A blog about U.S. immigration matters by Paul Szeto, a former INS attorney and an experienced immigration lawyer. We serve clients in all U.S. states and overseas countries. (All information is not legal advice and is subject to change without prior notice.)

Contact: 732-632-9888, http://www.1visa1.com/

Monday, November 23, 2009

J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa for Trainee and Interns



 

 

J2 can get EAD; adjustment is possible but not encouraged.

Sponsor costs: $3000 to $4000.

Legal fees:??

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Transfer of host (employer) is okay

Transfer of sponsor (not clear – not usual)

Smaller company (< 5 employees) as hosts:  American immigration council does not take < 5 employees.  Other sponsors may take them. 

Concern: if there is one 1 contact person, it would be difficult to get hold of somebody.

Grace period allowed?  30 days has prior to arrival and 30 days stayover. 

Host employee#: can’t have more than 10 % of J1 workers

Compensation:

-  Can be paid by foreign source company, host company, or self-funding for incidentals (generally a combination of funding is expected)

- Issue – a livable compensation package. (e.g. NYC)

 

Trainee vs. Intern vs. workers

T & I:  Not full time EEs; must be monitored and supervised; parameters for evaluation; touchpoints; short-term period; expected to return home.  

Change of status not a possibility. Can sponsor them after they went back home.

Intern:  – up to 12 months

Potential J-1 interns must be enrolled in a post-secondary, degree-granting academic program located outside of the United States or graduated within the past 12 months from such post-secondary academic program outside of the United States.


Trainee:  up to 18 months

Potential J-1 trainees must hold a post-secondary degree related to the field of the training and one (1) year of related work experience, both of which were gained outside of the United States, or have five (5) years of related work experience gained outside of the United States.

 

Most challenging:  Training plan: must be detailed;  who; what; how; scheduled, etc.

- Look for ahost company (apply on line; check indeed.com, or send email to companies, directly)

 

Attorney:  coordinator  role and provide legal advice.

 


 

AIC is a sponsor

 

https://www.uscis.gov/i-485-addresses

Three months are generally required.

If program starts in June, get started in March.

Expedited fee applies too.

 

- No agriculture, health care related, construction field.

- approved for hospitality/restaurants;  done trainee programs before but we watched them closely to make sure the training plan is thorough.

 

 


Hi Alice,

 

Sure, great questions. I’ve been in the industry since 2010 and previously worked with a different sponsoring organization (HTP J-1 Visa Programs) before branching out and receiving my own designation in 2016. You’re welcome to check out my LinkedIn profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinahamil/).

 

I’ve attached a guide, which we provide our clients when they are interested in drafting their own training plans.

 

If the perspective EV is in the U.S. currently under B status, it would be dependent on their length of time and travel history to the U.S. Someone who has been in the U.S. for 6 months each year for 2 years wouldn’t be a good candidate for the J visa, but someone who has been in the U.S. for 90 days to seek internship opportunities is fine. They are required to apply in their home country, but can start the paperwork process here. The consulate must make a specific action in their database for the EV to be integrated and eligible for SSA (Social Security).

 

J-1 interns and trainees are required to depart the U.S. at the end of their program to complete their status with us in good standing. If they are not subject to the Two Year home country physical presence rule, it is their discretion if they choose to apply for any other qualifying status. However, as a sponsor, if they do not provide us with confirmation of departure (flight ticket), their status will not end in good standing.

 

For the Intern/Trainee category, it’s strictly under the skills list. We can advise upfront based on the country of nationality and the training description if the prospective EV will be subject to the two year rule.

 

I’ve attached our fees, overall for a 12 month internship program $3135 and for an 18 month trainee program the total is $3855. If a site visit is needed, the fees increase only $200 to $3335 and $4055. Please let me know how I can help!

 

 

Best,

 

Christina Hamilton

Intern | Trainee

T. 404 328 4988

D. 404 328 4961

E. tina@j1visaexchanges.com

 

 

From: Szetolaw Assistant <help@szetolaw.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2019 1:09 PM
To: Tina Hamilton <Tina@J1visaexchanges.com>
Subject: Re: Paul Szeto LLC x J-1 Visa Exchanges

 

Hi Tina, 

 

It is very nice talking to you over the phone today. I talked to the attorney, there are a few more questions that we wanted to ask. 

1.    How long has your company been established? How many J1 beneficiary that you successfully placed in United States?

2.    Could you send us a few sample training plans so that we can have some technical guideline?

3.    If a J-1 applicant is already in the U.S. on tourist visa or other legal status (not H-1B/L-1 or F-1). Does the applicant need to or do you recommend the applicant leave the country to apply for the J visa? Can the applicant apply for change of status? 

