Identity Crisis: Is the J-1 Candidate a Trainee or an Intern?

The J-1 trainee and intern programs do have some overlap. There are some people that qualify for both programs. Maybe your J-1 candidate just completed a Master's program and also has a year of experience. How do you decide which program to apply for?

The J-1 trainee and intern programs are very similar but there are a couple factors that should be considered when choosing which to apply for. First of all, intern programs are typically more basic, building right off of a degree. They may also be project based. So, if the program looks more like an internship and the candidate's professional experience consists mostly of internships, then it would probably be best to apply for the intern program. If the program involves high-level training and the candidate has just completed a Master's with several years of work experience, then it would probably be best to apply for the trainee program.

As a sponsor, we will let you know if the program fits better under one program, but if the candidate and program are equally qualified for both, then you may want to consider the desired program length and the likelihood that the candidate will want to repeat the J-1 program. The maximum intern program length is 12 months and the maximum trainee program length is 18 months. You may have planned for a one year program but if for some reason the training is delayed you have the option to extend up to 18 months under the trainee program. If the proposed program is just 3 months long, then the possibility to extend may not be an issue.

In order to repeat the J-1 trainee program, participants must reside outside the U.S. for two years between programs, whereas intern programs can be completed virtually back-to-back as long as the candidate still qualifies. This could be important for candidates currently pursuing a degree (Masters) but that happen to qualify for both the intern and trainee programs. If they do an internship over summer break and then decide to do another internship after graduating, they are able to do this without waiting 2 years.

These guidelines should help you make an informed decision and if you need any advice, Global Current is always available. Contact us for a review!

Non-immigrant Visa Application Fees May Increase

The Department of State recently published a proposed rule that would increase Non-immigrant visa application fees from $131 to $140. The proposed increase is due to the fact that the current fee does not cover the costs of visa processing and security enhancements. If this rule goes into effect, all J-1 applicants would have to pay the new fee.

For more information, visit the Department of State's website.

Finding J-1 Internships

If you are eligible for a J-1 intern program and residing outside the United States, a good way to look for internships is online at internship search sites, like Internships.com. Here you can find listings of hundreds of internships in your professional field. Good luck!

Low-Paid J-1 Internships

Due to current economic conditions, companies are turning more and more to unpaid or low paid internships which, “still offer the same advantages: a chance for a worker to gain knowledge and at little or no cost to the employer,”writes Hillary Chura at the New York Times website. Companies that are looking for lower cost options to add capacity on specific projects and develop talent are finding that internships are a great option.

This is good news for potential trainees and interns who may have had some trouble finding opportunities in the past. The new year could bring many more internships in a variety of fields. The fact that intern positions may offer little to no stipend should not be an issue as long as the J-1 candidate has adequate funding throughout the program, whether it be personal or from an outside source like an organization or university.

When evaluating a participant's ability to cover living costs, Global Current considers all personal and outside support, including any benefits that the company will be providing like housing or transportation. Our general rule of thumb is that a participant should have access to at least $2000 USD monthly. This may vary depending on the cost of living of the site of activity.

Use the New and Improved DS-7002

As of today, Global Current requires that all J-1 sponsorship applications are submitted with the new DS-7002. The new form along with instructions and a sample DS-7002 are included in our most current application packet.

Please note that consulates/embassies are now expecting the new DS-7002 at all J-1 Intern and Trainee interviews.

Update your files and avoid any problems at the consulate!

Holiday Travel for J-1 Participants

Woohoo! Looking forward to Thanksgiving dinner... turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes?Before you lose yourself in the holiday excitement, make sure that your J-1 trainee/intern is prepared for any holiday travel that he/she will be doing.

During the J-1 program, participants are allowed to travel within the U.S. without requesting permission from the program sponsor. To travel internationally, J-1 participants need the following:

• The program end dates on the DS-2019 and J-1 visa cannot occur before or durring the travel outside the U.S.


• The J-1 participant must have a multiple entry visa (the letter "M" will be indicated under the word "Entries" on the J-1 visa.


• The DS-2019 must be signed by the program sponsor in the Travel Validation Section.

To grant travel validation, Global Current needs the original DS-2019, a statement of where, when and why the participant is traveling, the travel validation fee and a prepaid waybill or stamped self-addressed envelope so that we can send the approved document back. We recommend that all travel validation requests be submitted at least 2 weeks prior to travel date. If an emergency arises and we are not able to sign the DS-2019 before she leaves the U.S. then the DS-2019 can be sent directly to us for the signature and we will send it to an address abroad so that she can enter on the validated form.

The travel validation will expire after one year and will need to be renewed after that for international travel.

Now that everything is taken care of, I give you permission to enjoy the holidays :) Happy Thanksgiving!

J-1 Program Evaluations

J-1 sponsors are required to collect program evaluations from you and your J-1 candidate. Most of the time the supervisor and the trainee/intern have highly functional and effective relationships that earn high scores on program evaluations. On the rare occasion that we receive an evaluation reporting dissatisfaction, we act immediately.


As a J-1 sponsor, our main objective is to resolve the issue as quickly and effectively as possible, allowing the program to continue through to its completion. Often dissatisfaction will stem from communication issues, where one party (supervisor or participant) has specific expectations that are not being met and he/she is unsure how to communicate his/her concerns and resolve the problem. Cultural communication differences will exacerbate this problem. Our first action is to suggest him/her to meet with the supervisor/participant to discuss and reconcile expectations and improve the working situation. We do not typically get involved until all options are exhausted and it is clear that a change must be made.

We will get involved immediately only if there it is an emergency situation. Yikes!


If a company is not following through with the plan described in the DS-7002, then we will often work with the host company to help them get back on track. However, if the company is unresponsive to our efforts, then we typically allow participants to apply for a host company transfer. For a transfer, he or she will locate another host company that is able to adhere to his/her program plan and start the program where it was left off. In the case that the participant is not holding up his/her end of the agreement and is unresponsive to our efforts to rectify the problem, then we are forced to end the program.

Your sponsor is there to support you throughout the J-1 program. Though most issues can be resolved internally, we are always available for support when all other options have been exhausted.