J-1 Intern Work & Travel Program (“Grad Visa”) – Ireland

The J-1 Intern Work & Travel Program allows Irish citizens who are current students or recent graduates (within 12 months of graduation) to live in the United States and gain professional experience in their field of study for up to 12 months.

Eligibility

To qualify for the J-1 Intern Work & Travel (“Grad Visa”) you must:

• Be an Irish citizen

• Be currently enrolled in a degree programme or have graduated within the last 12 months

• Intend to complete an internship related to your field of study

• Be able to secure an approved internship within 2 months of your programme start date

• Hold sufficient funds to support your initial stay

• Meet all U.S. sponsor requirements, including a completed DS-7002 Training Plan

You may arrive in the U.S. without an internship pre-arranged, and once approved you may take part in an internship that is paid or unpaid, depending on the host organisation.

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 program administration

• Dedicated case manager support throughout your application

• U.S. sponsor vetting and approval

• Issuing your DS-2019 form

• Host organisation evaluation and compliance checks

• Site visit (if required by the sponsor; see below)

• Pre-departure information and guidance

• Ongoing support during your stay in the U.S. via the U.S. sponsor’s standard support channels

Site Visit Fee:
A site visit may be required if your host company has fewer than 20 staff and/or under $3 million annual revenue.

What’s Not Included (Third-Party Costs)

These fees are paid directly to third parties and are not included in the program fee:

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

• U.S. Embassy Visa Application Fee: $185

• Visa Integrity Fee (VIF): $250 (may be applied)

• Health insurance (mandatory; separate options available)

• Flights, accommodation, and personal living expenses

Program Fee From €549

Programme fees are based on the length of your internship, from 3 to 12 months.

Application Steps

Once your application is approved by J-1 Ireland and the U.S. sponsor:

• Your DS-2019 form is issued 

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

• You may enter the U.S. up to 30 days before your programme start date

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