Saltire Scholars USA 2025

A Guide to applying for your J1 VIsa

Congratulations on being chosen as a participant on the Saltire Scholar Programme

Getting your J-1 Visa is the most important thing you are required to do as part of the onboarding process. It is your responsibility to follow each step carefully to ensure you receive the J-1 Visa in time to begin your internship this summer.

If you have questions during the application process you can contact the Saltire team or IST Plus.

Try to get your application in as soon as possible!

Quick Links:

Register/ Required Supporting Documents/ Inviting your US Supervisor/ Step by Step Guide/ The Process

If you have any questions which are not covered on this website, please contact the Saltire Scholar team via email at saltire.scholars@entrpreneurialscotland.com

Step 1: Register for your Online Application

What Happens Next?

Once you've registered on this page, our team will set you up in the system with a CIEE Beacon Account.
You'll receive a welcome email from donotreply@ciee.org with your log in details!

Please make sure you refer back to this page throughout the application process as there are no instructions on the actual application!

If you do not receive your login details within 2 working days (except weekends) please email our team at saltire@istplus.com or get in touch using the online form at the bottom of this page

Step 2: Now download the Supporting Documents you will need to add to your application

As well as completing the online application, you will also need to upload some supporting documents - including Proof of University Status, Passport ID page and your signed Fees Disclosure.

Download these below.

  • Proof of Student Status Form

    *This can be completed, signed and stamped by any member of staff at your university.
    If they are unable to complete this, they must provide you with a letter on headed paper (signed) confirming the same information

    Download Student Status Form

  • Online Fees Disclosure

    While the Saltire Scholar Programme will be paying the related fees for your application, US Government guidelines still require you to complete this and upload into your online account.

    This will open an online form in a new tab where you can enter your details and sign using your computer, phone or tablet.

    Once completed, this will create a PDF file of your Fees Disclosure that you can upload into the DOCUMENTS section of your online application.

    Open Online Fees Disclosure

  • English Ability Form

    *Proof of English Ability is only required for NON UK/ IRISH passport Holders.

    If your country of citizenship does not have English as its primary language you will need to add this to your application. Any member of staff at your university can complete this.

    Download English Ability form

  • Financial Guarantor Letter

    You can not download this here. This letter will be provided to you by the Saltire Scholar Team. Please contact them directly for this.

    You will need to upload this into the FINANCIAL INFORMATION section of your online account. You will need to select the following options:

    *I am receiving $1000 or more per month from an entity in my home country". 

    Choose "Other" for Funding Entity

    Enter Saltire Scholar Programme under "Other Funding Entity"


    Type of Document: Select Guarantor Letter

Step 3: Inviting your US Supervisor

Click through the slideshow for instructions on inviting your US Supervisor and Host Company

To invite your Supervisor you’ll need the following information:

  • The full name of your US Host Company

  • Your US Host Company Supervisor name

  • Their position at the US Host Company

  • Their contact email and telephone number

  • Your intended J1 Internship dates

Don’t forget to hit Submit to International Rep when you’re done - or we won’t get your Supervisor details!

What Happens Next?

  • We will check your entry and submit to CIEE

  • Your US Supervisor will be sent a questionnaire by CIEE via email link

  • They will then complete and submit this

  • CIEE will review and then ask them to complete a Host Profile

  • Once this has been completed, CIEE will review and make sure everything is ready to move forward

  • CIEE will then unlock the training plan for your US Supervisor to complete

  • Once your US Supervisor has completed the training plan, you will be notified via email from donotreply@ciee.org

While your training plan is being completed, you should work on completing your part of the application - see below for a step by step guide

Q: How do you know when your training plan has been completed by your Host Supervisor?

A: You will get an automatic email from the BEACON system letting you know and asking you to log in, review and sign.

*You can also check the status of your training plan by logging into your account and checking the progress on your PLACEMENTS tab

Step 4: A Step by Step guide to completing your online BEACON application

Click on any of the sections below for instructions and guidance on completing your application.
We strongly recommend you use this as a guide to avoid mistakes and delays!

  • You can do this further up this page.
    Our team will then create an account for you within 2 working days.
    Please check your junk or spam if you don’t receive an email with your login details

  • This should be the first thing you do as part of the application process.
    If you haven't yet done this please refer to our instructions earlier on this page.

    It is VITAL you email our team to confirm when you have completed this step.

  • To do this, please click on the grey profile picture box at the top of your BEACON application - you will then be able to upload a suitable picture.

    *Please make sure this image is less than 1mb in size

  • In this section you need to check your name and details as they appear on your application, and enter nationality details as per your passport.

    You will also need to upload an image of your passport ID page. Please make sure this is clear and all parts can be read easily.

    Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan on returning from the United States.

  • In this section you will enter your contact details, including your home address and details of someone we can contact if there is an emergency in the USA.

  • Interns are not allowed to bring family members on this programme, so please just tick the No box, save and move onto the next step

  • Please enter the details of your university/ college (there's a search function but you can also add these manually).

    In this section you will need to provide your Proof of Student Status.

