BridgeUSA J1 Internship Program

Major Fields

• Hospitality and Tourism Management/Business Administration/Marketing-Finance (application fee: $450)

 

Internship Duration

Internship programs are available for 6, 9 and 12-month periods.

 

Monthly Stipend

The intern income ranges from 1,500 to 2,500 USD per month depending on the company’s hourly wage policy. Generally, a week of work lasts approximately 40 hours. However, overtime will be paid if the intern is asked to work over 40 hours per week.

 

Visa Process

To be admissible to the program, interns must first apply for an exchange visitor visa (J-1) as per the rules and regulations of the United States Department of State. Assistance necessary to obtain a J-1 Visa (applying and obtaining the DS-2019 form) will be provided by ITEC. To validate a J-1 Visa, each candidate must individually apply to the U.S. Consulate or Embassy. The final decision to validate a J-1 Visa or not belongs to the U.S. Consulate or Embassy.

 

Housing

Usually, the host company provides housing options (at the intern’s expense). If the host company is unable to provide housing, ITEC will assist the intern in finding temporary or permanent housing (at the intern’s expense).

 

Health Insurance

Participants will be covered by mandatory health insurance for the duration of the program (included in the program fees). Health insurance does not include coverage for pre-existing conditions.

 

Professional Development (Training)

Interns usually take part in professional training seminars conducted by their host companies. Interns will be awarded a certificate at the end of these seminars based on regular attendance and course success.

 

Orientation

Before leaving for the USA, each participant must attend a mandatory orientation seminar. Several subjects will be covered during the orientation, namely:

• General information about the USA, such as living conditions, lifestyles, cultural similarities & differences.
• General information about the host company and region or city
• Performance and behavior expectations of the host company
• Responsibilities as an intern

 

Travel Arrangements

Interns are responsible for their travel expenses and the airfare to travel to the USA. However, the departure date will be determined by ITEC consultants. ITEC can also assist interns in obtaining discounted airfares.

 

Ongoing Consultancy

ITEC will continue to provide support and guidance to interns, host companies and its partnering organizations. The ongoing Intern Program will be evaluated periodically and each intern and host company will be asked to provide follow-ups and evaluations regarding the performance of the intern.

 

Program Fees

6-month program fee → $ 2,990

9 to 12-month program fee → $ 3,900

12-month fee for programs other than hospitality (Business Administration, etc.) → $ 3,990

Includes all services listed above – application fee is excluded.

 

New Application Requirements;

• Must be 18 years of age or older
• Currently enrolled in a university program pursuing a Bachelor’s or Associate’s Degree in the field of interest of the internship or
• Be within 12 months of graduation from a university
• Minimum of 2 to 4 months of industry experience
• Upper intermediate to intermediate level of English

 

Application process

1. After having decided to apply to the program, the applicant must provide their resume to ITEC and/or fill out the online application form on the ITEC website.
2. If the applicant is deemed eligible to our programs, he or she will be invited for an interview with ITEC consultants.
3. Applicants who pass the interview and evaluation are then invited to complete an official application.
4. To complete the official application, the applicant must submit the required documents, including the application fee, which is nonrefundable.
5. The placement process will then officially begin. Expect the process to take 6 to 16 weeks (under normal circumstances).
6. If the candidate secures a position, an official letter offering the position with the details of the conditions including hours worked per week, allocation, training plan, housing, etc., will be sent to the participant for review and signature.
7. In addition to the placement agreement (between the intern and the host company), the intern will need to sign an agreement with ITEC. This agreement outlines the responsibilities and duties of all parties, including the intern and ITEC. ITEC cannot be held responsible for any intern who violates any conditions of the agreement during the course of the program.