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.



On 01/01/2023, the funding requirement for J-1 applicants will increase to $3,000 per month.

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
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- Enrolled and in good academic standing in an accredited postsecondary academic institution outside the United States and resume studies at the home institution upon completion of the internship.
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- Coming to engage in a structured research‐based program at Columbia University that will fulfill the educational objectives for the current degree program abroad.
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- Have English language proficiency sufficient to function on a day‐to‐day basis in the program.
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- Intend to return to his or her academic studies following completion of the internship in order to fulfill the home country degree requirements.
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- Have sufficient funding for the visit to cover living expenses ($2,800/month) and be able to provide proof of health insurance that will be valid for the duration of the stay in the U.S.
The student’s internship must:
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- Provide a structured work‐based program that will reinforce the student’s academic study upon return to the home institution.
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- Be full‐time (minimum of 32 hours/week), and involve not more than 20% clerical work.
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- Must not displace U.S. workers.

Before You Sponsor
If yes, the student may qualify for a scholar category of J-1, with either
- an academic appointment if providing employment services to the University
- 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
This fee applies to those requesting J-1 visa sponsorship as a Student Intern to further their own independent research or to complete a practicum from their home school.
Student interns pay by credit card via this form (unless paid by the department).
CUIMC departments will be instructed to provide a chart string when completing a J-1 intern application in Compass (see Step 3).

Gather Your Documents
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- Document
- Cover Sheet
- Description
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- Document
- Appointment letter on letterhead stating dates and salary, if any
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- Needed only if a paid position
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- Document
- Provost’s Office approval of designation. See the Provost's Office Process for the Designation of Visiting Scholars/Scientists
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- Printout of the email from [email protected] confirming the dates for which the designation has been approved
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- Document
- Curriculum Vitae
- Description
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- Document
- DS-7002 Training/ Internship Placement Plan
- Description
- Use our sample form as a guide (do not submit this)
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- Document
- Signed English Language Proficiency Verification Form
- Description
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- Document
- J-1 Student Intern Home School Certification
- Description
- The date the student intern will resume studies at home institution must be after the date the internship ends
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- Document
- Medical Insurance Acknowledgment Form
- Description
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- Document
- Online Visiting Scholar Administration Fee Payment receipt for the $500 Columbia University J-1 Student Intern fee
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- If not paying through the department via "chart string"
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- Document
- Funding documentation showing ability to cover current estimate (Refer to the Funding Documents Checklist)
- Description
- $2800 per month (*increase to $3,000 on 1/1/23)
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- Document
- Copy of passport ID page
- Description
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.
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- Document / Information
- English Language Proficiency Verification
- Who's responsible
- Department
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- Document / Information
- Funding documentation showing ability to cover living expenses ($2,800 per month increasing to $3,000 on 1/1/23 . Refer to the Funding Documents Checklist)
- Who's responsible
- Department
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- Document / Information
- Information needed to complete the Training/Internship Placement Plan
- Who's responsible
- Faculty Sponsor
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- Document / Information
- Passport biological data page
- Who's responsible
- Student Intern
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- Document / Information
- Health Insurance attestation
- Who's responsible
- Student Intern
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- Document / Information
- CV or resume
- Who's responsible
- Student Intern
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- Document / Information
- Home school certification with date the student intern will resume studies after the date the internship ends
- Who's responsible
- Student Intern
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- Document / Information
- $500 fee
- Who's responsible
- Chart string provided by the department)
- Document / Information
- Who's responsible

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.
- Part 1
- Completed by the department (contact us if your UNI and password isn't working)
- Part 2
- Completed by the scholar (per the scholar’s email address entered in Part 1)
- Part 3
- Completed by the department (the department user will get an email when the scholar completes Part 2)
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.
- Part 1
- The department and Faculty Sponsor complete the Training/Internship Placement Plan (Form DS-7002)
- Part 2
- The student intern gives consent to the Training/Internship Placement Plan (Form DS-7002) and submit the Health Insurance Attestation form
- Part 3
The department completes the English Language Proficiency Verification form
- Part 4
The Faculty Sponsor and the Departmental Administrator/HR Director review and certify the application

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:
