Frequently Asked Questions
Internship Information
- How do I find an internship in the USA?
- How far in advance should I apply for internships?
- I've already completed an internship in the USA. Can I participate in another?
J1 Visa Information
Intrax J1 Visa Service Information
- What is the Intrax J1 Visa Service?
- What does the Intrax J1 Visa Service include?
- What are the fees for the Intrax J1 Visa Service?
- Who is eligible for the Intrax J1 Visa Service?
Host Company Information
- What is a host company?
- What are the host company requirements?
- What if my host company doesn't meet all of the requirements?
Insurance Information
Intrax Information
Instructions
How do I find an internship in the USA?
As with any job search, your chances of finding your perfect internship will be greatly improved by pursuing as many different options as possible. We recommend searching online job announcements, making direct contact with companies, and networking with personal and professional contacts in the USA. Some candidates also choose to work with placement agencies to help them find jobs. Read more about where to look for internships.
How far in advance should I apply for internships?
If you are currently enrolled in a college or university, we suggest that you begin your internship search the semester or academic period before you wish to come to the USA. For example, if you would like to begin an internship during the summer, you should begin searching for internships during your spring semester.
If you are not currently enrolled in a college or university, we suggest you begin searching for your internship at least 3 to 6 months before you plan to come to the USA to start an internship.
I've already completed an internship or training in the USA. Can I participate in another?
If you already completed a J1 internship, you can complete another J1 internship as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements for the internship program.
If you already completed a J1 internship, you can apply for a J1 training program if you meet the eligibility requirements for the training program and you complete two years of residency outside of the USA in between programs.
If you already completed a J1 training program, you can apply for another J1 training program if you still meet the eligibility requirements for the training program and you complete two years of residency outside the USA in between programs.
What is the J1 visa?
The J1 visa is a non-immigrant visa that is issued to individuals who will participate in educational or cultural exchanges in the USA under the Exchange Visitor Program.
How do I get a J1 visa?
The first step in the process is to find an organization or agency to sponsor you for the J1 visa. Once you've identified a sponsor, you will need to apply for the DS 2019 form, the Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status. If you would like Intrax to be your sponsor, you can apply online for the DS 2019. After you obtain your DS 2019, you can schedule your J1 visa interview at the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. The Embassy or Consulate will have the final decision on granting your J1 visa.
How much does it cost to get a J1 visa?
The cost of obtaining a J1 visa will vary depending on your sponsor and your program duration. Please visit our Fees section for pricing of Intrax's J1 Visa Service.
What is the Intrax J1 Visa Service?
Intrax's J1 Visa Service is a reliable, transparent and cost-effective way for eligible participants to apply for the J1 visa for internship or training programs in the USA.
Intrax is committed to providing you with the fastest J1 visa service available. We will typically issue your DS 2019 form within two weeks of receiving your completed application, required documents, payment, and host company placement confirmation.
What does the Intrax J1 Visa Service include?
Through the Intrax J1 Visa Service, you can apply online for the DS 2019 form, the Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status. Intrax will confirm your internship or training placement with your host company and verify your eligibility for the program. Once we confirm these details, we will complete your registration in SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) and issue your DS 2019 form so that you can arrange your interview at the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
As your designated J1 visa sponsor, Intrax will conduct a pre-departure orientation to help you understand the requirements of the J1 visa program and prepare you for your experience in the USA. We will also provide you with emergency medical insurance and 24-hour emergency support for the duration of your program in the USA.
What are the fees for the Intrax J1 Visa Service?
Please visit our Fees page for more details on pricing for Intrax's J1 Visa Service.
Who is eligible for the Intrax J1 Visa Service?
To participate in the J1 Internship Program, you must be at least 18 years old and currently enrolled in a degree or certificate granting post secondary institution outside of the USA or have graduated from such institution no more that 12 months prior to the start of your program. You must also communicate fluently in English.
To participate in the J1 Training Program, you must be at least 20 years old and have a university degree or certificate and one year of professional experience in your career field or a minimum of 5 years of professional experience in your career field. You must also communicate fluently in English.
What is a host company?
A host company is a company who will host you for your internship or training program. The host company will be your employer in the USA during the internship or training.
What are the host company requirements?
All host companies must meet the following requirements:
- The host company must have an Employer Identification Number. An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is also known as a Federal Tax Identification Number, and is used to identify a business entity.
- The host company must have a Dun & Bradstreet Number. D&B (NYSE:DNB) is the world's leading source of commercial information and insight on businesses. D&B's global commercial database contains more than 120 million business records. The D&B Number is a unique nine-digit identification sequence, which provides a unique identifier of single business entities, while linking corporate family structures together. In today's global economy, the D&B Number has become the standard for keeping track of the world's businesses.
- The host company must have workers compensation insurance. Workers compensation insurance covers workers injured on the job, whether they're hurt on the workplace premises or elsewhere, or in auto accidents while on business. It also covers work-related illnesses.
- The host company must earn at least $3 million in revenue each year or have a minimum of 25 employees.
What if my host company doesn't meet all of the requirements?
Requirements a, b and c above are mandatory requirements of the U.S. Department of State. If your host company does not meet these requirements, Intrax will be unable to issue the DS 2019 form for your internship.
If your host company does not meet requirement d above, you may still be able to participate in the program if an Intrax representative conducts an in-person site visit. Intrax charges $195 in order to conduct a site visit. You will be responsible for paying this additional fee before the site visit is conducted. Please contact Intrax for more information on site visits.
What are the insurance benefits?
For information about insurance benefits, please view our Internship Coverage PDF.
Who is Intrax?
Intrax Career Development is a leader in work-based cultural exchange programs in the United States. Since 1980, Intrax has provided international students and young professionals with opportunities to build professional skills and gain valuable international experience through seasonal jobs, internships and career training opportunities in the USA.
Intrax is an official sponsor designated by the U.S. Department of State to administer the J1 Exchange Visitor Visa program.
Intrax Career Development is part of Intrax Cultural Exchange, a family of companies devoted to cultivating international understanding through cultural exchange and educational travel, with operations in over 80 countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.intraxinc.com.
Where is Intrax located?
Our corporate headquarters are located in San Francisco, CA, USA. Intrax's J1 Visa Service is operated out of our European center in Berlin, Germany.
How do I contact Intrax?
If you would like to contact Intrax regarding our J1 Visa Service, please call our Berlin office at +49 30 84 39 39 52 or email
If you would like to reach our corporate headquarters in the USA, please call +1 (415) 434 5440.
How do I create an electronic signature?
To create an electronic signature, you will need to have access to a scanner. Then, you should follow these steps:
- Sign your name on a blank sheet of paper
- Scan your signature using a scanner
- Save the scanned signature as an image file (jpg, png, or gif) on your computer
- Insert the signature file into your document by clicking Insert > Picture > From File from the menu at the top of your document
- Browse to the location of the saved signature file on your computer
- Click Insert
- Now you can drag the signature to the space on your document where the signature is required
How do I pay for the program?
For your convenience, Intrax offers two easy payment plans. You can pay your entire program fee at one time, or you can pay in monthly installments during the program. The monthly payment plan includes an additional financing charge.
Once you have selected your preferred payment plan, Intrax will send you an invoice via email with payment instructions. Payments are accepted via credit card and wire transfer.
Please visit our fees page for more information on these payment options and payment procedures.
