Keys:

DHS = U.S. Department of Homeland Security: Overarching U.S. government agency under which USCIS falls

DOL = U.S. Department of Labor, determines prevailing wage, certifies labor certification applications

USCIS = U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services: Adjudicates immigration applications such as H-1B and F-1 OPT

Nonimmigrant Category

F-1 Student Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

J-1 Exchange Visitor Student on Academic Training

J-1 Exchange Visitor Student Intern

Eligibility
  • Enrolled at a U.S. college or university
  • Integral part of an established curriculum
  • Directly related to current U.S. degree
  • Enrolled at a U.S. college or university
  • Tied directly to current program objective at U.S. school
  • Enrolled in a degree program at a foreign institution where will return to continue
  • Sufficient English language proficiency
  • Internship must fulfill educational objectives for current degree program
  • No clinical patient care or contact
  • Internship is a minimum of 32 hours/week

Maximum Length of Stay
  • Generally, 12 months

Depends on time spent in academic program as cannot exceed this time

  • Up to 18 months if completing bachelor's or master's degree
  • Up to 36 months if completing doctorate
  • 12 months (3 week minimum)

Estimated Time for Processing
  • 10-20 working days
  • 10-20 working days
  • 10 working days for DS-2019
  • Additional 4-6 weeks if need J-1 visa

Costs to Department
  • $0
  • $0
  • $100 ISSO Scholar Fee

Departmental Request
  • Must issue job offer letter
  
  • Request made through Cystart
  • Cystart Form: Add New Person (if not a former ISU student, scholar or employee)
  • Cystart Form: Exchange Visitor Application
  • Other Forms: Export Control Worksheet
  • Other Forms: Participation Agreement (for unpaid scholars)

Who is Involved?
  • U.S. school at which student will be enrolled throughout the visit to ISU
  • School or organization which issued the DS-2019 for the J-1 program (program sponsor)
  • Department
  • ISSO
  • U.S. Embassy if currently abroad

Special Departmental Requirements
  • Must issue job offer letter
  
  • Monitor internship objectives
  • Complete evaluations every six months

Notes
  • Home institution determines if integral/related to degree
  • May be paid or unpaid
  • May be part time or full time
  • School or organization determines if related to J program
  • May be paid or unpaid
  • Additional requirements determined by student's current institution or organization
  • May be paid or unpaid
  • If subject to 212(e), cannot become H-1B
  • 12-month bar to return as Exchange Visitor professor or research scholar
  • $100 cost for each extension

Dependents (child under age 21, spouse)
  • Dependents enter U.S. in F-2 status
  • Not eligible to work
  • May study part time
  • May study full time if advocational only
  • Dependents enter U.S. in J-2 status
  • MMay apply for work authorization from USCIS
  • May study part time or full time
  • Dependents enter U.S. in J-2 status
  • May apply for work authorization from USCIS
  • May study part time or full time