J-1 Student Intern Visa
Summary
This page provides information on J-1 Student Intern visas, including eligibility requirements and how to maintain your status.
J-1 Student Intern visas are for students participating in an internship program in the United States that will fulfill the educational objectives of their current degree programs at their home institutions. Students must be enrolled and pursuing a degree in an academic institution outside the United States.
To be eligible for a J-1 Student Intern visa sponsored by Harvard, individuals must meet the following criteria:
- Currently enrolled in and pursuing a degree in accredited post-secondary academic institutions outside the United States
- High school students are not eligible
- In good academic standing with home institution
- Participating in an internship program in the United States that will fulfill the educational objectives of their current degree programs at their home institutions
- May participate in a student internship program for up to 12 months per degree level
- Must possess English language skills sufficient to function on a day-to-day basis in the internship environment
- Must have sufficient funding to support entire stay in the U.S.
- Must return to home institution upon completion of the internship
- Must comply with the requirement of having health insurance while participating in the J program
J-1 Student Interns cannot participate in any clinical care positions or any other position that involves patient contact. Any work that would require them to provide therapy, medication, or other clinical or medical treatment is prohibited (e.g. sport or physical therapy, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, psychological counseling, social work, speech therapy, or early childhood education).
J-1 Student Interns are not Harvard students and are not eligible for some of the Harvard student benefits such as housing, health insurance, or access to athletic facilities. Student Interns must confirm with their faculty sponsors on whether they may be eligible for any benefits.
It is important that J-1 student interns maintain legal status by complying with applicable federal government regulations. By definition student interns are fulfilling requirements for an overseas degree by engaging in activities outlined on Form DS-7002. J-1 Student interns are not Harvard students and are not eligible for some of the Harvard student benefits such as housing, health insurance, or access to athletic facilities. J-1 student interns must confirm with their faculty sponsors on whether they may be eligible for any benefits.
Initial Registration Requirements
All new J-1 student interns must register their arrival with the HIO within 30 days of the start date on their Forms DS-2019.
Maintain Required Health Insurance
J-1 student interns and their J-2 dependents must maintain required health insurance (including basic Medical Health Insurance, Medical Evacuation and Repatriation insurance) throughout their stay in the United States.
Change of Residential Address
Immigration regulations require that all non-citizens report their residential addresses within 10 days of entry to the United States and subsequently report any changes of address within 10 days to the Immigration authorities. J-1 student interns may report their address changes in the Change of Address section of the HIO website.
Required Travel Documents
Please review the travel information page on the HIO website before making plans to travel abroad. A J-1 student intern should bring all required travel documents to the HIO to speak with an advisor if needed.
Evaluation Requirements
J-1 Student Interns are required by federal immigration regulations to submit evaluations to the HIO to confirm that the program objectives are met. Student Interns and their supervisors must complete and submit evaluations to the HIO in a timely manner.
- For internships less than 6 months in duration, only a final evaluation must be submitted prior to the end of the internship.
- For internships lasting more than 6 months, two evaluations are required: one midpoint evaluation and one final evaluation (use the J-1 Student Intern Evaluation Form for all evaluations). The midpoint evaluation must be submitted midway through the U.S. internship period; the final evaluation must be submitted prior to the end of the internship.
Clinical Care
You cannot participate in any clinical care positions or any other position that involves patient contact. Any work that would require you to provide therapy, medication, or other clinical or medical treatment is prohibited.
J-1 Student Interns may be employed and conduct their internship at the location(s) listed on their Forms DS-2019. Paid employment is permitted only if it is described on the Form DS-2019 issued to the J-1 Student Intern.
Student Interns can be paid by Harvard or a Harvard affiliated hospital if that is the site of activity.
Distinction Between Internship and Employment
The sole purposes of J-1 Student Internship is to promote the educational objectives of the foreign student’s current degree program. The internship must be considered “work-based learning” rather than ordinary employment or unskilled labor. The J-1 Student Internship cannot be used to fill a labor need or displace any American workers. A host department cannot use a staffing agency or service to recruit J-1 Student Interns. The internship must meet all the requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
See the Travel & Re-entry page for details.
Program Transfer
J-1 student interns may request a J-1 program transfer to another institution as long as they continue in the Student Intern category and they do not exceed the 12-month limit of time. All transfer requests must be made before the end date on your DS-2019 form.
Leaving Harvard
Grace Period
J-1 student interns who have completed their programs at Harvard are given an additional 30-day grace period for departing the United States, applying to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to change from J-1 status to another status (if they are not subject to the two-year home country residence requirement), or transferring to another J program sponsor if their J-1 category allows them more time to stay in the United States.
Final Evaluation
At the end of the internship period, J-1 Student Interns are required by federal immigration regulations to submit final evaluations to the HIO to confirm that the program objectives are met. Evaluations must be completed by the J-1 student Intern and their supervisor and submitted to the HIO prior to the end of the internship via email with subject line: J‐1 Evaluation.
Updating Contact Information
Scholars who are leaving Harvard need to make sure that their affiliated Harvard departments or hospitals have been informed of their departure. They should also update their contact information with the appropriate payroll office so their Forms W-2 (Wage and Tax Statement) will be mailed to their new addresses.
The J visa carries several bars and requirements that J visa holders and their departments should be aware of. These are referred to as the two-year home residency requirement and the 12- and 24-month bars. Make sure you fully review and follow these requirements.