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J-1 Student Intern Application

Step 1. Contact the department in which you would like to do an internship.  Typically, this contact will be a Professor or Scientist. 

Supporting documents you will provide to the department contact are as follows:

  • Transcript copy
  • Resume or CV
  • Statement of purpose or letter of intent
  • Letters of recommendation (if required by host department)

Step 2.  The hosting Professor or Scientist will review your application and supporting documentation. If the hosting Professor or Scientist offers you an internship, the Professor/Scientist will prepare a Training/Internship Placement Plan. The plan will be sent to you for review and signature.

The department may also request the following information from you to start the immigration process:

  • Biographical Data and Education History
  • Proof of funding, if not provided by the University of Maryland department
  • Proof of English language proficiency

Step 3. The Department will initiate your J-1 Student Intern request in iTerp. An email will be sent to you, which will allow you to access iTerp and upload the necessary documents. You will need to complete the following:

  • Biographical Information
    • Passport
  • Home institution certification
    • Sent to advisor at home institution for confirmation
  • Statement of purpose
  • Health insurance requirement
  • J-1 student intern attestation

Step 4. The request is completed and sent to ISSS. ISSS reviews the application packet for eligibility requirements.  If the application packet is complete, ISSS issues the J-1 DS-2019, signs the T/IPP and prepares a pre-arrival packet. 

Step 5.  The student intern will receive the J-1 DS-2019 and apply for a J-1 visa at the US embassy/consulate. They are required to:

The US embassy will issue a visa stamp in EV’s passport. Visa wait times vary from country to country. Some visitors go through additional clearance called Administrative Processing which adds 3-4 weeks to the visa application process. 

Step 6.  J-1 Exchange Visitor arrives to the University of Maryland

Upon arrival into the US, the Department of State requires that all J-1 visitors check-in with their sponsor (ISSS) within 30 days of your program start date.

1. Please meet with your Department to check in and let them know you have arrived to the university. Be sure to bring your immigration documents (i.e. passport, visa, entry stamp (in passport), I-94* and DS-2019) with you to this meeting. Ask the administrative contact in your department for your Faculty Identification number (FID).

*If you require assistance accessing your I-94, please contact a member of the Faculty & Scholar Advising Team.

2. Activate your J-1 program in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) by submitting your immigration documents electronically. This is a requirement of the Department of State (DHS). 

Immigration Documents required:

  • DS-2019
  • Visa
  • Passport (biographical page)
  • Entry stamp (in passport) or I-94
  • Proof of Insurance*

* J-1 scholars are required to maintain health insurance and medical evacuation and repatriation coverage for themselves and dependents for the duration of their J-1 program. 

3. ISSS reviews check-in documents and validates J-1 record in SEVIS.

4. Attend A J-1 Scholar Orientation

Orientation provides helpful information about your immigration status, health insurance, U.S. culture, the campus and local community, and resources that are available to you.  Attending orientation is a mandatory part of your J-1 program.  We recommend that you attend orientation the first available Thursday after your arrival.

After you complete Documents Check-In, you will receive an email with a link, inviting you to register for the next available J-1 Orientation.

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