J1 Visa Application Procedure
Intrax's J1 Visa Service makes the process of obtaining your J1 visa as easy as possible. Below is a step-by-step explanation of our service.
| Complete the Online DS 2019 Application | |
| Submit Required Documents | |
| Pay Program Fees | |
| Host Company Confirms Internship | |||
| Intrax Issues DS 2019 Form | |||
| Go through an Online Pre-departure Orientation | |||
| Schedule J1 Visa Interview at Embassy | |||
| Obtain your J1 Visa and Travel to the USA! | |||
Step 1: Complete the Online DS 2019 Application
When you are ready to begin the process of applying for your J1 visa with Intrax, please complete our online DS 2019 application. You will need to have the following information ready before you begin the online application:
- Estimated start date of your internship/training in the USA
- Estimated end date of your internship/training in the USA
- Host company street address
- Host company website address
- Host company contact person (hiring manager or direct supervisor)
- Host company contact phone number
- Host company contact email address
Please note: If your host company does not have an annual revenue of $3 million or a minimum of 25 employees, Intrax needs to conduct an on-site visit. In this case the process will take longer than two weeks. Fee for on-site visit: $195.
Placements at academic institutions or at federal, state, or local government offices are specifically excluded from such a site visit requirement.
Step 2: Submit Required Documents
You should now complete and submit the required documents listed below. These documents must be received by Intrax before your DS 2019 form will be issued. Documents may be submitted to Intrax via email, fax or post (see below). Intrax accepts electronic signatures. You do not need to send original documents.
Documents that we need from your host company. We will contact your host company via email to collect the required documents:
- Host Company Agreement: The Host Company is required to complete and return the Host Company Agreement to Intrax.
- Internship Placement Plan (for internship participants only): Complete this placement plan with your host company, sign it, and submit to Intrax.
- Training Placement Plan (for training participants only): Complete this placement plan with your host company, sign it, and submit to Intrax.
- Workers' Compensation Requirement: We will need verification of Workers' Compensation Insurance Policy or equivalent in each state or, if applicable, evidence of state exemption from requirement of coverage. The number of the policy needs to be stated in the Host Company Agreement.
Documents needed from you:
- Participant Eligibility Form: Complete and sign this form and submit to Intrax.
If your university or college does not sign this form, you need to submit to Intrax a copy of your diploma, certificate, or proof of enrollment from your university or college. We also need an English translation of the document.
Interns only: If your university or college does sign the Participant Eligibility Form, you do not need to send a diploma/proof of enrollment. - Trainees only: We need a copy of your diploma along with an English translation of the document and your resume.
- Test Podium English Test Results: Complete this free, online English test (level 2) and send your test results to Intrax.
- Proof of Financial Means: If you earn less than $1000 per month while in the USA, you need to send us a Letter of Guarantee or a Financial Statement from your bank stating that you will receive $1000 per month for the duration of your internship. You will receive such form from us via email.
Submission Instructions:
Please submit your documents via email, fax or post as follows:
Email: Send your completed documents as attachments to info@intraxinternships.eu. Electronic signatures will be accepted in place of hand-written signatures. Please visit our FAQs for instruction on inserting an electronic signature.
Fax: +49 30 84 39 39 769
Postal Address:
Intrax Career Development
Giesebrechtstr. 10
10629 Berlin
Germany
Step 3: Pay Program Fees
We will now send you an invoice for your program fees. Please note that wire transfers may take up to 10 days. Intrax will issue the DS-2019 within 2 weeks after having received your documents and your payment.
Please visit our fees section for more information on payment procedures.
Step 4: Host Company Confirms Your Internship
Intrax will now attempt to contact your host company by phone to confirm your internship and verify the company's contact information.
Be sure to let your host company know that Intrax Career Development is your J1 visa sponsor and will contact them via phone. If there is no phone contact, we cannot confirm the placement and the process cannot move forward.
Step 5: Intrax Issues DS 2019 (Certificate of Eligibility)
After your payment and all of your application materials have been received, and Intrax has received confirmation of your placement from your Host Company, Intrax will process and issue your DS 2019 form within two weeks. The DS 2019 form will be sent to you directly via FedEx.
Please note: The following will delay the process:
- Incomplete documents
- On-site visits
- Illegible documents (please make sure that scan and fax copies need to be of very high quality so that we can print and sign and scan them for further processing.)
- Wrong contact information for your host company's supervisor
- Intrax cannot contact your supervisor via phone to confirm your internship/training
Step 6: Pre-departure Information
After your DS-2019 has been issued, Intrax will send you further pre-departure information on living in the USA, SEVIS, Social Security Number, Travel Validation, rules and regulations for the J1 Exchange Visitor Program, and guidance on applying and interviewing for the J1 visa at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your home country.
Step 7: Apply for J1 Visa at US Embassy or Consulate
You need to schedule an appointment with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. The wait time for an embassy interview varies throughout the year. It might take several weeks in the summer months.
Consult the Embassy website of your country to see which additional documents are required. You will have a personal interview during which you have to prove your home ties and your commitment to return to your home country after the program. For this interview and for the J1 visa, the embassy charges you about $140. This sum is not included in our program fee.
Once your J1 visa application is approved, you will receive a visa stamp in your passport. In some locations, you will receive your visa stamp on the same day of your visa interview. In other locations, your stamped passport will be sent to you via post in about three days.
Step 8: Obtain your J1 Visa and Travel to the USA!
Once you obtain your J1 visa, your final step is to travel to the USA and begin your internship or training!
