J-1 Student Intern Program
The J-1 Student Intern program is a work-based learning program that allows students who are currently enrolled in a degree program in their home country to gain experience and exposure to U.S. research and training techniques through an internship.
The U.S. internship must fulfill the educational objectives of the student's degree program at his or her home institution. The internship must be full‐time and consist of a minimum of 32 hours per week. Wages or other compensation is optional.
The J-1 Student Intern program is not to be confused with J-1 students who are enrolled full time in a program of study. Student Interns are students who are enrolled in a program of study abroad, and who are visiting UTRGV to participate in a research/training-based internship that is required to complete their degree program at their home institution.
Any department wishing to host a J-1 Student Intern should consult ISS 4-5 months prior to the anticipated start date of the internship program. ISS will not issue a DS-2019 less than 2 months before the program start date.
Eligibility Criteria:
The student intern must:
- Have verifiable English language skills enough to function in an internship environment. Incoming Exchange Students whose native language is not English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), Duolingo English Test or IELTS exam for admissions purposes if they do not meet an exemption. TOEFL, Duolingo or IELTS scores. The minimum scores for the tests are as follow: TOEFL 61 (IBT, IBT Home or IBT Paper edition, IBT MyBest Scores), TOEFL Essentials 6.5 (Essentials, MyBest Scores), Duolingo 95, and IELTS 6. The UTRGV school code for TOEFL is 7585.
- Be currently enrolled, in good academic standing, and pursuing a degree which requires an internship at an accredited postsecondary institution outside the U.S.
- Intend to return to their home degree program to obtain a degree after completion of internship.
- Have sufficient funding for themselves and any dependents during the full length of the internship. Adequate funding is US$2,000 (this includes living, insurance, and miscellaneous expenses) per month for the duration of the stay.
- Be in the U.S. only to complete the internship program at UTRGV.
- Not graduate while in the U.S. and participating in the internship program.
- Not have participated in another student intern program in the U.S. for more than 12 months.
- Valid Passport with at least 6 months of validity after program start date.
- Transcript in English
- Insurance ( Must meet the J-1 Bridge Program Insurance Requirements).
The internship must:
- Exist only to help student intern fulfill home university degree requirements.
- Consist of work-based learning and not skilled labor.
- Not include unskilled labor, child or elder care, aviation, clinical work, or other patient care or contact. Clinical activity limitation can be reviewed at the bottom of this page.
- Consist of no more than 20% clerical work.
- Be at least 3 weeks long and no longer than 12 months.
- Be full time, minimum 32 hours per week.
- Not repeat any of the student intern’s prior experience.
- Not be in any position that could bring notoriety or disrepute to the department, university, or student.
- Not displace U.S. workers.
- Not involve a staffing or employment agency in any way.
How to Get J-1 Student Intern Status
Step 1: Academic Department submit the J-1 Student Intern Request to ISS
Once the student has an internship with a faculty member, an administrator in the faculty member’s academic department must submit all required information into our Submittable application for review and processing. Our normal processing time is 10 business days from receipt of a complete application.
The academic department must:
- Verify the prospective student intern’s eligibility, including current academic status and English language abilities.
- Confirm that the internship will consist of a minimum of 32 hours/week and no more than 20% clerical work.
The J-1 student Intern Application must include:
- a completed application and acknowledgment from the faculty sponsor/supervisor and the department director/chair. Complete the application here.
- a completed student and home institution certification,
- an invitation letter from the Academic Department, or a copy of the signed Unpaid Intern Agreement/checklist. If the Student Intern will receive any payment (such as a stipend) from UTRGV for the internship, the letter must indicate the amount and frequency of payment.
- a completed Form DS-7002 – T/IPP – All responses must by typed (not handwritten), and signed by supervisor and student. Please follow the DS-7002 Instructions.
- a copy of passport biographical page for student intern (and any accompanying dependents)
- proof of financial support. Student interns must demonstrate funding of at least $2,500/month for living expenses. If the funding is provided by a parent or other sponsor, that person must complete and sign a financial support agreement and submit a bank statement or other documentation. All documentation must be in English and converted to USD$.
- $105 J-1 Exchange Visitor processing fee, paid by hosting department.
Step 2: ISS issues the student intern a DS-2019 and signed DS-7002
We review the completed application to confirm eligibility and email the sponsoring department when the DS-2019 is ready.
Step 3: The student intern receives the DS-2019 and applies for a J-1 visa.
The student intern must complete the steps outlined on the Pre-Arrival page. This information is also provided to them in an email with their J-1 sponsorship documents (DS-7002 and DS-2019). Steps include paying the SEVIS fee and obtaining a J-1 visa from the US Embassy/Consulate in their home country.
Step 4: The student intern makes plans to enter the US.
The student intern should review our tips on planning their trip to New York. The student intern may enter the US no more than 30 days before the start date listed on the DS-2019.
Upon arrival, the student intern must complete the arrival process with ISS. During this process, they must upload proof of health insurance that meets the documentation guidelines detailed on the J-1 health insurance page, in the "J-1 Exchange Visitors and J-2 Dependents Not Receiving UTRGV Health Insurance" section.
The Hosting department must fill out the DS-7002 Training form
-
Form DS-7002 Training/Internship Program Plan: outlining skills, training, and cultural exchange to be performed by the Student Intern.
- Please follow the DS-7002 Instructions.
REQUIRED EVALUATION
Evaluation(s) of the Student Intern placement is required by regulation. The Evaluation form must be sent to ISS upon completion.
-
If the internship is 6 months or less: one evaluation must be completed and submitted to ISS within 15 days of the internship’s end date.
-
If the internship is longer than 6 months: one evaluation within 15 days of the program midpoint and a second evaluation at the end of the internship are required.
Failure to complete the Student Intern evaluation(s) may result in the department’s inability to host J-1 Student Interns in the future.
DEPARTURE
Student Intern and department sponsor must notify ISS of departure from the U.S.
CLINICAL ACTIVITY LIMITATIONS
J-1 Student Interns cannot participate in clinical care positions or any other position involving patient contact. Any position that would require a student intern to provide therapy, medication or other clinical or medical treatment is prohibited, including veterinary medicine.
If a J-1 Student Intern is in clinical settings, ISS may require additional acknowledgment of the clinical restrictions.
Please get in touch with ISS with any questions, or for additional information.