J-1 Intern Visa: US Internships for Students and Recent Graduates

The intern category is part of the J-1 exchange visitor program. It gives students and new graduates hands-on experience in US business practices in their field of study.

You qualify if you are either:

• Currently enrolled full-time and pursuing studies at a degree- or certificate-granting post-secondary institution outside the US, or
• A graduate of such an institution whose graduation was no more than 12 months before your program start date.

You also need enough English to take part in the internship, and the internship must fit your field of study.

If you graduated more than 12 months ago and have work experience, look at the J-1 trainee category instead.

Internships are allowed in these occupational categories:

• Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
• Arts and culture
• Construction and building trades
• Education, social sciences, library science, counseling, and social services
• Health-related occupations
• Hospitality and tourism
• Information media and communications
• Management, business, commerce, and finance
• Public administration and law
• Sciences, engineering, architecture, mathematics, and industrial occupations

Interns cannot work in:

• Unskilled or casual labor jobs.
• Jobs involving childcare or elder care.
• Any position involving patient care or contact.
• Roles with more than 20% clerical or office support work.

Every intern needs a Training/Internship Placement Plan (T/IPP) on Form DS-7002, signed by you, the host organization, and the sponsor. It lists your learning goals, the skills you'll gain, your supervisor, and how you'll be evaluated.

The host organization must:

• Give continuous on-site supervision and mentoring by experienced staff.
• Teach through structured activities, such as classroom training, seminars, rotations through departments, on-the-job training, and conferences.
• Follow health and safety laws.
• Complete evaluations: at the end of the program, and also at the midpoint for programs over 6 months.

Sponsors must visit host organizations that are new to their program, have fewer than 25 employees, and have under $3 million in annual revenue. The J-1 program can't be used to fill ordinary jobs.

• The maximum internship length is 12 months, including in hospitality and tourism.
• The program must be full-time, at least 32 hours a week.
• Extensions are possible only within the 12-month maximum, with a new DS-7002.
• You may do another internship later if you are again a current student or graduated within 12 months of the new start date.
• After your program ends, you have a 30-day grace period to prepare to leave. You can't work during it.

Admission period. A DHS rule published on July 17, 2026 would replace "duration of status" with a fixed admission date for J-1 visitors (the program end date on your DS-2019, up to 4 years, plus 30 days). It was due to start on September 15, 2026, but a federal court in Massachusetts blocked it on September 14, 2026. For now, J-1 visitors are still admitted for duration of status. See fixed admission period status.

Proposed J-1 rule. On July 30, 2026, the State Department proposed stricter J-1 rules on program terminations, extensions, and fixing SEVIS errors. Comments close on September 28, 2026. It is only a proposal and is not in effect.

Yes. Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can come in J-2 status. J-2 family members can study, and a J-2 spouse can apply for a work permit with Form I-765, as long as the income is not needed to support you. You must show the sponsor you have enough money to support your family.

Costs vary a lot by sponsor. Typical costs are:

• Sponsor program fee: set by each sponsor. Ask for a full written list.
• SEVIS fee (Form I-901): paid online to DHS before the interview. Au pairs, camp counselors, and Summer Work Travel participants pay a lower rate. See ICE's I-901 page for the current amount.
• Visa application fee: $185 as of September 2026 for J visas. Participants in certain government-funded programs are exempt.
• Visa integrity fee: A $250 visa integrity fee, created by a 2025 law, is charged when a visa is issued. As of September 2026, consulates have rolled it out unevenly, so check your embassy's fee page.
• Health insurance: required for you and any J-2 family members for the whole program. Sponsors set plans that meet State Department minimums.
• Living costs: rent, food, and transport, especially if the internship is unpaid.

The two-year home residency rule. Some J-1 visitors must live in their home country for 2 years after the program before they can get an H or L visa, a K visa, or a green card. It applies if your program was funded by the US or your government, if your skills are on your country's Exchange Visitor Skills List, or if you came for graduate medical training. Your DS-2019 and visa usually show whether an officer thinks it applies. Waivers are possible through the State Department's Waiver Review Division.

The J-1 intern program does not lead to a green card. Some interns return later on work visas such as the H-1B, or study on an F-1. Changing status inside the US is limited for J-1s subject to the two-year rule. See change of status.

• The internship looks like ordinary employment rather than training.
• The internship doesn't match your field of study.
• The officer doubts you will return home.
• You can't explain your training plan in the interview.

Since 2025, the State Department has asked F, M, and J applicants to set their social media accounts to public so officers can review them.

Travel ban. Proclamation 10998 took effect on January 1, 2026, and has no end date. It limits visas for nationals of 39 countries: for 19 countries it suspends almost all visas, and for the other 20 it suspends immigrant visas plus B, F, M, and J visas. USCIS is also holding many pending cases from these countries for extra review. Check Travel ban status before you pay fees or book travel.