**This website uses cookies**
We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you’ve provided to them or that they’ve collected from your use of their services. [Read our cookies policy here](/[countryCode]/cookies-policy/)

EU Flag Vector Long 5.svg

Europe

Outfit

Rock Salt, Cursive

USIT_Logo-White.png

USIT_Logo_Black.png

temp title

USIT_Homepage_Hero_2752.jpg

USIT

USIT Wave V3.png

Even faster by email. Sign up for the latest news and promos from the work and travel world

USIT_NewsletterIcon_V2.png

Good news travels fast

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Donec convallis iaculis fermentum. Fusce volutpat, ipsum vitae feugiat condimentum, massa ante fermentum diam, sed convallis erat leo sit amet ipsum.

USIT USP 1

USIT USP 2

USIT USP 3

USIT has been helping students to live, work and travel in the States since 1959! So trust US when we say we’re US obsessed. Book a video call with our intern team for all the intel on what placements you can do, where you can go, and when you need to apply. 

Book a video call

Cutout_AD.png

We can sponsor you via our Intern USA program to intern at any time of the year for up to 12 months. If you'd like to explore other internship durations or interning outside of your summer holidays, just [get in touch.](/contact-us/)

Extend your internship

- You must be aged 18+
- Any nationality studying in Ireland
- Your course must be at a recognised Irish college or university and be at least a two-year course that ultimately leads to a degree or higher qualification, or a full-time one-year Masters course
- Unfortunately online, lifelong, special purpose or distance learning courses are not permitted on this visa.
- You must be able to commit to the full duration of your summer placement
- You must have proof of USD $2,000 support funds
- Your placement must be related to your academic field of study
- Have a 1-5 month internship offer before we can start the process of sponsoring you


Am I eligible? 

J1 Career | €1,449 

Like our [J1 USA](/experiences/working-holidays/j1-usa/) program, J1 Career is open to Irish degree-level students who are eligible for a J1 visa. Check the full eligibility below. Already graduated? Check out our [Grad USA](/experiences/professional-internships/1-year-grad-usa/) program instead. 

**About the J1 visa**

You’re not able to apply for a J1 visa independently, it must be done through a US approved company. Together with our US partner, we provide the sponsorship for you to work in America, apply for your J1 visa and attend your embassy interview – with 1-on-1 support from our dedicated J1 team.


travel visa.svg

Who can apply for J1 Career?

Other.svg

Global

Hero_J1_Lia.jpg

Live and work in the USA for the summer – with 30 days after to travel. Secure your summer with a €99 deposit and select ‘USIT Job’ to get access to 1,000+ J1 summer jobs in America. 

What is a J1 visa?

J1 USA

Student only | Jun-Sep | Guaranteed job option

Hero_Grad_Holly.jpg

Just graduated? Hats off! Put what’s on paper into practice with a year working in your academic field in America – with the flexibility to find your position when you arrive.

USA Graduate program

18-30 | 1-year | Final year or grad

Grad USA

Hero_Camp_Aimee.jpg

Spend your summer living, earning and having the time of your life as an Activity Specialist or Camp Counsellor in the USA. Job placement and new BFFs included. 

 Summer camp in America 

Camp USA

18-30 | Jun-Sep | Placement included

Hero_Canada_Issy

What’s big, white and full of seasonal jobs? Your USIT working holiday in Canada. Complete with visa support, travel insurance, bank account set-up and the option to pre-arrange a summer or ski season job. 

Work in Canada for two years

Work Canada

18-35 | 2-years | Depart year-round

Work Canada 

More ways to work the world

Does USIT help me to source an internship? 

How many times can I intern in the US?

Can I intern at other times of the year?

What are the requirements of my internship?

When will a site visit be required?

Are there any industries I can't intern in?

Does my internship have to be related to my degree?

What is SEVIS?

What's the difference between J1 USA and J1 Career?

Got a question?

