J-1 Intern: What It Is, Who Qualifies, How It Works

J-1 Intern: A US exchange visitor category that lets students and recent graduates train at a US company for up to 12 months.
Table of Contents
  1. What Is a J-⁠1 Intern?
  2. Who Can Apply
  3. The 12-⁠Month Window
  4. How It Works
  5. Costs
  6. After the Program
  7. FAQs
  8. The Bottom Line
  9. Related Terms
  10. Sources

What Is a J-1 Intern?

A US exchange visitor category that lets students and recent graduates train at a US company for up to 12 months.

Key Takeaways

  • A training program in the US for students and recent graduates from abroad.
  • The program has to start within 12 months of graduating.
  • It lasts up to 12 months at a US host company.

At a glance
Visa
J-1 Exchange Visitor
Run by
US Department of State
Duration
up to 12 months
Hours
Full-time, at least 32 per week
Who
Full-time students, or graduates within 12 months
Key forms
DS-7002, DS-2019
SEVIS fee
$220
After program
30 days to depart

Who Can Apply

You can take part as a J-1 Intern if you are either enrolled full-time at a degree- or certificate-granting post-secondary institution outside the US, or graduated from one no more than 12 months before your program begin date.

Your English must also be good enough for day-to-day work, and the internship has to provide work-based learning in your academic field. Internships take place full-time, with at least 32 hours a week. Some kinds of work are excluded, such as unskilled labor, care work and duties with more than 20 percent clerical work, see Program Exclusions.

Source: 22 CFR § 62.22: Trainees and interns

The 12-Month Window

If you have graduated, the program begin date on your DS-2019 must be no more than 12 months after your graduation. This limit does not apply as long as you remain enrolled full-time.

Example: if you graduated on 15 November 2026, your program has to begin by 15 November 2027 at the latest.

Graduation Latest start Intern start window 036912 Months after graduation Trainee? Graduation Latest start Intern start window 0612 Months after graduation Trainee?
What counts is the program begin date, not the application date. Graduated earlier? See J-1 Trainee.

Source: 22 CFR § 62.22: Trainees and interns · 22 CFR § 62.4: Categories of participant eligibility

How It Works

  1. 1
    Eligibility checkStudies, graduation date, field
  2. 2
    Host company & training planDS-7002, signed by you, host and sponsor
  3. 3
    Sponsor reviewThe sponsor issues the DS-2019
  4. 4
    VisaSEVIS fee, visa application, embassy interview
  5. 5
    ArrivalCheck in with your sponsor
Typical sequence. Details can vary by sponsor.

Source: 22 CFR § 62.22: Trainees and interns

Costs

Fees, health insurance and living costs are explained under J-1 Costs.

After the Program

You may stay up to 30 days after your program end date to prepare your departure, see Grace Period. Depending on how your program is funded, your field and your home country, the Two-Year Rule may apply.

Source: 8 CFR § 214.2(j): Exchange visitors · 8 U.S.C. § 1182(e): INA § 212(e)

FAQs

Is it enough to apply within 12 months of graduating?

No. What counts is the program begin date on your DS-2019, which must be no more than 12 months after you graduated. The sponsor can only issue the DS-2019 once your DS-7002 training plan is signed, and visa wait times vary from country to country, so plan ahead, see J-1 Timeline.

Source: 22 CFR § 62.4: Categories of participant eligibility · 22 CFR § 62.22: Trainees and interns · J-⁠1 Visa: Common Questions for Participants

What if I graduated more than 12 months ago?

Then you no longer qualify as an intern, unless you are enrolled full-time again, for example in a master's program. The J-1 Trainee category may fit instead if you have a degree or professional certificate plus at least one year of related work experience outside the US, or five years of work experience in your field outside the US. If you have already completed a J-1 internship, you can only become a trainee after living at least two years outside the US, see Second Internship.

Source: 22 CFR § 62.22: Trainees and interns · 22 CFR § 62.4: Categories of participant eligibility

Do I apply for the visa where I live or where I am a citizen?

You apply at the nearest US embassy or consulate in your country of residence, see Visa Interview.

Source: J-⁠1 Visa: Common Questions (US Department of State)

The Bottom Line

If you are studying abroad or graduated recently, the J-1 Intern category lets you train at a US company for up to 12 months, as long as your program starts within 12 months of graduating.

Sources

  1. 22 CFR § 62.22: Trainees and interns
  2. 22 CFR § 62.4: Categories of participant eligibility
  3. 8 CFR § 214.2(j): Exchange visitors
  4. 8 U.S.C. § 1182(e): INA § 212(e)
  5. J-⁠1 Visa: Common Questions for Participants
  6. J-⁠1 Visa: Common Questions (US Department of State)
9 October 2026 · Checked against the sources above.
Next check · November 2026