Office of Global Engagement
International Student and Scholar Services

J-1 Student Interns

The J-1 Student Intern category is for international students currently pursuing a degree at a postsecondary academic institution outside the U.S., who want to engage in an internship at Brown that will help fulfill their home institution degree requirements.

Breadcrumb

Effective 9/1/2026, an ISSS administrative fee of $375.00 is required for J-1 student intern requests. Proof of fee payment must be submitted with the J-1 student intern request submitted by the sponsoring Brown department to ISSS. The fee may be paid by the student intern or the sponsoring Brown department.

Individuals interested in coming to Brown University as a Student Intern must consult with the particular department they are interested in working with. Brown University departments should refer to the procedures outlined under the "Department Administrators" section.

Length of Stay

A J-1 student intern program must have a minimum length of three weeks, up to a maximum length of 12 months. Extensions beyond 12 months are not permitted.

In addition to the program length, a J-1 student intern may be eligible to enter the United States up to 30 days before the start of their program. There is an additional 30 day ‘grace period’ following the conclusion of the program to prepare for departure.

Requirements

  • Be currently enrolled in a degree program and in good standing at an accredited postsecondary academic institution outside the United States.
  • Be accepted into a student internship program at Brown University which fulfills the educational objectives for the Student Intern’s current degree program at her/his respective home institution.
  • Have verifiable English language skills sufficient to function on a day-to-day basis in the internship environment.
  • Be in the United States primarily to participate in a student internship program rather than to engage in employment or provide services to an employer.
  • Be in good academic standing at her/his home institution outside the United States.
  • Return to the academic program outside the United States and fulfill the educational requirements for that institution after completion of the student internship program.
  • Have sufficient funding to support self and any accompanying dependent family member for the entire stay in the United States, including housing and living expenses.
  • Present proof of health insurance for the duration of J-1 student internship program in the United States; proof of health insurance for all dependent family members is required as well.

All J-1 DS-2019 Requests must be received by ISSS at least 3 months in advance of the requested start date.

Procedures

All J-1 DS-2019 Requests must be received by ISSS at least 3 months in advance of the requested start date.  Some visa applications may be subject to additional Administrative Processing.

Department Administrators should coordinate the necessary documents listed below and forward to ISSS for DS-2019 processing.

  1. Faculty member who will supervise the internship verifies the prospective Student Intern’s eligibility. This may include a telephone interview with the Student Intern to determine sufficient English language proficiency.
  2. Department completes the ISSS J-1 Student Intern Request Form and submits it to OISSS along with:
  3. ISSS reviews application materials and issues Form DS-2019 and DS-7002 (Training/Internship Placement Plan (T/IPP).
    • Please allow up to 3 weeks for the processing of the request and issuance of Form(s) DS-2019 and DS-7002. Plan ahead and leave sufficient time for processing.
    • When Form(s) DS-2019 and DS-7002 are ready, ISSS will notify the department for pick up.
    • The department is responsible for sending the DS-2019 documentation to the exchange visitor in their home country.
  4. Faculty host signs the T/IPP and the Department sends the DS-2019 and T/IPP along with other supporting material to the Student Intern. The T/IPP needs to have an original signature by the faculty sponsor.
  5. Student Intern signs the DS-2019 and T/IPP, pays the SEVIS fee and applies for a J-1 visa at a U.S. consulate or embassy abroad.
  6. Student Intern completes mandatory check-in with ISSS within 30 days of DS-2019 program start date.
  7. Faculty member conducts mandatory evaluation(s) of the intern. Please refer to the J-1 Student Intern Evaluation Form.
    • For programs shorter than six months: one concluding evaluation; department returns the evaluation form to ISSS.
    • For programs longer than six months: one midpoint and one final evaluation; department returns both evaluation forms to ISSS.

Additional Information

  • Unless the Student Intern is currently studying at a U.S. institution, all International Student Interns must come to Brown University under the J-1 visa.
  • The Student Intern should NOT schedule their visa interview at the U.S. Consulate until their DS-2019 is ready. Pertinent information on the DS-2019 is needed to schedule an appointment at the U.S. Consulate for a J-1 visa.
  • If the program is funded by the exchange visitor’s government, other organizations or by the individual, a letter of award or a financial statement should be attached with the request form for review.
  • The Student Intern and the Department should pay close attention to the end date on Form DS-2019 for your exchange visitors. Extensions must be completed before the expiration date in DS-2019. Please don’t wait until the last minute to request an extension.
  • If the Student Intern will not arrive in the U.S. within 30 days of their anticipated J-1 start date, you must notify OISSS immediately. OISSS will need to amend the J-1 start date in their SEVIS record accordingly. Failure to do so will result in termination of their J-1 status.
  • Please remind your Student Intern that upon arrival all Brown University international students and exchange visitors are required to register at the Office of International Student and Scholar Services within 5 business days of arrival on campus. Failure to do so will result in termination of status.