    This can either be on the standard CIEE Student Status letter (see Supporting Documents futher up this page) - or a letter from your tutor or member of faculty at your university confirming your current student status, your Degree Course and the intended approximate date of your graduation.

    *If your proposed internship in the US does not directly relate to your degree course, you will also need to upload a letter of support from your tutor into the DOCUMENTS section of your online account (see instructions on What to upload into your DOCUMENTS section below)

    Please note any uploaded documents must be either pdf or jpeg - word docs (docx etc) cannot be accepted.

    Note: It's important to remember that certain documents or submissions may have restrictions on formatting, including color usage. Always review the guidelines provided for the specific document you are working on.

  • Please enter any relevant work experience you have here.

    If you do not have any relevant work experience, just tick NO

  • If you have previously been to the US on a J1 visa programme, you will need to enter some details here

    If you have been denied entry into the USA, please contact our team

    The question "Have you ever applied for a visa to immigrate to the U.S.?" only applies if you have applied to permanently move to the USA. If does not apply if you have receive a previous J1 or other short term visa

    If you have previously been refused a visa by the US Embassy, please contact our team for advice with information on the refusal (dates/ reason given)

    If you have been arrested and/ or convicted of a crime in your home country, please contact our team before moving forward with the application

    If you have been arrested and/ or convicted of a crime in the USA, please contact our team before moving forward with the application

  • Please answer all questions, sign the Applicant Declaration of Intent and tick the box confirming you have read and understood this

  • This is where you will upload the Financial Guarantor letter you have received from the team at Saltire Scholars.

    You will need to select the following options:

    • I am receiving $1000 or more per month from an entity in my home country". 

    • Choose "Other" for Funding Entity

    • Enter Saltire Scholar Programme under "Other Funding Entity"

    • Type of Document: Select Guarantor Letter

  • If your passport is issued by a country where English is a recognised Native Language, please tick Yes.

    If your passport is issued by any other country (even if you are fluent), please check one of the other options.

    *The CIEE English Language Ability Form is available either on this webpage (see Supporting Documents) or from the DOCUMENTS section of your CIEE application.

  • Please enter all information to the best of your ability.

    *Pre-existing conditions are not covered by the CIEE insurance policy. If you require regular medication, you will need to cover the costs for this yourself. It may be possible to organise this from your home country but please speak with your medical provider/ doctor.

  • All participants must sign this

Final Check

As a J1 Intern (Internship USA) applicant, you will need to make sure the following documents are uploaded into the DOCUMENTS section of your online application (you will find this at the bottom of your application page)

Your Fees Disclosure - see Supporting Documents higher on this page or complete this here

*If your internship in the United States is not directly related to your field of studies, you will also need to upload a letter from your academic tutor, explaining details of the course and the links to the proposed internship.

When you have checked your answers and made sure everything is complete (including your Fees Disclosure and other supporting documents), please make sure you sign the overall application.

You should then email our team to confirm this part is ready to review

The Process

Once you have emailed our team to confirm you are ready to move forward with the application, we will review your completed appliction (including the completed online training plan.

As long as all sections are complete, we will then submit to the teams at CIEE in the USA.

Below is an outline of the process - each application is assessed individually however, so timelines and processes vary

We strongly recommend allowing a minimum 3/4 weeks for this

Step 1: Application Complete

Once both parts of your application are complete (your part and your online training plan), please email our team at saltire@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.

Step 2: We Submit to CIEE

We will submit your application to our colleagues in the USA for the process to start

Step 3: CIEE 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

Step 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 SEVIS ID/ DS-2019 NUMBER.

You will also receive an email from CIEE with specific instructions on how to download this and your SEVIS RECEIPT.

Step 5: Download your paperwork/ book your Visa Interview

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 (you should normally be able to download these 2-3 days after your DS-2019/ SEVIS ID shows in your CIEE BEACON account).

*Please bear this in mind when booking your interview date*

Step 6: Attend you face to face 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).

Step 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

  • Make sure you have the right paperwork before you get on the plane!

    What to take with you on the plane (these items MUST be in your hand luggage and with you at ALL times)

    • Your Passport

    • Your DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility

  • Once you have arrived in the USA, it is VITAL you register in SEVIS.

    You must do this within 10 days of arrival.

    Registration is a legal requirement and failure to do so will result in cancellation of your programme. If your programme is cancelled you will need to leave the US immediately.

  • Even unpaid interns should apply for a Social Security Number.

    It is legal for you to begin your program before a Social Security number has been issued, but you must have a receipt of application; this shows that you have applied.

    To apply, visit the nearest Social Security office 5 business days after you register for SEVIS. Bring the following documents with you:

    DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility

    Passport and J1 visa

Arrived?

Don’t forget to register in

SEVIS

Once you have arrived in the USA, Just log into your CIEE BEACON account and follow the prompts

Get in touch - Saltire Scholars

IST Plus
Camberwell Business Centre
99-103 Lomond Grove
London
SE5 7HN

saltire@istplus.com