Frequently Asked Questions
As with any job search, your chances of finding your perfect internship will be greatly improved by pursuing as many different options as possible. We recommend searching online job announcements, making direct contact with companies, and networking with personal and professional contacts in the U.S. Intrax offers internship placements in the field of hospitality only at this time.
Una empresa de acogida es la empresa u organización estadounidense en la que te formarás y recibirás supervisión durante tus prácticas o programa de formación. La empresa de acogida es distinta del patrocinador de tu visado.
The host company must have an Employer Identification Number. An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is also known as a Federal Tax Identification Number, and is used to identify business entities in the U.S.
La empresa anfitriona debe tener un seguro de indemnización por accidentes laborales o una prueba de exención legal. El seguro de indemnización por accidentes laborales cubre a los trabajadores lesionados en el trabajo, ya sea en las instalaciones del centro de trabajo o en cualquier otro lugar, o en accidentes de tráfico mientras se encuentran en viaje de negocios.
Internship: You can apply for another internship. However, your Internship Plan DS-7002 needs to prove that you are not duplicating your first internship. You need to spend one additional school term/semester or, if already graduated, a minimum of 90 days outside the U.S. between the two internships.
Training: You can apply for another training after having completed an internship or training program. However, your Training Plan DS-7002 needs to prove that you are not duplicating your previous training. Also, you must wait two years before applying for a new training program.
Intrax does not support visa status changes in the U.S. The J-1 program is a cultural exchange program and all J-1 participants are expected to return to their home country at program end and share their experiences and their newly gained skills. All applicants are expected to apply for the J-1 visa in their home country or country of residence.
Yes, you can change the dates before you arrive in the U.S., but need to inform Intrax so that we can make the changes in SEVIS (Student Exchange Visitor Information System) accordingly.
As a J-1 Intern or Trainee, you are eligible to receive payment for your time on program. You would need to negotiate the amount of the compensation directly with your host company. Host companies should be aware of the Department of Labor guidelines outlined in Fact Sheet: #71: Internship Programs Under The Fair Labor Standards Act to confirm whether or not the internship position should be paid according to minimum wage guidelines. In addition, host companies and participants should consider the cost of living for the U.S. city where the program will take place, as well as the cost of travel and basic living expenses when determining compensation for the J-1 Intern/Trainee.
Regardless of whether or not you will be receiving compensation from your host company while on program, Intrax requires all participants to have access to a minimum of $2,000 each month for the duration of their program. If a participant will be receiving less than $2,000 each month while on program, Intrax requires the participant to submit proof of financial resources or copies of bank statements confirming access to funds. Intrax will also consider funds received from home country organizations or other home country sources as proof of financial resources. Host companies may also provide non-monetary compensation in the form of housing, commuter or other benefits, but this will be considered as separate from the $2,000 monthly requirement.
Yes, if you are receiving a stipend for your internship, you will need to pay taxes. However, you are not required to pay all U.S. taxes. J-1 interns and trainees are exempt from paying Social Security, Medicare, and Federal Unemployment.
Finding an affordable place to live is one of the biggest challenges. As a participant, you are required to secure safe and suitable housing before you depart for the U.S.
The host company may have some housing options to suggest, although it is not their responsibility. You may use your resources: using the Internet, asking for suggestions from your host company, and consulting maps of the area are all important steps when searching for housing. Once you have found potential housing, you must consider the following questions:
- ¿Puedo permitírmelo?
- ¿Hay medios de transporte adecuados para ir y volver de mi empresa de acogida?
- ¿Es un entorno seguro para vivir o viajar de noche?
- ¿Será cómodo llegar a mis prácticas?
Remember, although it is not required that you have housing organized for your entire Internship period before you leave your home country, you are required to have at least temporary housing arranged.
Make sure that you pay all required housing deposits and complete all required forms and agreements by the specified deadlines to ensure that your housing is secured for your arrival.
Helpful websites to consult:
www.craigslist.org
www.padmapper.com
www.easyroommate.com
www.roommates.com
You can apply for a Social Security number no sooner than 2 business days after having checked in with Intrax and receiving confirmation by email. If the Social Security Administration is NOT able to verify your status and cannot accept your application, make sure that you request an official certificate/receipt or an official letter from the Social Security Administration confirming your attempt to apply for a Social Security Card. This notice will serve as proof that you attempted to apply for your Social Security card and should be shown to your host company before beginning your program.
To apply for a Social Security Card, take the following items and visit your local Social Security office:
- Solicitud a la Seguridad Social
- Formulario DS-2019
- Pasaporte con su visado J-1
- I-94
- Una copia de su Plan de Formación
- Additional identification documents if your passport is less than one year old
To find the Social Security office nearest you, visit www.ssa.gov or call 1-800-772-1213 (toll free).
To find the Social Security office nearest you, visit www.ssa.gov or call 1-800-772-1213 (toll-free).
Sí. Si ha participado anteriormente en un programa de intercambio, el número de la Seguridad Social que se le expidió durante ese programa seguirá siendo válido durante toda su vida. Por lo tanto, no tiene que volver a solicitar una nueva tarjeta.
If you are not receiving an internship stipend, you are not required to apply for a Social Security Card. Please note, however, that a Social Security Card can be very useful even if your internship is unpaid, as the card and number function as a means of personal identification, which might help you with opening a bank account, signing a cell phone contract, etc.
