Sponsoring a J-1 Student Intern
The J-1 Student Intern Category is not to be confused with J-1 Students who are enrolled in a degree program at Columbia. The J-1 Student Intern refers only to a student currently enrolled in a degree program abroad (usually undergraduate) who visits Columbia to engage in a research-based internship that is integral to the curriculum of the home institution's degree program to which the intern will return.
Department User Guides
- CUIMC: Compass User Guide
- Morningside/Manhattanville: Overview of SSP (Scholar Sponsorship Portal) and SSP User Guide
Eligibility
A prospective J-1 Student Intern must meet all requirements below
The student’s internship must:
Before You Sponsor
If yes, the student may qualify for a scholar category of J-1, with either
- an academic appointment if conducting collaborative research
- a Visiting Scholar designation if conducting independent research
NB: Students currently enrolled in a 5-year engineering program at a French polytechnique leading to the Diplome d'Ingenieur qualification are not considered to have an equivalent of a bachelor's degree.
Submit application 3 months before the start date.
This allows time for the student intern to obtain or renew a passport, if needed, and apply for a J-1 visa at a U.S. consulate.
We will issue Form DS-2019 within 10 business days of receiving a complete application.
The J-1 Student Intern category is typically used when the student will not yet have the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree by the start of the internship, but on occasion may be used for graduate students as well.
How to Apply
Pay the $500 fee
Student interns pay by credit card via this form (unless paid by the department).
This fee applies to those requesting J-1 visa sponsorship to further their own independent research or to complete a practicum from their home school and who will not hold an academic appointment. This university fee is separate from any U.S. government SEVIS/visa application fee.
Gather your documents
The online application for a J-1 Student Intern visa document has several components. Documentation and information is supplied by the department, the prospective Student Intern, and the Faculty Sponsor of the internship. When you log in to the Compass portal, you will be prompted with instructions on what you need to do.
Submit your application
Log in to the Scholar Sponsorship Portal (SSP) with your UNI and password to submit all three parts of your application
This application consists of 3 parts. All 3 parts must be completed before we receive your application. Contact us if you are a department administrator requesting access to the SSP.
Form DS-7002:
Email us the electronic fillable version of the DS-7002 that you have completed (not scanned). You may want to refer to the Guide for Completing the DS-7002.
Need more help?
For a description of the process, visit our SSP Overview page. Visit our SSP Department Guide for technical assistance.
This application consists of four (4) parts. All 4 parts must be completed in order to submit your application.
Please complete the Request Access to Compass form if needed. Please refer to our CUIMC Department Compass User Guide for detailed instructions.
We will contact you
Allow up to 10 business days for us to review and process your application. We will notify you by email when your student intern’s new Form DS-2019 is ready.
Reporting Requirements
Both the student intern and the host professor/PI must complete and sign the Intern Evaluation Form at the end of the intern's stay, required by U.S. Department of State regulation..
- All internships require a final evaluation.
- Internships lasting longer than six months also require at least one additional evaluation at the midpoint of the program.
You must retain intern evaluations (electronic or hard copy) for at least 3 years following completion of each intern’s program.
How to Submit the Evaluation Form
Email the completed and signed Evaluation to ISSO Morningside/Manhattanville.
Student Interns are able to log in to Compass and complete their part of the evaluation. After you submit the electronic form to ISSO-CUIMC, an automatic email will be initiated to your Columbia professor/faculty sponsor with Part II he/she must complete.
How to Extend
The maximum duration in the United States for a J-1 student intern is 12 months. Since they return to their home institutions following their internships, it is rare that an Intern requires an extension to their stay beyond their original program duration.
An extension needs to be processed before the expiration date of the current Form DS-2019. If you have an Intern who does need an extension, please contact: