The J-1 Student Intern category is available for students who are currently enrolled in and pursuing a degree at an institution outside the U.S. The J-1 Student Intern category is typically used for undergraduate students who are coming to Binghamton University to conduct research or complete an internship. Requests for J-1 Student Intern DS-2019s must be submitted by an academic department at Binghamton University. If the student you are inviting is pursuing a graduate degree and has attained at least the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree, please review the request process on our J-1 Scholar page.
Eligibility
The internship must
- Be at least 32 hours/week and no more than 20% clerical work
- Expose student intern to American techniques, methodologies, and technology
- Exist solely to assist the student intern in achieving the objectives of their participation and does not exist to fill a labor need in the department or displace an American worker
- Be under the supervision of a Binghamton University faculty member and will not in any way involve a staffing or employment agency
- Be primarily in person at Binghamton University. Remote work is very limited for J-1 Student Interns.
- Not include unskilled labor, child or elder care, aviation, clinical work, or patient care or contact
- Be 12 months or less in duration
The prospective J-1 Student Intern must
- Be currently enrolled and in good academic standing in a degree program at a postsecondary academic institution outside the US
- Have been offered an internship at Binghamton University that fulfills educational objectives in the degree program at the student’s home institution
- Be planning to return to their home institution to complete their degree upon completion of the internship
- Have sufficient funds to cover their entire stay in the U.S. including living expenses
- Have verifiable English language skills sufficient to carry out the internship
The J-1 Student Intern and faculty supervisor must agree to
- Complete an evaluation at the end of the internship. For internships lasting longer than 6 months, an additional evaluation is required at the midpoint.
DS-2019 request process
Complete the J-1 Student Intern request forms
- The J-1 Student Intern DS-2019 Request Form must be completed by the sponsoring academic department. Do not send this form directly to the student intern. Please type the form and ensure that all fields are complete; any incomplete information will delay processing of the DS-2019. Ensure the form is signed by the sponsoring professor and the appropriate dean, vice president, or their designee.
- The Internship Data and Department Certification Form must be completed by the Binghamton University faculty supervisor. Please provide detailed answers as this information will be entered into a U.S. Department of State form (Form DS-7002).
- The Home Institution Certification Form must be completed by the dean or academic advisor at the student intern’s home institution outside the U.S.
- Confirm the student intern’s English language proficiency. Departments may confirm English language proficiency by providing a score report from a recognized English language test, obtaining signed documentation from an English language school, or conducting an interview in person or by video conferencing.
Gather the required documents
- Student intern’s curriculum vitae/resume
- Passport biographical page for student intern and any dependents
- Invitation or appointment letter from the appropriate dean or vice president, including any funding from Binghamton University, if applicable.
- Documentation of funding for the student intern
- The student intern must show documentation of $1,400/month for living expenses, $211.03/month for health insurance (rates subject to change; review the health insurance rate structure for the current rate, listed under Scholars/Students on OPT or AT), and a $95 ISSS administrative fee. The fees for health insurance and the administrative fee will be billed directly to the sponsoring department.
- If the department will charge any program/affiliation fees, that should be noted on the request form and the student must show additional funding for that cost. Departments are responsible for billing the student intern for any fees.
- If the student will be accompanied by dependents, they must show an additional $700/month for a spouse and $500/month for each dependent child.
- Any bank statements must clearly state the name of the bank, name of the account holder, currency, date, and available balance. If the student intern will be supported by a friend or family member, that person must provide a letter of support in addition to the bank statement.
Submit a complete application to ISSS
Combine all of the required documents into a pdf file and email them to ischolar@binghamton.edu. If possible, please include a version of the Internship Data and Department Certification form in which the text can be copy/pasted.
Sign the DS-7002 and keep in contact with the student intern and ISSS
- ISSS will review the request and issue the DS-2019 and DS-7002 within ten business days of receiving a complete request with all supporting documents. We will email an electronic DS-2019 and DS-7002 to the student intern and the department contacts listed on the request form.
- The faculty supervisor must sign the DS-7002 (ink or digital signatures are accepted) and email an updated document to the student intern.
- Departments should keep in touch with the student intern and let ISSS know if there are any changes to the student intern's arrival plans.
Important information on J-1 status
Arrival
The student intern may arrive up to 30 days before the DS-2019 start date and must arrive by the DS-2019 start date. Student interns may not begin work before the start date on the DS-2019. If the student intern’s arrival will be delayed, the department must notify ISSS to update the SEVIS record and issue a new DS-2019 and DS-7002, if applicable.
Required ISSS orientation
All student interns must report to ISSS upon arrival for a brief orientation. They should bring their passport, DS-2019, and DS-7002 to this orientation. Federal regulations require the student intern to check in and for ISSS to provide specific information to the student intern about immigration requirements, health insurance, Binghamton University, and life in the U.S. Failure to attend this required orientation will jeopardize the student intern’s immigration status.
Health and accident insurance
All student interns and their dependents are required to maintain sufficient health insurance in the U.S. ISSS advisors will review health insurance requirements and enroll the student intern at the ISSS orientation. ISSS will bill the department for the costs of health insurance and the $95 ISSS administrative fee.
Tax and Social Security issues
If a student intern is being paid by Binghamton University, they will need to apply for a Social Security Number. ISSS provides information on this process at orientation. All student interns are required to file tax returns for each year in the U.S. and can use nonimmigrant tax preparation software that ISSS provides.
University access
The academic department is responsible for submitting HR Forms and helping the student intern get a university ID card, a university email, and access to any other necessary university resources.
Evaluation requirement
Student interns and their supervising faculty member will be required to complete an evaluation at the end of the internship program. If their stay at Binghamton University is longer than 6 months, they will need to complete an additional evaluation at the mid-point of the internship. ISSS will send email reminders to complete the evaluation, which must be submitted before the student intern leaves the U.S.
Extensions
If the student intern will extend their stay, the department must request an extension at least 60 days before the end date. Student interns are limited to a maximum of 12 months.
