Please identify the right J-1 visa category for your internship.

We have created a checklist for you listing all documents to be submitted. Please send your application in PDF format via email to your case manager. 

Your case manager at the GACC will then review your documents and give you feedback. Please note that corrected or missing documents should be submitted as soon as possible so as not to delay the application process.

Important advice for completing the J-1 visa application form can also be found in our FAQ section.

Once we have received all completed documents from you and your host company, the mandatory English assessment interview has been conducted, and we have received proof of payment for your J-1 visa application fees, your application is considered complete, and we will begin processing your application. 

We typically ask for documents to be submitted about 10 weeks before start date, and will issue your DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility and SEVIS number about 8 weeks before start date of your internship. Both will be sent via email.

With your DS-2019 and SEVIS number, you must then apply for your visa interview at a US Consulate in home country or country of residence. To do so, you must fill out Form DS-160 on the consulate’s website. A fill-out guide can be found in our download section. You will also have to pay the consulate fee of $185 and the SEVIS fee of $220.

With your J-1 visa in your passport, you are now ready to travel to the US. On day one of your program, you are prompted via automated email to submit your check-in documents to us: a check-in form with your address in the US, a scan of your DS-2019 as received back from the US Consulate, a scan of your visa in your passport, and Form I-94 indicating entry to the US. Once you are checked in, you may apply for a SSN. You will need your SSN if you receive a stipend in the US.

We provide ongoing support during your J-1 visa stay in the US. If you need authorization to travel abroad while on your J-1 visa (travel validation), please contact your case manager. We also have a 24/7 hotline available for emergencies: +1 646-920-1786. Incidents such as traffic accidents, a lost passport, or ending your program early must be reported to your case manager.

We also collect a mid-term and final evaluation from you and your supervisor. This is important feedback for us, and we are required by the US Department of State to collect these evaluations. Failure to submit may result in your program being incomplete.