J-1 Internships & Traineeships in Hospitality: Train in a US Hotel or Kitchen

What We Do for Your Hospitality or Culinary Training

You learn your trade at a US hotel, restaurant or professional kitchen for up to 12 months, as an intern or as a trainee. We run your whole J-1 internship or trainee sponsorship. We check eligibility, review your training plan and rotations, and handle the sponsor application until you receive your DS-2019.

Your Price

Your price depends on your category and your training months, up to the 12-month limit for hospitality.

Each price covers your health insurance, the SEVIS fee and your DS-2019, and there is no processing fee. The months in between are on our J-1 Visa costs page.

How It Works

1. 1
   Your free checkAnswer a few questions to see whether we can take on your hospitality or culinary program and what you pay.
2. 2
   Your hotel, restaurant or kitchenYou put us in touch with your host, and we work with them directly.
3. 3
   Training plan with rotationsYour host sets out what you learn, who supervises you and which departments you train in. We check that the rotations meet the rules.
4. 4
   Application with the sponsorWe file your application and take care of the sponsor’s questions, together with you and your host.
5. 5
   DS-2019 and visaWith your DS-2019 issued, you book your appointment at the US consulate.

Your documents should reach us four to six weeks before your first day. Our target for completing your sponsorship is one to two weeks once we have everything.

Your Training Plan with Rotations

Your host writes your DS-7002 with you, one phase at a time. We review it against the hospitality and tourism rules and help word it where needed. Programs of six months or longer rotate through at least three departments or functions. You, your host and the sponsor all sign before your DS-2019 is issued.

Is It for You?

Hospitality and culinary students and recent graduates can take an internship. Cooks, chefs and hotel professionals with work experience outside the US can take a traineeship. The J-1 Visa Check on this page tells you whether it fits. What a training position may not include is in the library under Program Exclusions.

Extras

FAQs

What do I pay for a 12-month program at a hotel or restaurant?

€2,945 as an intern or €3,320 as a trainee, with health insurance, the SEVIS fee and your DS-2019 included. You pay the visa fee of $185 at the consulate. US law also provides for a visa integrity fee that may apply, see Visa Fee (MRV).

Can I stay longer than 12 months?

No. For both interns and trainees, hospitality and tourism programs are limited to 12 months. An extension within that limit requires payment of the price difference plus €100, with the USCIS fee extra.

Can my training simply be regular restaurant or hotel work?

No. The role cannot consist of unskilled or casual labor or fill a labor need. Each phase of your plan must describe what you learn. We verify this before submitting it to the sponsor, see Program Exclusions.

Can my partner come with me?

Yes. Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can come on a J-2 if the sponsor approves, from €1,210 per person with health insurance included.

What happens if the sponsor declines my application?

We return your entire sponsorship payment to VisaNerd. Only a site visit already completed at your host is excluded. The sponsor charges €250 for that visit.

The Bottom Line

You train at a US hotel, restaurant or kitchen, and we draft your training plan with your host and handle your whole J-1 internship or trainee sponsorship, one payment, everything included. We can begin right away once you send us your host’s contact.

In the VisaNerd Library

• 
  Program ExclusionsThe kinds of positions and duties that J-1 internships and traineeships are not allowed to include.
• 
  DS-7002The Training/Internship Placement Plan. You, your host company and your sponsor all sign it.
• 
  J-1 TraineePeople with a degree and work experience abroad can use this US exchange visitor category to train at a US company for up to 18 months.
• 
  J-1 InternStudents and recent graduates can use this US exchange visitor category to train at a US company for up to 12 months.
• 
  J-2 VisaThe visa for the spouse and unmarried children under 21 of a J-1 participant who come along or join later.
• 
  EvaluationsThe written reviews of your progress that every J-1 internship and traineeship includes.