Embassy Interview

If your Trainee Program Application is approved, CIEE will issue a ‘DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility’ in your name along with other pre-departure materials that will be provided to you by your CIEE representative. Once you have these, the final step in the application process is the mandatory visa interview at the US Embassy or Consulate in your home country or country of residence. During this meeting, a final decision will be rendered by a US Consular Officer with regard to your application for a J-1 Trainee Visa. Your DS-2019 form merely serves as indication that CIEE has deemed you eligible for the J-1 Trainee program; however, the final decision of suitability sits solely with the US Consular Officer in charge of your case.

While procedures for booking and conducting interviews with US embassies and consulates are somewhat standardized, they do vary in certain respects from country to country. Your CIEE representative should be able to assist you in understanding local procedures and requirements, or you may choose to contact the US Embassy or Consulate directly to learn more. In either case, it is important that you understand the relevant procedures and timeline for completing this interview requirement before finalizing any of your travel plans.

To view a list of US embassies, please follow this link.