APPLY NOW FOR 2025

USA flag on a blue sky - Steven Abraham via Unsplash

News-jobs slider background.jpg

You’ll be exposed to different work opportunities and cultural environments than at home – helping you to grow personally as well as professionally. In an interconnected world, being culturally aware and global in your thinking can help your CV to stand out in a crowded pile! 

Global POV

Why intern abroad vs at home? 

America is the leading place in the world to do a professional internship - with every industry from finance to fashion represented. The US also has an established internship culture - with most large businesses hosting a summer internship program.

US internship culture 

Why intern in America?

Need help finding your placement? Our free Intern Hub breaks down the process of finding an internship into simple steps. Plus, gives you access to a directory of US employers who have internship programs or have hosted Irish interns before. 



Intern info + intel

Step-by-step guide to finding your internship 

USIT_Hero_AJ-0-1017_Nov24.jpg

Want to spend your college summer holidays getting ahead in your career - but don’t want to miss out on an Irish J1? Introducing J1 Career. Stand out and see the world with a 5-month summer USA internship. 

5 months' visa sponsorship + placement advice

 Intern in the USA this summer

JENZA_SquareSlider_VS-8-1050_Sep24.jpg

JENZA_SquareSlider_SP-0-1052_Sep24.jpg

Girl and guy stand in bridge in Central Park, NYC

JENZA_SquareSlider_HR-4-1013_Sep24.jpg

JENZA_List_SP-0-1040_Sep24.jpg

usa flag.svg

The ‘slightly more studious’ sidekick to our legendary J1 USA program, J1 Career has all the summertime fun of a J1 – but with a 5-month internship instead of a traditional J1 hospitality or retail job. We sort your sponsorship paperwork, medical insurance, and you'll have access to our Intern Hub for support finding your US internship.

What is USIT J1 Career?

GradHat_JENZA_Black.svg

Icon ionic-md-pricetag.svg awesome

Icon awesome-birthday-cake.svg

Icon awesome-calendar-alt.svg

Icon material-work.svg awesome

Icon material-event-available.svg awesome

Icon ionic-md-checkmark-circle-outline.svg

Helping to bridge the gap between college and your career, J1 Career is the chance to put your academic skills into a professional work environment over your summer holidays. You’ll get short-term professional internship experience directly related to your field of study – all while having a summer to remember living and travelling in the USA. 

Why intern in America on your J1 this summer? 

Getting practical work experience can be essential to nailing that first opportunity after college. You’ll get professional training in your academic field, grow your skillset, and bag that all important employer reference for your CV.

work job.svg

Professional experience

If you’re considering heading over to the States on our 1-year Grad USA program after graduation, a summer internship now is a great way to test the water. You’ll discover if it’s right for you, plus build a network of valuable contacts.

energy handshake.svg

Future opportunities

Just like a traditional J1, you’ll get to live and work in a US destination of your choice for the summer. Plus, your J1 visa allows you to travel for 30 days either side of your placement. CV goals + travel goals.

Desert_JENZA_Black.svg

Explore America

JENZA_PortraitSlider_AR-0-1049_Sep24.jpg

Amber image

- Other than some restricted fields (check our FAQs for more) you can intern in most industries anywhere in the USA – as long as your training position is related to your area of study. 
- You can intern for up to five months between May-Oct, with 30 days before and after your placement to travel around America.
- Your internship can be paid or unpaid. If paid, the salary will depend on the type of employer and location, but typical salary ranges from USD $2,000-3,000 per month in the major US cities.
- Your internship must be office based, full-time (minimum 32 hours per week) and not be more than 10% clerical based. Jump to our FAQs for the full requirements to pass onto prospective employers.
- You must have an internship secured before we can start the process of sponsoring you via the J1 Career program.

You’re responsible for finding your own internship in America, but don’t worry if you don’t have an internship lined up – we’re here to help you start your search


What types of internship can I do?

