The Student Intern category is available to foreign students currently enrolled in and pursuing a degree at a postsecondary academic institution outside the United States, whose U.S. internship will "fulfill the educational objectives for his or her current degree program at his or her home institution." Student interns may participate in a student internship program for up to 12 months for each foreign degree/major.

The purpose of the Student Intern program is to promote international exchange.

Information:

Intern Eligibility
Department Requirements
Internship Program Requirements
Steps for Departments

Intern eligibility:

•    Be currently enrolled in and pursuing a degree at an accredited postsecondary academic institution outside the
      United States
•    The U.S. internship must fulfill the educational objectives for the intern’s current degree program at his or her 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 engage in a student internship program rather than to engage in employment or
      provide services to an employer.
•    Be accepted into a student internship program at the postsecondary accredited academic institution listed on his or
      her Form DS-2019.
•    Be in good academic standing at his or her home institution outside the United States.
•    Return to his or her academic program outside the United States and fulfill their education requirements for that
      institution after completion of the student internship program.
•    Have sufficient finances to support himself or herself and dependants for their entire stay in the United States,
      including housing and living expenses.
•    Have proof of insurance for the duration of their program in the United States.

Department requirements:

•    Accept the student into its student internship program.
•    Verify the student's English language ability through a sponsor-conducted interview.
•    Complete the Training Plan (T/IPP) with the assistance of the International Affairs office.
•    Conduct an evaluation for each Student Intern. All programs must do a concluding evaluation, and programs lasting
      more than six months must do a midpoint and concluding evaluation.
•    Ensure the student intern has sufficient finances to support self and dependents for the entire stay in the United
      States.
•    Not involve in any way a "staffing/employment agency."

Internship program requirements:

•    Be full-time (at least 32 hours per week).
•    Consist of no more than 20% clerical work
•    Fulfill the educational objectives for the intern’s degree program at his or her home institution.
•    All tasks assigned must be necessary for the completion of the student internship program.
•    A paid internship requires special approval from the intern’s dean or department head at his or her home institution.
•    Expose the participant to American techniques, methodologies, and technology, expand upon the participant's
      existing knowledge and skills, and not duplicate the student intern's prior experience.
•    Not place a student intern in any position that involves unskilled or casual labor, child care or elder care, aviation, or
      any other kind of work that involves patient care or contact.
•    The internship cannot serve to fill a labor need.
•    Exist solely to assist the student intern in achieving the objectives of his or her participation in a student internship
      program
•    Consist of work-based learning, rather than ordinary employment or unskilled labor.
•    Not involve a staffing/employment agency in any way.
•    Not displace "American workers" (including full or part-time, temporary or permanent).   

Steps for departments:

1.    Department verifies prospective intern’s eligibility, including conducting a telephone interview with the intern to determine English Language Proficiency.
2.    Department fills out the “Student Intern DS-2019 Request Form” and submits it with supplemental documents to International Affairs.

Student Intern Application Packet:

•    Student Intern DS-2019 Request Form
•    Training Plan (T/IPP) signed under “supervisor” (tips and example)
•    UO Department Statement
•    Intern Statement
•    Letter of enrollment and good standing from home institution (example letter)
•    Proof of finances
•    If the internship is paid: a letter of approval from the intern’s dean or department head of his or her 
      home institution and copy of UO contract (an be combined with the letter of enrollment.)

3.    International Affairs reviews the Training Plan and returns to the department.  Department obtains intern's signature
       on the Training Plan and forwards to International Affairs.
4.    International Affairs issues a DS-2019 Form (immigration document), signs the “sponsor” portion of the Training
       Plan, and returns these forms to the department in a visa documents packet.
5.    Department sends the visa documents packet to the intern.
6.    Intern signs the Training Plan, pays the SEVIS fee, and applies for a J-1 visa to enter the U.S.
7.    Intern completes a mandatory check-in with International Affairs within 30 days of their DS-2019 program start
       date.
8.    Department conducts mandatory evaluations of the intern.  If the program is more than 6 months long: one
       midpoint and one concluding evaluation.  If the program is less than 6 months long: one concluding evaluation.
       Department returns intern evaluation forms to International Affairs.

*We strongly recommend departments begin the process at least 3 months before the intern’s intended arrival at the UO.