Career Training USA
J1 Trainee Programme/ Bridge USA
Expand your Horizons
Designed specifically for young professionals, the J1 Trainee Programme allows you to apply to be at your US host Company for up to 18 months.
*Hospitality positions are limited to 12 months max under US Government regulations.
Not only will you gain real-world skills that will serve you throughout your career, but you will also get valuable firsthand insight into American culture and business practices. Along the way, you will share ideas with colleagues, make important new business connections, and supercharge your CV.
Eligibility
In order to qualify for Career Training USA you must meet the following criteria:
- You must be over 18
- You must have a degree and at least one years' full time experience in your a field directly related to your traineeship outside the USA - preferably AFTER university level studies.
- If you do not have a degree in this field you should be able to show at least 5 years full time experience in a field directly related to your traineeship in order to qualify for the programme.
- If you have previously undertaken a J1 Traineeship in the USA you must wait at least 2 years from the expiry of your previous visa before you can start another programme Important
- You must either be a UK national OR a foreign national presently living in the UK (UK nationals living abroad are also welcome to apply). **If you do not meet either of the above criteria please contact us via email (details at the bottom of this page) and we will guide you to the appropriate contact.
If you have questions regarding your eligibility for the programme, please contact our team
Key Points
- The Career Training USA Programme allows you to go to the USA for up to 18 months* at a US Host Company. The position must be in a field directly related to your experience *Positions in tourism, hospitality or agriculture are normally restricted to 12 months - please contact us for details if this applies to you.
- You can take either paid OR unpaid positions. If you are going on an unpaid placement you will need to provide proof of access to at least $1500/ month for the duration of your time in the USA - full information can be found on the application form
- You must secure a placement with a US Organisation before applying for the programme.
Allowed J1 Trainee Activities
While most activities are allowed under the Programme, there are some that are prohibited under the program guidelines - such as coaching, care of children etc.
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Introduction to Hosting Letter
If your prospective Host Organisation in the US has not hosted an international intern before you can send them this letter to explain about CIEE, IST Plus and the programme
Host Organisation Eligiblility
Your Host Organisation (US employer) must provide structured and practical training while abiding by some key program regulations.
- J1 Participants are NOT allowed to work in a Home based office (i.e. a residential location).
- The Host Organisation should ensure that the DS-7002 Training Plan is followed for the duration of the programme.
- There must be a match between your background and the training.
- Upon completion of the programme, you should plan to return to your home country.
- The programme is not intended to help organisations fill staffing needs.
- The training plan should reflect an understanding of what you will be learning, not only the needs of the business.
- Your US Host Organisation must have Workers Compensation (or equivalent) insurance that will cover you for the time you are with their organisation (exceptions apply - please contact us for details)
- Any unskilled or clerical activity must be kept to a maximum of 20% of the entire training period.
Please note: The following types of Host Organisation/ activities are NOT eligible to host international interns or trainees.
- Certain limited service/economy hotel properties
- Most home offices
- Programs in aviation/construction/building (where training is completed in those fields)
- Fast food franchises
- Single-location retailers
- Spas
- Gyms
If you have any questions regarding host company eligibility, please contact our team
Unpaid traineeships STILL need a J1 visa!
Even if you are planning on undertaking a short term unpaid work experience in the USA you will need to apply for the J1 Trainee Programme. Under no circumstances are you allowed to use a Visa Waiver or tourist visa with the intention of undertaking any form of work placement - even unpaid.
Passport Requirements
In order to enter the USA on a J1 Visa Programme you must have a passport that is valid for AT LEAST 3 months AFTER the end date of your internship or traineeship.
Please make sure your passport meets these requirements. If not your application will be subject to delays as your legal paperwork (the DS-2019) can NOT be issued without a passport that meets these criteria.
How Much does it Cost?
The Fees depend on the length of time you will be in the USA.
See Fees and Inclusions for detailed information
Hows Does it Work/ The Process
Once you have secured your US Host Company, you will need to start your application.
Most of it is online, but you will need to upload certain documents to your application in order for us to be able to move forward.
We have comprehensive instructions on the process on our Apply Now page.
We strongly recommend applying at least 6 weeks before your intended departure date - potentially more in the busy months leading up to the summer.
Embassies can get extremely busy and wait times for interviews are much longer in these periods
1: Application Complete
Once both parts of your application are complete (your part and your online training plan), please email our team at apply@istplus.com to confirm.
We will then review your application and let you know if anything needs to be revised/ is missing.
Our team will not review or check your application until you have confirmed you have completed this and are ready to move forward with the process.
2: Payment Request
Our team will email you a Payment Request. Once we have confirmation this has been paid, we will submit your application to our colleagues in the USA for the process to start
3: CIEE Review
Your application will show as UNDER REVIEW. CIEE will work with your Host Company to approve your application. You must check your email regularly during this process as this will be how we contact you should we require further information. In some cases, CIEE may ask your Host Company to revise your training plan to being it into line with US Government requirements.
4: Approval
Once approval has been granted (this may take up to 4 weeks), your status on your application will change to ACCEPTED. Within 2-3 working days (not including weekends) of this you will be able to see your SEVIS ID at the top of your online account page. THIS IS SHOWN AS YOUR DS-2019 NUMBER.
Within 3-5 working days of this, your legal paperwork will be sent to our offices in the United Kingdom and we will send these out to you. Using your SEVIS ID (DS-2019#) you can complete the DS-160 form - see our US Embassy Interviews button below
5: Book your Interview/ Receive your Paperwork
Having completed your DS-160 you can move on to booking your face to face interview at the US Embassy. Please note you will need your legal documents in order to attend this (these normally take 5 working days to arrive after your DS-2019# shows in your online account (see Step 4).
*Please bear this in mind when booking your interview date*
6: Attend your Visa Interview
At your face to face interview at your local Embassy or Consulate, you will be required to answer some questions about your trining plan, your plans for when you return home and other details.
You will also be required to provide biometric data (fingerprints).
7: After the Interview
When your passport and visa are returned to you by the US Embassy, you are free to book your flights and travel to the US on or after the date listed as Program Start Date on your Documents and online Training Plan
8: Arriving in the USA
You will need to register in SEVIS and also provide contact tracing information to immigration authorities upon entry to the United States
Send us a Message!
Drop us a quick message and one of our team will respond within 1 working day (not including weekends and public holidays).