Sponsoring and Extending 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 in an undergraduate degree program abroad 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.
Eligibility
If the student does not have the bachelor's equivalent, s/he must meet all requirements below for the J-1 Student Intern category:
The student’s internship must:
Before You Sponsor
If yes, the student qualifies for a scholar category of J-1, with either
- an academic appointment if conducting collaborative research
- a Visiting Scholar designation if conducting independent research
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 a 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 the DS-2019 within 5 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.
How to Apply
CUMC departments should contact ISSO-CUMC.
Pay the $500 fee
The fee can be paid by the student at Visiting Scholar Administration Fee Payment or by your department.
Gather your documents
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.
Learn more about the SSP
To learn about the process and what each part covers, please visit our SSP Overview page.
For online help and tutorials, visit our SSP Department Guide.
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.
Upload the completed DS-7002 through the SSP application
This completed DS-7002 Training/Internship Plan should have trainee and supervisor signatures (page 1 and page 5).
We will contact you
Allow up to 5 business days for us to review and process your application. We will notify you by email when your student intern’s new DS-2019 is shipped.
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. This is a Department of State regulation for the J-1 Student Intern category.
- 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.
After the Evaluation Form is complete
- The sponsoring department must retain intern evaluations (electronic or hard copy) for at least 3 years following completion of each intern’s program.
- Please email the completed Evaluation to the ISSO
Extending a J-1 Student Intern
Before You Extend
The maximum duration for J-1 Student Intern is 12 months. Funding for additional time is $2800/month for the J-1.
How to Extend
CUMC departments should contact ISSO-CUMC.
If your scholar is pursing an undergraduate degree at their home institution, please proceed to information on the J-1 Student Intern webpage.
Gather your documents
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.
Learn more about the SSP
To learn about the process and what each part covers, please visit our SSP Overview page.
For online help and tutorials, visit our SSP Department Guide.
We will contact you
Allow up to 5 business days for us to review and process your student intern’s application. We will email your student intern when we have shipped the extended DS-2019. We will send a copy of the extended DS-2019 to you.