J-1 Student Intern

This category is for graduate or undergraduate students who want to participate in an academic internship inside the US that fulfills an educational objective for the student’s degree program at their home institution. Participants in the J-1 Student Intern category are not admitted to UW, do not enroll in classes at UW during their internship, and are not considered “students” while at UW

 

Student Intern Eligibility Requirements:

 

  • Student Interns must be enrolled in and pursuing a degree at an accredited postsecondary academic institution outside the U.S. or have graduated within the last 12 months. The student must also be in good academic standing at his or her home institution;

 

  • The internship must fulfill educational objectives for the Student Intern’s current degree program at his or her home institution;

 

  • Student Intern must have “sufficient proficiency in the English language, as determined by an objective measurement of English language proficiency, successfully to participate in his or her program and to function on a day-to-day basis.” Exchange visitors from English-speaking countries do not need to provide proof of English proficiency.
    • English test minimum score: TOEFL 525 or 71 iBT; IELTS 6.0; CET6 430; Duolingo 100.
    • English3 J-1 Interview minimum score of 3 (ISS will receive results directly from E3).
    • Completion of an English as a Second Language program or a degree from a university where instruction is completely in English;

 

  • The primary purpose for the Student Intern being in the U.S. must be to engage in a student internship program, rather than engage in employment or provide services to an employer. The Internship must exist "solely to assist the Student Intern in achieving the objectives of his or her participation in a student internship program";

 

  • After completion of the Student Intern program, the Student Intern must return to his or her home institution outside the U.S. to fulfill and obtain their degree if not already completed;

 

  • The internship may not last more than 12 months. The internship must be full-time with a minimum of 32 hours per week and cannot consist of more than 20 percent clerical work;

 

  • The Student Intern must show sufficient finances, if not fully funded by UW, of at least $2000 per month for the Student Intern and at least $850 per month for each dependent, for the duration of the UW appointment requested by the sponsoring faculty;

 

  • The Student Intern must have health insurance that meets or exceeds the requirements as mandated by the U.S. Department of State for all J-1 exchange visitors and their dependents. UW employee insurance does not meet the requirements;

 

  • The Student Internship cannot involve clinical positions or engagement in any other kind of work involving patient care or contact. Internship cannot include unskilled labor, child or elderly care, or aviation. Interns must not engage in clinical positions or in any other kind of work that involves patient care or contact, including any work that would require student interns to provide therapy, medication, or other clinical or medical care. [22 C.F.R. § 23(i)(8)(i)];

 

Additional Sponsoring Faculty Requirements:

  • Develop procedures for evaluating the Student Intern.
    • Must submit evaluation to ISS at the midpoint of the internship if longer than six months, and a final evaluation one week before end of the internship;
    • Evaluations must be retained by sponsoring faculty and ISS for three years

 

  • Must ensure that the intern is completing internship objectives.

 

Return to Sponsoring a J-1 Exchange Visitor to continue