some restrictions may apply and you cannot extend beyond the maximum duration of an Intern or Trainee program. For more information, please read our guide to extending, changing, or ending your program.

Please note: Unlike our other programs, the 1-Year Graduate USA Visa Program may not be extended.

CIEE does not support or assist with changes of visa status.

Yes, spouses and children may accompany you to the U.S. on a J-2 visa. You must submit a CIEE J-2 Dependent Application through your CIEE international representative.

Please note: This does not apply to participants of the 1-Year Graduate USA Visa Program.

All participants are expected to return home at the conclusion of their programs and apply their newly developed skills and experiences in their home countries.

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs