J-1 Student Interns

The J-1 Student Intern program is a work-based learning program that allows students who are currently enrolled in a degree program in their home country to gain experience and exposure to U.S. research and training techniques through an internship.

The J-1 Student Intern program is not to be confused with J-1 students who are enrolled full time in a program of study at UW–Madison. Student Interns are students who are enrolled in a program of study abroad, and who are visiting UW–Madison to participate in a research/training-based internship that is required to complete their degree program at their home institution.

Any UW–Madison department wishing to host a J-1 Student Intern should consult ISS 4-5 months prior to the anticipated start date of the internship program. ISS will not issue a DS-2019 less than 2 months before the program start date.

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.

Please note that ISS does not create or provide information about internship opportunities under this program. Students interested in becoming J-1 Student Interns are responsible for contacting and working with host departments directly for internship opportunities. Host departments are then responsible for initiating the J-1 Student Intern process.

Requirements to Maintain Status as a J-1 Student Intern

Evaluation Requirements

The hosting department supervisor must complete an internship evaluation with the student intern.

For programs six months or shorter: one evaluation must be completed at the end date of the internship.
For programs longer than six months: two evaluations must be completed. The first evaluation is due within fifteen days of the midpoint date, and the second evaluation is due at the end date of the internship.

A copy of each evaluation must be sent to ISS. Review an example here. Evaluation Form

Clinical Activity

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.

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) uses the terms direct ‘patient care’ and ‘patient contact’ interchangeably. Therefore, anything involving patient contact and/or patient care is considered clinical and is forbidden under the J-1 program, including J-1 Student Intern.

‘Patient contact’ is any physical or psychological interaction with a person that could affect their health and/or overall well-being. The person does not need to be a patient in the traditional sense. A few examples of patient contact that are considered clinical are: attaching EEGs to someone, drawing blood, performing an X-ray on a living being, dentistry, psychological interviews for study or diagnosis, and so forth.

Humans and animals are both considered patients by the U.S. Department of State. Veterinary care and veterinary clinical research for animals are considered clinical activities and are therefore not allowed on the J-1 program, including J-1 Student Intern. Lab animals or animal models, whose sole purpose for existence is for research, are not considered patients by DOS. Therefore, any work with lab animals/animal models is allowed on the J-1 program.

Pure observation is not considered a clinical activity and would be allowed in J-1 status. However, the J-1 must be truly only observing—they cannot interact in any way. The activity is no longer observation the moment a doctor hands the J-1 a scalpel to hold, asks the J-1 to check someone’s blood pressure, etc.

Studying/Taking Classes

Student Interns are not allowed to enroll in or audit any courses at UW–Madison, unless specifically stated in the DS-7002 Training/Internship Placement Plan. A DS-7002 which allows for course enrollment or audit must be signed before course instruction begins.

DS-2019 Program Extension

J-1 Student Interns may extend their internship program for up to 12 months, so long as they remain an enrolled student at their home institution, have not and will not graduate during the program extension, and can provide sufficient proof of funding for the additional time in the U.S.

Program extensions should be requested at least 3 weeks before the DS-2019 end date.

To request a program extension the student intern will need to provide:

Proof of funding: the student intern must provide proof of funding sufficient for the extended period of their internship program, including any dependents.
Proof of enrollment: the student intern’s home institution must attest to the student’s continued enrollment and anticipated graduation date, and approval of the program extension.
Verification: the department sponsor must verify the new program end dates and any additional changes to the DS-7002 internship program details.

Those participating in a Student Intern Program for more than 6 months may be subject to a 12-month bar.

SEVIS Transfers

J-1 Student Interns may request a transfer of their J-1 student intern SEVIS record as long as they will continue in the Student Intern category and will not exceed the 12-month program time limit.

All transfers should be requested 3 weeks before the DS-2019 end date.