J-1 Intern Program – U.S. Internship Visa

The J-1 Intern Program allows eligible university students and recent graduates to complete a paid or unpaid internship in the United States for up to 12 months, gaining practical, professional experience directly related to their academic field.

All internships under the Intern category must be fully arranged and approved before travelling to the U.S.

Eligibility

To qualify for the J-1 Intern Program, applicants must:

• Be a current degree student at a recognised university or college in Ireland or the UK

• Or be an Irish citizen studying abroad, where the university and course meet program standards (subject to review)

• Be currently enrolled in their degree or have graduated within the past 12 months

• Have an internship offer that is directly related to their field of study

• Have the internship fully confirmed and approved before travel, including a completed DS-7002 Training Plan

• Have sufficient funds to support their initial stay

Available Fields (Categories We Can Process)

• Arts & Culture

• Business, Commerce, Management & Finance

• Education & Social Sciences

• Library Sciences, Counselling & Social Services

• Engineering, Sciences, Architecture & Mathematics

• Industrial & Technical Occupations

• Hospitality & Tourism

What’s Included in the Program Fee

• Full programme administration

• Dedicated case manager support

• U.S. sponsor review and approval

• Issuing and postage of the DS-2019 form

• Host company compliance checks and vetting

• Review and approval of the DS-7002 Training Plan

• Site visit (if required by sponsor)

• Pre-departure guidance

• Support during your stay in the U.S. through standard sponsor channels

Site Visit:
A site visit may be required if the host organisation has fewer than 20 employees or under $3 million in annual revenue.

What’s Not Included (Third-Party Costs)

These fees are paid directly to external agencies and are not included in the program fee:

• SEVIS Fee: €220 (includes J-1 Ireland processing fee)

• U.S. Embassy Application Fee: $185

• Visa Integrity Fee (VIF): $250 (may apply)

• Health insurance 

• Flights, accommodation, and personal living expenses

Program Fee From €549

Application Steps

Once your internship and host company have been approved by J-1 Ireland and the U.S. sponsor:

• Your DS-7002 Training Plan is formally approved

• Your DS-2019 form is issued and posted to you

• You may book your U.S. Embassy visa interview

• Once your visa is issued, you may travel to the U.S. up to 30 days before your internship start date

• After completing your internship, you may remain in the U.S. for an additional 30-day grace period