Career Advice

Internship in the United States: how to get a J-1 intern visa

Eligibility, the sponsor’s role, Forms DS-2019 and DS-7002, the consulate interview: how to get a J-1 visa for a US internship.

15 Oct 2026 2 min
Internship in the United States: how to get a J-1 intern visa

An internship in the United States requires a specific visa: even for a short or unpaid internship, ESTA is not enough. For most international students, the answer is the J-1 visa in the Intern category. Here is how it works and how to prepare your file.

What is the J-1 Intern visa?

The J-1 is an exchange visa overseen by the US Department of State. The Intern category is designed for students and recent graduates who want to complement their studies with professional experience in the United States, in their field.

Who is eligible?

  • Be enrolled in a post-secondary program outside the United States, or have graduated no more than 12 months before the internship starts.
  • Do an internship directly related to your field of study.
  • Have professional English skills in your field.
  • Have health insurance for your entire stay.

The internship can last up to 12 months.

The sponsor’s role

Unlike many visas, the J-1 is not requested directly from the embassy. You go through a designated sponsor approved by the Department of State. The sponsor reviews the internship, creates your SEVIS record and issues Form DS-2019, which you need for the visa application.

The steps

  1. Find a host company in the United States.
  2. Complete the DS-7002 training plan with the company, detailing the skills and tasks planned.
  3. Get Form DS-2019 and your SEVIS ID from the sponsor.
  4. Pay the SEVIS fee and fill in Form DS-160.
  5. Attend the visa interview at a US embassy or consulate.

Allow at least four to six weeks between a complete file and the visa, plus consulate appointment wait times, which vary through the year.

Watch out for

  • ESTA does not allow you to do an internship, even unpaid.
  • The training plan must match your actual tasks.
  • Some J-1 participants are subject to a two-year home-country residence requirement: check with your sponsor.
  • At the end of the program, you generally have 30 days to leave the country.

With Linkor

Linkor helps students secure paid internships in the United States and Canada, with support for visa steps. See our offers, read our Canada internship guide or ask your questions on our contact page.

Information current as of October 2026, for guidance only. Always confirm requirements with your J-1 sponsor and official US government websites.