We take a very personal approach to finding the perfect position for each student. Rather than just submitting resumes to every company, we review both the student’s resume and educational experience as well as the host company’s requirements and preferences to find the match that will be most beneficial for both participants.
Since 2007, the US Government makes a distinction between an Intern Program and Trainee Program.
MAXIMUM INTERN PROGRAM DURATION: 12 months + 30 days Grace Period.
MAXIMUM TRAINEE PROGRAM DURATION: 18 months + 30 days Grace Period.
The minimum period of the program is 2 months, but many employers are looking for an intern/trainee for at least 6 months. Although extending the contract to the maximum period (12/18 months) is possible, this involves an extra cost for the new DS-2019 form issuance. We recommend you determine the optimum period of the Internship/Training in advance. After the end of the Internship/Training period, the participants have the right to an additional 30 days, which can be spent on leisure time and travelling within the USA.<
Compensation varies by company and basically depends on business field, participants’ work experience, and other factors. A modest stipend is not uncommon.
For many US college students internships are a mandatory part of their degree programs. In such cases college credits are offered for completing an internship with certain requirements as if the student has completed a class. Colleges encourage US companies to offer internships for college credit. The idea behind it is to help students get their first experience while still in college.
The services of ICD USA do not end at this point. With any emergency problems you can contact our office in Chicago, IL.
After the successful end of the Internship/Training program you will obtain the certificate of participation from ICD USA.
| Internship/Training placement | US $ |
| 3-6 months | 890 |
| 7-12 months | 1290 |
| Special Location Request | 485 |
| DS-2019 Form | US $ |
| 3-6 months | 1290 |
| 7-12 months | 1490 |
| Expedite Processing | 580 |
| Basic Package:
Internship/Training Placement+ Form DS-2019+ Help with housing search+ American Culture and Communication Course + US SIM Card |
US $ |
| 3-6 months | 2090 |
| 7-12 months | 2590 |
| Health Emergency and Liability Insurance | 95/month |
| American Culture and Communication Course While some things can only be learned as you experience them, we believe that a foundation in American culture can make a big difference in participants' early successes in their program and in their new relationships with colleagues. |
390 |
who has a degree or professional certificate from a postsecondary academic institution abroad and at least one year of related work experience acquired outside the United States, or
has five years of related work experience acquired outside the United States.
MAXIMUM TRAINEE PROGRAM DURATION: 18 months + 30 days Grace Period.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) provides all J-1 program participants a 30-day travel status period following the completion of their program. This period is NOT included in the program dates entered on the Form DS-2019. The grace period allows participants to travel domestically and/or to prepare for and depart from the United States. It is not to be used for any other purpose. Program participants who travel beyond the boundaries of the United States during the grace period may not be permitted by DHS to re-enter the United States as they are no longer in valid J-1 status during this time. Employment is prohibited during this grace period.
You need DS-2019 form in order to apply for the J-1 visa, which allows you to be an intern/trainee in the USA.
The application for an internship/training is year round. Please note that the number of job seekers by far exceeds the number of available internship/training positions. You must apply with ICD USA 3-4 months before your intended internship/training start date in order to be successful. Basically, the sooner you apply, the better your chances for the desired internship.
The minimum period of the program is 2 months, but many employers are looking for an intern/trainee for at least 6 months and justify this with an extensive training period for foreign trainees. The extension of a contract to the maximum period (12/18 months) is possible, but requires an extra cost for the new DS-2019 form issuance. We recommend application for the optimum period of Internship/Training in advance.
Trainee or interns may not be placed in unskilled or casual labour positions, positions involving more than 20 percent clerical work, positions requiring trainees to provide therapy, medication, or other clinical or medical care (e.g. sports or physical therapy, psychological counseling, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, social work, speech therapy, or early childhood education.
Costs of travel, accommodation and any language course are not included in the agency fee. Employers may share your travel or housing expenses; however ICD USA cannot make any guarantee for this. You must have enough financial funds to qualify for J1 visa.
Compensation varies by company and basically depends on business field, participants’ work experience and other factors. Some companies may assist with housing and/or transportation.
ICD USA advises you about different types of accommodation and provides information about the affordable housing options available. We also provide a list of inexpensive hotels to house you on your first few days upon arrival. The cost of stay directly depends on geographical region and location.
Benefits to Students of organizing Internship/Training with ICD USA:
Our placement success in an amazing 98% of our applicants. Not only do we have a high success rate of placing students, in most cases we are able to find the placement within a few weeks.However each case is individual and depends on business field, participants’ work experience, English fluency, program duration and other factors.
Therefore the most important condition: Student must apply at least 2 months prior to their intended internship/training starting date.
No. With the J-1 visa, you have no work permit. You are allowed to work only at your host company. A placement change is only possible if there are serious reasons, such as company insolvency or the discontinuance of the internship/training plan.
You may not arrive more than 30 days before the program start date shown on your DS-2019. Upon completion of your exchange program, you have a grace period of 30 days to depart the United States.
The program sponsors are responsible for screening and selecting eligible foreign nationals for participation in their designated exchange visitor program, as well as supporting and monitoring exchange visitors during their stay in the United States.
Some J-1 exchange visitors are subject to the U.S. Department of State Two-Year Foreign Residence Requirement INA 212(e) that requires them to return to their home country for two years at the end of their J-1 program. If you belong to one of the following categories, you are most likely subject to this requirement at the end of your J-1 program:
The Two-Year Foreign Residency Requirement will not prevent you from reentering the U.S. with an F-1 student, B-1/B-2 (tourist) or J-1 student visa (or some other categories) in the future, but it will prevent you from getting H-1B non-immigrant employment or Permanent Residency status unless the 2 year requirement is either fulfilled or waived.
The wait time for an interview and processing for a J-1 Visa varies from country to country and is based on your individual circumstances. Learn more about interview wait and processing times by visiting www.travel.state.gov and select Visa Wait Times
We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Please note that exchange visitors beginning new programs may not enter the United States more than 30 days before their program start date.
The rules for repeating the J-1 intern and trainee programs are specific to program, so it is important to know which program you participated in originally. As an intern you are permitted to participate in another intern program after you have returned to your home country and completed at least a semester at your university. If you are an intern that has graduated from a university and has completed a short internship ending within 12 months of your graduation date, then you may qualify to participate in consecutive intern programs. As a trainee, you are allowed to repeat the J-1 trainee program after 2 years of residing outside the U.S.
Also, if you plan on repeating either the J-1 trainee or intern program, your second J-1 program must be different and more advanced than your first and you must always meet the eligibility requirements of the program you are applying to.
It is common to confuse the J-1 regulations regarding repetition of the J-1 trainee or intern program with the two-year home-country foreign residence requirement, INA 212(e) requirement. The difference is that only some individuals are subject to 212 (e), while all are subject to the regulations regarding J-1 program repetition. The individuals subject to 212(e) will have this information marked in their passport and on their DS-2019. If the rule applies, it means that he/she is required to reside in his/her home country or last legal permanent residence for two years before being able to receive an H, L or K visa or apply for permanent residency in the U.S. The two-year home residency rule does not reference the J-1 visa and thus allows those subject to it to repeat the J-1 program as long as they are eligible.