4.    Can the J visa beneficiary change status in the U.S. after the intern/trainee period?

5.    Does the  two-year home residency requirement apply? And is there any common reasons that could trigger such requirement?

And it would be better if we can take a look at the fee structure. 

 

Thank you!

 

Best, 

Alice

 



















The J-1 Exchange Visitor Program was created for certain foreign individuals to visit the U.S. for temporary periods of time for the purposes of cultural exchange, education, and training. Under the program foreign nationals such as scholars, students, camp counselors, professionals, teachers, physicians, etc., may enter the United States with the J visa to participate in a wide range of cultural exchange programs. This article will focus on trainees and interns.

Generally, the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program involves a “sponsor”, a host company, and a foreign national. Sponsors are public and private entities designated by the State Department to carry out the responsibilities of the Exchange Visitor Program, the Department designates public and private entities to act as exchange sponsors. The hosting company is the entity which will provide the training, internship, and cultural program for the foreigner.

Advantages of the J-1 Program
- up to 18 months
There are many advantages in participating in the J Exchange Visitor Program. The American companies hosting international trainees and interns through can improve their worldwide business contacts and expand the company's presence in the international marketplace. Compared to the H-1B visa program, the J program is relatively mild in terms of regulatory requirements and is not subject to any visa cap. The fees are also lower and the duration of sponsorship is also shorter. The foreign trainees and interns would be able to gain valuable career training and work experience, while at the same time experiencing the American life style. Their spouses and children may also accompany them to visit the U.S. on the J-2 visa.




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Foreign Trainees and Interns Eligibility
To be J-1 trainees and interns, the candidates must demonstrate that the proposed J-1 training does not duplicate their previously completed work or training. They must possess sufficient English-speaking skills. They must also demonstrate how the training will be used upon return to the home country and their intent to return to the home country. Specifically for trainees, they must possess a post-secondary degree or professional certificate from an academic institution outside of the United States, plus one year of non-U.S. work experience related to the proposed training, or at least five years of non-U.S. work experience related to the proposed training. 
Specifically for interns, they must also be currently enroll in a post-secondary academic program outside of the United States, or graduated within the past 12 months from a post-secondary institution outside of the United States.

Hosting Company Eligibility  (look for it yourself, apply for internships)

The potential host company needs to be in business for at least 24 months. Smaller companies with fewer than 25 employees or $3,000,000 in annual revenue must pre-qualify with the J visa sponsor before applications will be considered. They must have less than 10% of its total staff members in a J-1 Exchange Visitor Training Program. Additionally, the hosting company must have established a bona fide training program in a designated occupational category and has qualified personnel and appropriate facility to provide the proposed training/internship. Most importantly, the J-1 Exchange Visitor will not be engaging in ordinary employment, or fill a position that could be occupied by American workers.
Designated Occupational Categories

The J-1 Exchange Visitor Program covers many professions and educational field including law, communications, publishing, information technologies, sciences, engineering, architecture, mathematics, journalism, software development, art, design, business, etc. The goal is to include as many qualified international visitors as much possible.

Conclusion
As we are moving towards a truly global and international economy and market place, international training programs such as the J-1 program provides valuable opportunities for two countries to exchange their ideas and learn from each other. These J-1 trainees and interns will return home with new career skills and a better understanding of the American culture and people. This in turn will directly or indirectly create more business opportunities between the two countries.


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1) Do Your Research
Finding the right internship that will enhance your current skills can be a time-consuming task. Look at a number of different types of organizations (private for-profit businesses, nonprofits, government organizations) and try to determine what type of culture might be a good fit.

Once you have established the type of organization you are interested in working for, start monitoring job websites where internships are frequently posted. Don’t be afraid to also send emails to companies asking if they would be able to accommodate you as a J-1 intern or trainee.

There are a number of great websites to look for internships in a variety of sectors. These sites will often allow you to narrow your search by location, industry, or other keywords:

Global Jobs
Idealist
LinkedIn
Glassdoor
Internships.com
Indeed
Looksharp
YouTern
Global Experiences
CoolWorks
And remember, if you identify a company you’d like to pursue, be sure to try to learn as much about it as you can. Does the company have a history of hiring people with your background? Who will you work with if you land the job?

Signing up for an online newsletter and mining social media (both the company’s own channels and what’s said about them elsewhere online) is a great way to learn about an organization’s culture and recent initiatives. 

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