Hosting a J-1 Student Intern

The student intern must:

• Have verifiable English language skills enough to function in an internship environment. Verified by:
  • Recognized language test (TOEFL/IELTS/DET)
    • DET: 105+, IELTS: 6.5+, TOEFL iBT: 80+
  • Documentation from an English language school or academic institution attestation that instruction and exams are in English.
• Be currently enrolled, in good academic standing, and pursuing a degree which requires an internship at an accredited postsecondary institution outside the U.S.
• Intend to return to their home degree program to obtain a degree after completion of internship.
• Have sufficient funding for themselves and any dependents during the full length of the internship.
• Be in the U.S. only to complete the internship program at UW-Madison.
• Not graduate while in the U.S. and participating in the internship program.
• Not have participated in another student intern program in the U.S. for more than 12 months.

The internship must:

• Exist only to help student intern fulfill home university degree requirements.
• Consist of work-based learning and not skilled labor.
• Not include unskilled labor, child or elder care, aviation, clinical work, or other patient care or contact. Clinical activity limitation can be reviewed at the bottom of this page.
• Consist of no more than 20% clerical work.
• Be at least 3 weeks long and no longer than 12 months.
• Be full time, minimum 32 hours per week.
• Not repeat any of the student intern’s prior experience.
• Not be in any position that could bring notoriety or disrepute to the department, university, or student.
• Not displace U.S. workers.
• Not involve a staffing or employment agency in any way.
• Meet all requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act.

The intake form and checklist will help you prepare information to complete a New Sponsorship Request in Terra Dotta.

• J-1 Student Intake Form: completed by the student intern for the host department to complete Terra Dotta New Sponsorship Request.
• J-1 Student Intern Checklist: provided to the student intern by the host department to begin preparing all required application materials to complete in Step 4 of the Student Intern process.

Note: All questions, processing and additional information for J-1 Student Interns should be directed to International Student Services (ISS) J-1 Compliance Specialist.

• New Sponsorship Request: completed by the host department for ISS to review and determine eligibility.
• For help, review the New Sponsorship Request Knowledge Base.

After ISS approval of the New Sponsorship Request, you will be asked to complete in Terra Dotta:

• Department Tab: detailing specific department, and supervisor information
• Form DS-7002 Training/Internship Program Plan: outlining skills, training and cultural exchange to be performed by the Student Intern.

Once complete, the Student Intern will be invited to enter and upload all required documents in Terra Dotta.

ISS will ensure all information, training plans, and documents meet J-1 Student Intern regulatory requirements before issuing Form DS-2019 to the Student Intern.

• Form DS-7002 Training/Internship Program Plan will require department signatures before being sent out to the Student Intern. ISS will email the supervisor and department contact to collect required signatures.
• All documents will be scanned and uploaded to Terra Dotta for the Student Intern to print, sign, and use for visa acquisition and entry to the U.S.

• Student Intern must pay the SEVIS I-901 fee online at least 3 days before visa appointment.
• Student Intern must schedule a visa appointment with the U.S. embassy or consulate in their home country and pay associated DS-160 visa application fees.
• The Student Intern cannot apply for a J-1 Visa after the start date of the program. The department must request a DS-2019 start date deferral if the student will not obtain a visa or enter the U.S. by the DS-2019 program start date.

• The Student Intern can arrive in the U.S. up to 30 days before the DS-2019 start date.
• The Student Intern must arrive by the DS-2019 start date. The department must request a DS-2019 start date deferral if the student will not obtain a visa or enter the U.S. by the DS-2019 program start date.
• The Student Intern must attend ISS Orientation and complete ISS Check-in before the internship start date.

Evaluation(s) of the Student Intern placement is required by regulation. The Evaluation form must be sent to ISS upon completion.

• If the internship is 6 months or less: one evaluation must be completed and submitted to ISS within 15 days of the internship’s end date.
• If the internship is longer than 6 months: one evaluation within 15 days of the program midpoint and a second evaluation at the end of the internship are required.

Failure to complete the Student Intern evaluation(s) may result in the department’s inability to host J-1 Student Interns in the future.

Student Intern and department sponsor must notify ISS of departure from the U.S.

J-1 Student Interns cannot participate in any clinical care positions or any other position that involves patient contact. Any position that would require a student intern to provide therapy, medication or other clinical or medical treatment is prohibited, including veterinary medicine. 

If a J-1 Student Intern will be in clinical settings, ISS may require additional acknowledgement of the clinical restrictions.

Please contact ISS with any questions, or for additional information.

Clinical Restrictions Acknowledgement