Host Company Site Visits

A Guide

Who needs a Site Visit

Host organisations new to the programme may require a site visit from a CIEE-designated representative, in order to ensure a positive, productive professional environment. This is a U.S. Department of State requirement.

As part of the process, the designated representative will want to see the location, take a few pictures of the site of activity, the intern or trainee's work space and collect a business business card.

They will then complete a report for the Compliance team - which will allow your application to be approved.

*Should a Site visit show a US Host Organisation to not be a suitable location the application will be denied sponsorship

For most hosts, visits are not necessary. For example, a company is exempt if they have hosted an intern or trainee with CIEE within the last three years or if they are an academic institution. In addition, federal, state, or local government offices are exempt from this requirement

A Host company will be exempt from the Site Visit requirement if they meet both of the following criteria

  • More than 25 full-time staff

This number of staff must be at the location in which the J1 Intern or J1 Trainee will be undertaking their training

  • Annual revenue in excess of $3 million

If a Host Company does not meet the above requirements but HAS hosted an international intern or trainee through CIEE in the past 3 years, a Site Visit *may* not be necessary.

If they have moved location or have changed names since the previous Site Visit, however, then they will be required to have a Site Visit

How Much Extra does this Cost?

The cost of a Host Company Site Visit is £245 in addition to the standard programme fees

As a general rule, a site visit will add an additional 2 weeks to the application processing time. During the visit (this may be conducted online), the representative will view and take photographs of the company environment, including the prospective intern/trainee’s workspace. This may also be conducted virtually.

Once a Site Visit has taken place, this will be reported back to the compliance teams in the US with a recommendation on suitability for a J1 Intern or J1 Trainee to undertake their programme at this location.

The Visit itself should take no more than an hour.

Additional Processing Time

Under US State Department regulations we are unable to accept applications for J1 Interns and J1 Trainees in "Home based office locations" - unless they meet certain strict criteria.

Please contact us if you think this applies to you.

In almost every circumstance a Home Based office will be denied sponsorship unless it can show completely independent working areas with no access required through the home. This will include separate entrances and exits, separate bathroom and kitchen facilities.

Home Based Offices

Placements at multiple Locations

If your internship or traineeship will be based at multiple locations it may be necessary to conduct a Site Visit at each location that does not meet the criteria.

Please note these will be charged at the standard fee (£245) for each separate location