| Today we will look at the J1 visa for Internship (INT) | | | | institutions with at least 1 years non-US work |
| and Professional Career Training (PCT) programs. | | | | experience related to their qualification OR have at |
| These programs can be for a maximum of 18 months. | | | | least 5 years work experience |
| The INT and PCT programs are part of a broad group | | | | * The trainee must be a high school graduate |
| of programs called Trainee programs. Also under this | | | | * Since 2007, a 2 year Bearer Rule applies to all |
| umbrella include; | | | | countries. This basically means after a PCT program |
| - medical trainees | | | | you have to remain outside the US for at least 2 |
| - veterinary trainees | | | | years before being allowed to apply for any other US |
| - pharmaceutical trainees | | | | visa (not including visa waiver program). |
| - aviation trainees | | | | There are a number of costs associated with being |
| - academic/research trainees | | | | able to get the J-1 visa and these include; |
| With many of the above programs, you are generally | | | | - Program Fees to your Sponsor Organization and/or |
| sponsored directly by the institution hosting you like a | | | | Local Affiliate (generally this is calculated by how many |
| University or Aviation Training facility and not by a 3rd | | | | months your program is can be up to $1,500 for a full |
| party organization. This is different to most of the J-1 | | | | 18 month program last time I looked). Often this may |
| visa program as a 3rd party organization generally has | | | | include your Insurance as well |
| to sponsor your visa. | | | | - Insurance coverage if not included above. (your |
| Internship (INT) Program: | | | | sponsor organization will often give you a list of |
| * The person must be at least 18 years old. | | | | approved providers if they don't include themselves) |
| * The student must be enrolled on a full-time basis at a | | | | - SEVIS Fee (I-901 form) which stands for Student |
| nationally accredited tertiary institution like a college or | | | | Exchange Visitor Information System |
| university or have graduated within 12 months. | | | | - US Consulate/Embassy Application costs (or if within |
| * The person must have sufficient English language | | | | US, USCIS transfer visa fees) |
| ability to function normally in a business setting. | | | | In terms of finding a position. For the most part part it is |
| * The student must be at least one year into their | | | | best to use the services of your Sponsor Organization |
| chosen field of study and the end result of their study | | | | or Local Affiliate as they have a list of companies |
| must result in a degree, certificate, qualification, etc. like | | | | willing to hire foreigners. Often the fact you are using |
| a Bachelors Degree | | | | their list while probably making it easier to land a role |
| * The trainee program should have correlation with the | | | | mean that the Program Fees you pay will be on the |
| student's course of study (this is loosely applied given | | | | higher side of the numbers described above. |
| that most roles have such vague job descriptions) | | | | Many people avoid paying the higher program fees by |
| Professional Career Training (PCT) Program: | | | | searching on their own which can be difficult from |
| * The trainee should be between 20 and 40 years of | | | | abroad but certainly not impossible and thousands do it |
| age. | | | | each year. |
| * The trainee has to be graduates of a tertiary | | | | |