J-1 Host Company Requirements
The Full 2026 Checklist

Not every US company is allowed to host a J-1 participant. Checking the requirements before you start can save weeks. Here is the federal baseline, plus what we check on top before we place anyone.

Can any company host a J-1 intern or trainee?

No. A host company must meet a federal baseline set by the US Department of State, and we add a few practical checks of our own. The core conditions are an EIN, workers’ compensation insurance, at least 32 hours per week of structured training, no more than 20 percent clerical work, and no displacement of US workers.

The federal requirements

We apply the federal floor under 22 CFR 62.22. A host company must:

  • have an Employer Identification Number (EIN),
  • carry Workers’ Compensation insurance, or hold a valid state exemption,
  • have a verifiable address, phone number, and website,
  • offer at least 32 hours per week,
  • keep clerical work to a maximum of 20 percent of the program,
  • not displace US workers, and
  • place a paid participant on payroll with a W-2, never as a 1099 contractor.

When is a site visit required?

The small-host trigger

A site visit is required for a host with fewer than 25 full-time employees or under 3 million dollars in annual revenue. Academic and government hosts are generally exempt. When a visit is needed, our partner sponsors carry it out to verify the host, so it genuinely meets the legal requirements; these days usually as a digital site visit by video call rather than an in-person visit. The fee is a one-time 250 €, billed separately from the sponsorship price, and it only applies to small hosts.

What we check on top

Beyond the federal floor, we look for a host that can genuinely train you, not just hand you a desk:

  • a real, verifiable operation with a track record,
  • enough staff on site to supervise and actually train you,
  • a named supervisor present for each phase of the plan,
  • a defined training role that stays mostly hands-on, not clerical, and
  • proper payroll (W-2) for paid placements, with remote work kept limited and no pure home office.

On pay there is no fixed-stipend rule: from about 1,900 dollars a month a paid placement is on safe ground, a qualifying unpaid placement (zero dollars) works too, and amounts in between we check with you. We handle the pay side for you and confirm what applies to your case before we place anyone.

Quick check: is my host eligible?

  • EIN, workers’ comp, real website and address: yes?
  • At least 32 hours per week, mostly non-clerical: yes?
  • Paid participants on a W-2, not a 1099: yes?
  • Enough on-site staff and supervisors to train you for real: yes?
  • Any answer unclear: that is exactly what we vet for you.
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Related: the DS-7002 training plan, prohibited industries and fields, and our service for companies.

Is Your Company Eligible to Host?

We vet your company against the federal and sponsor requirements and handle the site visit for you.

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Questions & Answers

Often yes, but new, small companies trigger a mandatory site visit, and we look for enough on-site staff and a real operating track record so you can actually be trained. We tell you upfront whether your company qualifies.
No. Paid participants must be on payroll with a W-2, on the same pay cycle as regular staff. A 1099 contractor arrangement is not allowed.
Limited. J-1 training is on-site work: we expect genuine presence at the host, with only limited remote work and no pure home office.

At VisaNerd we sponsor strictly within the US Department of State exchange visitor regulations (22 CFR 62.22) and current BridgeUSA policy. What you read here is how we actually sponsor and what we require, not a general overview of other sponsors. It is practical guidance from our team, not legal advice; your eligibility is confirmed through us as your sponsor contact, and the final visa decision is made by the US consular officer.