You can request a call with our dedicated intern team where we’ll dive into your degree and career goals – advising on the types of positions you can target.

travel phone.svg

Info call

From defining your career goals to building your personal brand and converting your CV to a resume – our [Intern Hub](https://jenza.com/infohub/intern-hub/) is full of advice to help find and secure your placement.

Laptop_JENZA_Black.svg

Intern Hub

On our Intern Hub you’ll also find a directory of US employers (along with details on how to connect with them) who have previously hosted our USIT interns.

Employer directory

JENZA_PortraitSlider_CW-9-1051_Sep24.jpg

Cara image

Get ahead this summer with J1 Career. Intern in the USA for 5 months. Earn and explore with USIT.

J1 Career | USIT work and travel 

Student | May-Oct | Summer internship

J1 Career

Check your eligibility in the **visa + cost** section, hit **Apply now** and create your profile to start your application. You can then access your online account anytime from the top of this page. Once you’ve paid your deposit, book a time to have your compliance call with our team. This can take up to 45 minutes and is a US Government requirement to check your suitability for this program - plus it's a great time to ask any questions.

You need to have a US internship secured before we can start the process of sponsoring you. If you don't have one confirmed already, check out the resources on our [Intern Hub](https://jenza.com/infohub/intern-hub/) or arrange a separate call with our team to talk about how you can go about finding your placement.


Secure your position + pay your deposit

Your US employer will need to fill out your DS-7002 Training Plan - detailing their company information, your training goals and information about your role. All the instructions and links to the form are provided in your online account. Once completed, we send this to our US sponsor for approval to ensure it meets US Department of State requirements. Please note, if a site visit to your host employer’s workplace is required, this can take an additional 21 days. Check our FAQs for the scenarios and cost.

Training plan + placement vetting

Once your internship is approved and you’ve paid your balance, your work papers (DS-2019), training plan (DS-7002) and SEVIS receipt will be sent to you electronically. You’ll need these to apply for your J1 visa. This involves an online application (DS-160) and in-person appointment at the US Embassy or Consulate in Ireland. The timeframe here is dependent on appointment availability.

Sponsorship + visa application

We recommend booking your embassy appointment the day you receive your DS-2019, as it's not unusual for embassy appointments to run out – especially in the lead up to summers. The embassy will keep your passport for up to 10 days, returning it by post along with your visa stamp. Unfortunately, we don’t have control over the availability of visa appointments or the outcome of your appointment.

Attend your US Embassy interview

Once you have your J1 visa, it’s safe to book your flights, travel insurance, and confirm any accommodation you have sourced. Make sure you book a return ticket – as you’ll need this to get through US immigration. You'll also have an online orientation to make sure you’re perfectly prepped for life in the USA.

Book flights + pre-departure orientation

You can arrive in the US up to 30 days before the start date on your DS-2019. When you arrive, you’ll need to download a i-94 form from the US government website and go to a local social security office to get your Social Security Number. Your US sponsor will check in with you regularly to make sure your training is going to plan – plus they’re on hand for 24/7 emergency support.

Arrive in the US

Once you’ve found your internship, it can take up to 12 weeks to get you through the sponsorship, internship vetting and visa process. We advise applying as early as possible to ensure that we can get you out to the US for May/Jun when most summer placements will start. 

When do I need to apply? 

about.svg

Providing it’s connected to your academic field, you can work in most industries and sectors – helping to grow your skillset and boost your future employability. Here are a few of the industries you can work in and skills you’ll pick up. 

About

tech.svg

Working on cutting-edge innovations in AI, app development, or cybersecurity - gaining technical expertise and problem-solving skills. 

Internship + skills

finance.svg

Insights into financial analysis, investment strategies, and risk management - fostering strong quantitative and analytical abilities. 

marketing.svg

Brand management, digital marketing strategies, and consumer behavior analysis - enhancing creativity and communication skills. 

Marketing and advertising

non-profit.svg

Learning about fundraising, policy advocacy, and program development – contributing to social causes while building up your strategic skills. 