J-1 Student Intern Eligibility Requirements

The applicant must demonstrate that they meet all of the following:

Currently enrolled in a degree program at an accredited post-secondary academic institution outside the United States;
In good academic standing at the home university;
Recommended by a faculty advisor at the student’s home academic institution;
Will return to the academic institution abroad in which they are enrolled to fulfill and obtain the degree after completion of the internship;
English language proficiency skills sufficient to function on a day-to-day basis in the internship environment;
Invited by an NC State faculty member;
Is primarily coming to the U.S. to engage in an internship program rather than to engage in employment;
Has sufficient finances to support themself and any accompanying dependents during the internship period. The minimum funding requirement is as follows: $2,000 per month, $900 per month for the first dependent, $500 per month for each additional dependent.

The internship itself must meet all of the following:

Is integral to the student’s academic program and will fulfill educational objectives for the student’s degree program abroad;
Exposes the student intern to American technologies, methodologies, and techniques and expands upon the student intern’s existing knowledge and skills;
Last a duration of 2 to 12 months;
- Eligibility for repeat participation: If the Student Intern is in the U.S. for more than 6 months, he or she automatically becomes subject to the 12-month bar on repeat participation. This bar entails that the student is not eligible to come to the U.S. in the J-1 Research Scholar or Professor category for 12 months after completion of their program.
Be full time (minimum of 32 hours per week);
Be evaluated by the intern and supervisor periodically.