J-1 intern and trainee programs: how to find a sponsor and a host company
Not legal advice. This is general information. Program terms and costs differ by sponsor, and the rules can change. Before you apply, check with the State Department's BridgeUSA site, a designated sponsor and, if needed, an immigration attorney.
Students and recent graduates in Korea, and people with a few years of experience, often look at J-1 intern and trainee programs to gain hands-on experience at a U.S. company. If you approach it like an H-1B — "get the job and the visa follows" — it is easy to get lost, because a J-1 involves two parties: a sponsor and a host company.
Sponsor vs. host company
- Sponsor — an organization designated by the U.S. Department of State to run J-1 programs. It screens and selects participants, issues the Form DS-2019 (the J-1 eligibility document) and oversees you for the whole program.
- Host organization — the U.S. company where you actually train. It must provide continuous on-site supervision and mentoring by experienced staff and sign the training plan, Form DS-7002 (T/IPP).
Under federal rules (22 CFR 62.22), a sponsor may not issue a DS-2019 until it has secured the placement and collected all required signatures on the DS-7002. In practice, many people find a host company first and then a sponsor willing to work with it.
Who qualifies
| Program | Eligibility (22 CFR 62.22) | Maximum length |
|---|---|---|
| Intern | Currently enrolled at a degree- or certificate-granting post-secondary school outside the U.S., or graduated within 12 months before the program start | 12 months |
| Trainee | A foreign degree or professional certificate plus at least one year of related work experience outside the U.S., or five years of related experience outside the U.S. | 18 months (12 months in agriculture and in hospitality and tourism*) |
*Agriculture training may run 18 months if the plan includes at least six months of related classroom study. Each sponsor's actual maximum also depends on what its State Department designation allows.
Sponsors must verify your English (a recognized test, documentation from a school, or a documented interview) and that you have enough money to support yourself for the whole stay. Programs must be full-time — at least 32 hours a week.
What a J-1 program can and cannot be
The regulations say training and internship programs must not be used as substitutes for ordinary employment and must not displace American workers.
Every training plan must set out goals, the skills to be learned, and how you will be supervised and evaluated. Unskilled or casual labor is not permitted, and a program may not simply repeat your prior work experience or training. Sponsors evaluate participants at the end of the program, and also at the midpoint for programs longer than six months.
Step by step: finding a host and a sponsor
- Pick your field — one that fits your studies or experience (for example engineering, business and finance, information media, hospitality and tourism).
- Find a host company — check JOBnaru™'s J-1 intern and trainee jobs page and set an email alert there for new postings, and browse Korean companies in the U.S..
- Check the sponsor — use the State Department's sponsor search to find intern or trainee sponsors, and confirm that any sponsor you deal with is actually on the list.
- Complete the DS-7002 — you, the sponsor and the host company finish and sign the training plan.
- DS-2019 and visa — once the sponsor issues the DS-2019, apply for a J-1 visa at the U.S. Embassy. You must show your signed DS-7002 to the consular officer if asked.
Things to watch
- Costs differ by sponsor. Ask each sponsor for its program fees, insurance and other charges in writing and compare.
- Verify the designation yourself. If a company not on the State Department list "guarantees" a J-1 for a fee, review our job scam warning signs.
- Two-year home-country requirement (212(e)). Some J-1 participants must spend two years in their home country before they can get certain visas or change status. Whether it applies depends on factors such as government funding; see the State Department waiver page.
- Additional programs. A second internship or training program is allowed only under conditions — for example it must build more advanced skills or cover a different field.
For host employers
To host J-1 participants you work with a designated sponsor and need staff who can supervise and evaluate according to the training plan. Sponsors must visit host organizations that have not hosted with them before and have fewer than 25 employees or less than $3 million in annual revenue. To advertise a role, see post a job.
JOBnaru™ cannot promise a visa or program approval, and a J-1 tag on a posting is not a guarantee.
Last checked: October 19, 2026.
Cite this article as: JOBnaru™ — https://jobnaru.com/en/news/j1-intern-trainee-sponsor-and-host-company
Questions
Can a U.S. company issue my J-1 paperwork directly?
No. Only a sponsor designated by the State Department can issue Form DS-2019. The host company signs the training plan (DS-7002) and supervises you, and the sponsor may not issue the DS-2019 until the placement is secured and the DS-7002 is signed.
What is the difference between a J-1 intern and a J-1 trainee?
Interns are enrolled at, or graduated within the past 12 months from, a post-secondary school outside the U.S.; internships last up to 12 months. Trainees need a foreign degree or certificate plus one year of related experience abroad, or five years of related experience abroad; training lasts up to 18 months (generally 12 in agriculture and hospitality and tourism).
Can I work as a regular employee on a J-1 internship?
No. Federal rules say training and internship programs must not be used as substitutes for ordinary employment or to displace American workers. The program must follow a structured training plan, and unskilled or casual labor is not allowed.
Do I have to go back to Korea after my J-1 program?
Some J-1 participants are subject to a two-year home-country physical presence requirement under INA 212(e), depending on factors such as government funding. Check your DS-2019 and visa, and see the State Department's waiver guidance.
Sources
- Intern Program — U.S. Department of State, BridgeUSA
- Trainee Program — U.S. Department of State, BridgeUSA
- Find a Program Sponsor — U.S. Department of State, BridgeUSA
- 22 CFR 62.22 — Trainees and interns — Electronic Code of Federal Regulations
- Waiver of the Exchange Visitor Two-Year Home-Country Physical Presence Requirement — U.S. Department of State
General information as of Oct 19, 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Confirm with the employer, an immigration attorney or official sources before you act.
