J Exchange Visitor Program
The J Exchange Visitor category was developed to implement the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act (Fulbright-Hayes Act) of 1961. The overall purpose of that Act, and the objective of the Exchange Visitor category, is to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries by means of educational and cultural exchanges. Georgia Institute of Technology is authorized to sponsor individuals with the primary purpose of participating in an educational and cultural exchange and who will participate in academic or scholarly activities.
Student Intern Overview
Internship programs are offered to graduate students and undergraduate students whose U.S. internship/practical field experience will fulfill the educational objectives for his or her current degree program at his or her home institution. Internship programs provide unique opportunities for interns to gain practical experience while conducting research in their academic field. The Intern program is a structured work-based learning program that:
- Reinforces an intern's academic study
- Exposes the intern to American techniques, methodologies, and expertise and expands their knowledge and skills
- Enhances the intern's knowledge of American culture and society.
Student Intern Eligibility Requirements include;
- Must be currently enrolled and pursuing a degree at a postsecondary academic institution outside the United States
- U.S. internship must fulfill the educational objectives for current degree program at the home institution
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Must have English language skills sufficient to function on a day-to-day basis in the internship.
- Verified through a sponsor-conducted interview, by a recognized English language test, or by signed documentation from an English language school.
- Must be primarily in the United States to engage in a student internship program rather than to engage in employment or provide services to an employer
- Must be accepted into a student internship program at the postsecondary accredited academic institution listed on the Form DS-2019
- Must be "in good academic standing" at the home institution outside the United States
- Must return to the academic program outside the United States and obtain a degree from such academic institution after completion of the student internship program
- Must have sufficient finances to support himself or herself and any accompanying dependents for their entire stay in the United States, including housing and living expenses (not subject to student funding source restrictions)
- The internship must be full-time; minimum of 32 hours per week.
- Student interns may participate for "up to 12 months for each degree/major." Extensions beyond 12 months are not possible.
Requesting a J-1 Student Intern at Georgia Tech
- International student will identify a full time GT faculty sponsor (adjunct faculty not eligible) to supervise their internship at GT. The faculty sponsor will identify the program is suitable to the exchange visitor's background, needs, and experience; and exchange visitor possesses sufficient proficiency in the English language to participate in his or her program and function independently in the community.
- Faculty sponsor will work with their designated HR representative to submit a request for J-1 Student Intern Request under the Department Services forms at iStart.gatech.edu.
- J Intern Application forms (applicant and sponsoring department) will include information necessary to determine the eligibility of the foreign student, the conditions and suitability of the program, financial support from the department or personal funds, and other details needed to properly issue the DS-2019.
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The Office of International Education will create the DS-2019 and DS-7002 which will be signed by the OIE (RO or ARO) will be distributed to the GT academic sponsor (HR admin.), the home institution administrator/faculty and the International student Intern.