While we realize that airfare is best when you book your flight well in advance, the U.S. embassy warns against early booking: “Notice: The Consulate General cannot be held responsible for extra costs due to changing tickets or re-booking flights if delivery is delayed.” We therefore strongly urge you not to purchase tickets until you have received your visa and passport in the mail.
No.
Officially, you can enter the U.S. up to 30 days before your internship start date, and you need to leave 30 days after completing your internship (grace period). Participants that are terminated from the program are not entitled to the grace period. Please note that your travel insurance will cover you only until the end of your internship. For the grace period after your internship has ended, you will need to purchase additional insurance coverage.
Upon entering the U.S., foreign visitors have their two index fingers scanned and a digital photo taken to match and authenticate their travel documents at the port of entry. When you go through U.S. Immigrations you will have to provide the Immigration Officer with your stamped DS-2019 form and Passport. Make sure that you receive all documents back before you proceed to U.S. Customs.
If you would like to travel outside the U.S., you need to contact Intrax. You will be asked to complete a Travel Validation Request Form and return to our office.
Help us add questions to the list! Please email your questions to our J-1 Visa Service Team.
Yes, but all applicants must have completed at least 2 academic terms of their foreign degree or certificate program by the internship start date.
You can apply as soon as you have found a host company and as soon as you can name your supervisor. Sometimes, we need to ask host companies to re-send documents because of missing signatures, erroneous training plans, readability of documents and so forth. You should leave enough time for document revisions.
Generally, passports of international applicants who wish to do a program in the U.S. need to be valid for six more months after the end of their program. However, there are quite a few exceptions to this rule, the so-called “six-month club” — This document on the DOS website gives a good overview of the countries where passports only need to be valid for the time participants stay in the U.S. (including a possible grace period). Some of the U.S. embassy webpages also mention this topic in their FAQ section.
La proporción 5:1 se aplica si una empresa de acogida acoge a más de un becario o estudiante en prácticas simultáneamente. En caso de que se aplique el ratio, la empresa deberá demostrar que tiene 5 empleados a tiempo completo por cada becario o estudiante en prácticas. Para saber si se aplica el ratio, pedimos a las empresas de acogida en nuestro primer correo electrónico que nos informen sobre el número de becarios o estudiantes en prácticas internacionales que acogen actualmente. La proporción 5:1 es una política de Intrax diseñada para garantizar que cada participante reciba suficiente orientación y supervisión a lo largo de su programa.
Se trata de un requisito del Departamento de Estado relativo a las empresas anfitrionas que no tengan unos ingresos anuales de 3 millones de dólares o un mínimo de 25 empleados. Un representante de Intrax debe asegurarse de que la empresa anfitriona más pequeña pueda proporcionar recursos y equipos para una verdadera experiencia de aprendizaje sobre los métodos empresariales estadounidenses.
As of December 12, 2025, nonimmigrant visa applicants are required to schedule their visa appointment at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in their country of nationality or residence. Nationals of countries where the U.S. government is not conducting routine nonimmigrant visa operations must apply at the designated embassy or consulate, unless their residence is elsewhere.
For additional information visit the Travel State Governement website.
Non-Emergency:
If you need to see a doctor but it is not an emergency, you should:
- Llame a su compañía de seguros para que le recomienden el centro médico más cercano.
- Recibir tratamiento
- Pagar la factura médica (en muchos casos tendrá que pagar primero al médico)
- Guardar recibos y registros
- Presente una reclamación a su compañía de seguros
- Esperar la decisión de reembolso
If you are going to see a doctor for a non-emergency medical problem, check your health insurance policy to make sure that type of treatment is covered. For example, most international health insurance policies limit coverage for pre-existing medical conditions and do not cover things such as general doctor visits or sexually transmitted diseases. Once accepted you can view additional insurance information under the "Resources" tab in your MyIntrax account.
Emergency:
If you need emergency care, go immediately to the nearest emergency room or urgent care center. If you are unable to take yourself to the emergency room or urgent care center, dial 911 immediately for assistance.
Extending Travel Insurance Coverage
As a participant on the J-1 Program it is your responsibility to maintain your health insurance for the duration of your stay. Many participants choose to stay an additional 30 days in the U.S. after they have finished training. For this reason an additional four weeks of medical insurance can be purchased from Intrax. This purchase can be made by calling Intrax during normal office hours and must be done before the program end date listed on your DS-2019 form.
Los familiares del titular de un visado J-1 pueden solicitar un visado J-2. El cónyuge y los hijos solteros (menores de 21 años) pueden acompañar al titular del visado J-1 a Estados Unidos. Los titulares de un visado J-2 pueden permanecer en Estados Unidos mientras el titular del visado J-1 mantenga su estatus oficial válido.
Los siguientes documentos son obligatorios para obtener un visado J-2:
- Formulario de solicitud J-2 cumplimentado
- Una copia de su pasaporte en vigor
- A clear copy of a marriage certificate OR, if a dependent is a child, a copy of a birth certificate
If the marriage or birth certificate is not in English, an official English translation of the certificate Intrax needs a letter from the J-1 Visa holder or his immediate family stating that the family possesses adequate financial resources to support themselves while on program - Tres talones de pago del J-1 de los meses anteriores si el J-1 ya está en el programa
- Extractos bancarios o justificantes financieros de J-1, J-2 o sus familiares directos
- A local phone number
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