J-1 Hospitality Program

 Intern/Trainee participants have the opportunity to gain practical industry training through various rotations throughout your assigned Host Employer. Along with training, participants are also introduced to American culture and encouraged to exchange their culture with Americans. 

The Intern/Trainee program is an incredible chance to intern with one of the most renowned companies in the US, make friends from all over the world, and travel in the United States.

The Intern/Trainee program is not a work program, and it is not a tourist program. It’s a cultural exchange program and the intention is NOT to fill seasonal unskilled labor needs. Most importantly, the Intern/Trainee program is not a way to make money. The money that you earn during your work portion of the program is meant to help cover some of your expenses, but it will not be enough to cover them completely. The money you earn is not meant to reimburse your program costs or send money back to your home country. 

Intern Program:

•  You must be a foreign national who has verifiable English language skills sufficient to function in their internship environment.

You must also meet one of the two criteria below:

• is currently enrolled and pursuing studies at a degree or certificate granting post-secondary academic institution.
• OR has graduated from such an institution no more than 12 months prior to the internship program start date.

Trainee Program:

• You must be a foreign national who has verifiable English language skills sufficient to function in their training environment. For this program, that usually means that you should have upper intermediate to advanced English knowledge.

You must also meet one of the two criteria below:

• has earned a degree or professional certificate from a post-secondary academic institution outside the United States and gained at least one year of related work experience outside the United States in their occupational field.
• OR has five years of work experience outside the United States in their occupational field.

Applicants who meet the eligibility must also meet the financial requirements of the program. Please see the cost below:

Membership Fee: $500TT

Program Fee: Spirit Cultural Exchange: $3,835USD 

Note: A flexible payment plan is available.

Note the following non-refundable fees paid to the US Embassy:

• Sevis Fee: $220USD
• Visa Fee: $185USD