How to Host an Intern

CDS has streamlined the process into five easy steps. Should you have any questions during the application, please email Gergana Hadziyska or call her at 212.497.3511.

Haven’t found the intern you’re looking for? Let CDS help by matching an international intern to your company. Learn more about INTERNational Recruiting through CDS.

Step 1: Confirm the eligibility of your company and your candidate(s)

Confirm that your company, the proposed internship, and your candidate(s) meet basic eligibility guidelines. Review visa regulations and requirements.

Step 2: Complete the Training/Internship Placement Plan (Form DS-7002, also known as T/IPP)

The Training/Internship Placement Plan provides a detailed description of what your intern will be learning during their his/her time in the United States. This is an official government document that the host company is responsible for completing as part of the J-1 visa application process. The document will be reviewed by your intern, CDS, and government authorities.

The CDS Third-Party Agreement is attached to the T/IPP. This is an agreement that the U.S. government requires CDS to maintain with each company that hosts interns.

» Download and the Training/Internship Placement Plan and CDS Third-Party Agreement.

Step 3: Submit the Training/Internship Placement Plan and your candidate’s resume to CDS

Once you have completed the Training/Internship Placement Plan and the accompanying CDS Third Party Agreement, please email it along with your candidate’s resume to Gergana Hadziyska.

Step 4: CDS contacts you within two business days

A CDS representative will contact you within two business days of receiving your complete Training/Internship Placement Plan to discuss the next steps. At this time we will also contact your candidate with instructions on how to complete our online application if he/she hasn’t done so already.

First-time Host Companies: The U.S. Department of State requires additional vetting for host companies that are working with CDS for the first time. This includes a brief phone interview and, in some cases, a site visit.

» Find out if your company needs a site visit.

Step 5: CDS informs you when your candidate has been approved for J-1 visa sponsorship

We will notify you once your candidate has completed the online application and we have issued Form DS-2019. As soon as your candidate has Form DS-2019, he/she will schedule a consular appointment. The J-1 visa is typically issued one to two weeks after the appointment.

Eligibility and Requirements

Host Company Requirements

Host companies are expected to provide J-1 interns with meaningful training experiences that enhance their professional skills while providing insight into American business practices and culture. All companies must have a suitable workspace for the intern equipped with the necessary tools for the work involved and should also support and supervise the intern throughout the training program.

Host companies must offer an internship program in one of these fields

• Arts and Culture
• Business, Management, Commerce, and Finance
• The Sciences, Mathematics, Architecture, and Industrial Occupations
• Information, Media, and Communications

Host companies involved in the following industries may not work with J-1 interns through CDS

• Economy hotels (lower than three star/diamond rating)
• Fast food franchises
• Recruiting agencies
• Home offices (some exceptions)
• Single location retail shops

Internship Requirements

All internship programs must be designed to enhance the professional aspects of the J-1 intern. The program should create opportunities that advance his/her skill set. J-1 interns are therefore not allowed to participate solely in unskilled labor or clerical tasks. Examples of unskilled labor include:

• Clerical tasks
• Bartending
• Cashier
• Maid services
• Outdoor maintenance services

Certain fields require some work experience that could be classified as unskilled and this is acknowledged by regulations. For example, office coordinators must understand the importance of paper filing, just as hotel managers must be able to appreciate the work done by maid services. To meet these industry standards, J-1 interns are allowed to spend up to 20% of their time performing unskilled or clerical activity. This should be reflected in the Training/Internship Placement Plan.

Candidate Requirements

CDS is authorized to sponsor the J-1 visa in either the intern or trainee categories. While each category has slightly different requirements, all J-1 candidates must

• Spend no more than 20% of their time on unskilled or clerical tasks;
• Work at least 32 hours per week;
• Not displace American workers;
• Remain at the same host company throughout the program (with limited exceptions) and not work a second job;
• Plan to return to their home countries following the program.

J-1 Intern requirements

J-1 Intern Requirements

Age	18 to 35 Years Old
Language	Proficiency in English
Education Level / Employment History	Current enrollment in a post-secondary academic institution outside the U.S. and studying in a field related to their internship	or	Have graduated from such an institution no more than 12 months prior to desired internship start date.
Duration	Internship programs may last from 6 weeks to 12 months. Interns may complete additional internship programs as long as all requirements continue to be met and 90 days have elapsed between programs.

J-1 Trainee requirements

J-1 Trainee Requirements

Age	19 to 35 Years Old
Language	Proficiency in English
Education Level / Employment History	A degree or professional certificate from a foreign post-secondary academic institution and at least one year of prior related work experience outside the U.S.	or	Five years of work experience outside the U.S. in the desired training field.
Duration	Training programs may last from 6 weeks to 18 months. Trainees may complete additional J-1 training programs in the U.S. as long as all requirements continue to be met and at least two years of residency outside the U.S. follow the initial training program.

» Learn more about the J-1 visa

Training / Internship Placement Plan

Host companies must complete a Training/Internship Placement Plan (Form DS-7002) and submit it to CDS before a visa application can be considered complete. The Training/Internship Placement Plan is a government document that provides you, your intern/trainee, CDS, and the U.S. government a detailed description of the internship/training program.

Once you complete the document, you will need to sign and return it to CDS. Once CDS has approved the plan, we will send it to your intern/trainee for a signature. Your intern must then present the form during the U.S. Embassy or Consulate interview.

CDS sponsors two categories of the J-1 visa: intern and trainee. Slightly different rules govern how this form should be filled out for an intern versus a trainee. If you are unsure whether to download the intern or trainee form, please contact your CDS representative or check with the U.S. Department of State regulations below.

J-1 Intern Requirements

J-1 Intern Requirements

Age	18 to 35 Years Old
Language	Proficiency in English
Education Level / Employment History	Current enrollment in a post-secondary academic institution outside the U.S. and studying in a field related to their internship	or	Have graduated from such an institution no more than 12 months prior to desired internship start date.
Duration	Internship programs may last from 6 weeks to 12 months. Interns may complete additional internship programs as long as all requirements continue to be met and 90 days have elapsed between programs.

J-1 Trainee Requirements

J-1 Trainee Requirements

Age	19 to 35 Years Old
Language	Proficiency in English
Education Level / Employment History	A degree or professional certificate from a foreign post-secondary academic institution and at least one year of prior related work experience outside the U.S.	or	Five years of work experience outside the U.S. in the desired training field.
Duration	Training programs may last from 6 weeks to 18 months. Trainees may complete additional J-1 training programs in the U.S. as long as all requirements continue to be met and at least two years of residency outside the U.S. follow the initial training program.

Site Visit

A CDS representative may visit your company to ensure that the basic hosting requirements as defined by the U.S. Department of State are met. Typically, the site visit will last no more than one hour.

A site visit will be required if your company meets the following conditions:

• Has fewer than 25 employees
• Generates less than US$3 million in annual revenue
• Working with CDS for the first time

Academic and government institutions are usually exempt from the site visit requirement.

Your CDS representative will work with you to schedule the site visit. During the visit, you must provide a copy of your workers’ compensation policy and some of your company’s marketing materials. You should also be prepared to give a quick tour of your company, showing where the intern will be working, and to answer additional questions about the information you submitted on the Training/Internship Placement Plan.

Please note that CDS will be able to assess the need for a site visit only after receiving the Training/Internship Placement Plan.