Program Overview

Dear Host Organization Representative,

Thank you for your interest in hosting an international Intern/Trainee through the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE).

CIEE is authorized by the US Department of State to sponsor eligible candidates on structured and guided work-based learning programs as part of the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program. Recently, the US Department of State published new regulations for this program category with an effective date of July 19th, 2007. And, while the general purpose and aim of the program have not changed, there are a couple of new requirements that you need to be aware of as a prospective Host Organization. Therefore, we ask that you take the time to read through the following information carefully. Once you have done so, you will find instructions for downloading and completing the relevant program forms.

Intern vs. Trainee – The new regulations divide the Trainee category into two distinct categories:

Intern:  Interns must either be enrolled in and pursuing studies in a degree- or certificate-granting post-secondary institution outside the US or have graduated from such an institution no more than 12 months prior to their prospective program start date. 

Trainee:  Trainees must either be graduates for foreign post-secondary institutions with one year of work experience outside the US related to the field of their training, or have five years of relevant work experience outside the US.

Form DS-7002 – The new regulations require that each prospective Host Organization complete and submit for review an Internship/Training Placement Plan – known officially as Form DS-7002 – that includes specific objectives for the Intern/Trainee. This form not only allows CIEE as program sponsor to verify the appropriateness of the program, but it also serves to set clear expectations for both Host Organization and Intern/Trainee, helping to make sure that this experience proves rewarding for both parties. You will find a link to this form at the bottom of this page.

Screening of Host Organizations – The new regulations define more clearly what steps are to be taken by the sponsor in order to verify that a Host Organization is appropriate for the program and otherwise meets all eligibility requirements. Specifically, the new regulations specify certain pieces of data and information that sponsors will have to collect as part of the verification process, such as the size of the organization, number of employees, annual revenue, and employer ID number, amongst others.

Beyond this, the new regulations will also make site visits mandatory for any Host Organization that has not previously hosted with CIEE unless it has either a minimum of 25 full-time employees or generates a minimum of $3 million in annual turnover.

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If you have immediate questions about these new requirements, please contact us at 1-888-369-1620; otherwise, please click on one of the links below to continue.

If you are a Host Organization intending to provide training in Hospitality (including Culinary) or Tourism, please click here to continue.

If you are a Host Organization intending to provide training in any other occupational category, please click here to continue.