Cultural Exchange Intern Program
Cultural Exchange Intern Programs are designed to allow students of degree-seeking programs or recent graduates from foreign universities to come to the United States to gain exposure to U.S. culture and to gain professional experience their chosen field of study. Programs are also designed to enhance Americans' knowledge of foreign cultures and skills through an open interchange of ideas between participants and their American associates. These internships require a J-1 visa, which is a non-immigrant cultural exchange visa issued by the U.S. Department of State.
The purpose of Cultural Exchange Intern Programs is to increase mutual understanding and provide opportunities for cultural and professional learning between citizens of the United States and citizens of other countries by means of educational cultural exchange. The focus is on enhancing the exchange visitor’s skills in his or her field of study through participation in a structured internship program.
Internship Fields:
We can assist interested candidates with finding exchange-internship programs in a variety of fields for up to 12 months. Training fields include:
*We can provide interns with positions in health-related occupations, such as learning how to create and use medical devices or learning about program planning and implementation in health education. We regretfully cannot offer programs that involve physical interaction with patients or direct patient care.
**We can arrange internships for those interested in curriculum development or educational administration. We regretfully cannot offer programs that involve direct teaching.
Eligibility Criteria: Applicant must meet the following criteria:
Intern Responsibilities:
Internship Site Responsibilities:
We will provide:
U.S. State Department Information: The J-1 intern visa is one of several visas offered through The U.S. State Department's Bureau of Cultural & Educational Affairs' Exchange Visitor Program. This program provides countless opportunities for international candidates looking to travel and gain experience in the United States. The multifaceted programs enable foreign nationals to come to the U.S. to demonstrate special skills and receive on the job training for different periods of time. Such programs are also intended to increase participants' understanding of American culture and society and to enhance Americans' knowledge of foreign cultures and skills through an open interchange of ideas between participants and their American associates. A key goal of the Fulbright-Hays Act, which authorizes these programs, is that participants will return to their home countries and share their experiences with their countrymen. Click here to find out more about the J-1 intern visa and other visas offered through the Exchange Visitor Program.
How to Apply:
If you are interested in applying:
Download the Cultural Exchange Application here.
The application must be completed in its entirety in order to be considered!
In case you have any questions in regard to the program or the application process please contact our Director Mark Poeppelman at [email protected]
The purpose of Cultural Exchange Intern Programs is to increase mutual understanding and provide opportunities for cultural and professional learning between citizens of the United States and citizens of other countries by means of educational cultural exchange. The focus is on enhancing the exchange visitor’s skills in his or her field of study through participation in a structured internship program.
Internship Fields:
We can assist interested candidates with finding exchange-internship programs in a variety of fields for up to 12 months. Training fields include:
- Architecture
- Health-related Occupations*
- Arts & Culture
- Information Media
- Business
- Law
- Commerce
- Library Science
- Communications
- Management
- Education**
- Public Administration
- Engineering
- Social Services
- Finance
- Special Education**
*We can provide interns with positions in health-related occupations, such as learning how to create and use medical devices or learning about program planning and implementation in health education. We regretfully cannot offer programs that involve physical interaction with patients or direct patient care.
**We can arrange internships for those interested in curriculum development or educational administration. We regretfully cannot offer programs that involve direct teaching.
Eligibility Criteria: Applicant must meet the following criteria:
- You are applying from your home country
- You are a student enrolled in a degree-seeking program from an accredited university or college outside of the United States, or you will have graduated from an accredited university or college outside of the United States within 12 months of the proposed internship start date
- You have the ability to understand and communicate in the English language
Intern Responsibilities:
- Providing round-trip airfare
- Negotiating any compensation from the internship site
- Arranging living accommodations
- Arranging travel to and from internship site
- Paying the program's administrative fee (this can be paid by the internship site as well)
- Arranging the required health insurance (we can provide assistance if needed)
- Committing to learning and professional development
- Submit all required paperwork (evaluations, etc.) in a timely manner
- Adhere to all J-1 intern visa regulations during the training program
Internship Site Responsibilities:
- Creating a well-designed DS-7002 internship plan for the intern
- Providing a supervisor for the intern
- Sign a contract with CIP/CIPUSA for hosting the intern
- Providing the intern with an orientation to the U.S., local city, and U.S. culture
- Assisting the intern with living accommodations, getting acquainted with the U.S., traveling to and from the internship site, and educational/cultural opportunities
- Providing the intern with an overall enriching internship program
We will provide:
- Support in designing an internship plan
- Sponsorship for the J-1 intern visa by arranging the DS-2019 forms
- Health insurance (if needed)
- Information about the U.S.
- Support with cultural or educational activities if desired
- Evaluations throughout the program
- Support throughout the program
U.S. State Department Information: The J-1 intern visa is one of several visas offered through The U.S. State Department's Bureau of Cultural & Educational Affairs' Exchange Visitor Program. This program provides countless opportunities for international candidates looking to travel and gain experience in the United States. The multifaceted programs enable foreign nationals to come to the U.S. to demonstrate special skills and receive on the job training for different periods of time. Such programs are also intended to increase participants' understanding of American culture and society and to enhance Americans' knowledge of foreign cultures and skills through an open interchange of ideas between participants and their American associates. A key goal of the Fulbright-Hays Act, which authorizes these programs, is that participants will return to their home countries and share their experiences with their countrymen. Click here to find out more about the J-1 intern visa and other visas offered through the Exchange Visitor Program.
How to Apply:
If you are interested in applying:
- Fully complete the Cultural Exchange Intern Program application in English
- Clearly type or print on the application form (if we cannot read the application it will not be processed)
- Include a complete mailing address, home or work telephone number and active email address
- Include 1 passport photo with this application
- Include an American style resume
- Include copies of your degrees or certificates
- Include two professional letters of reference
Download the Cultural Exchange Application here.
The application must be completed in its entirety in order to be considered!
In case you have any questions in regard to the program or the application process please contact our Director Mark Poeppelman at [email protected]