IEC News Room |
International Exchange Center Practice Advisories
Understanding the Final Rule for J-1 Trainee and Intern Programs
New final rules became effective Sept. 9, 2010 for J trainee and intern programs 22 C.F.R.§ 62 (2010). With few exceptions, the final rule will produce little change to the way J trainee and intern programs have been administered since the interim-final rule of 2007.
Top 25 Things Every Practitioner Should Know About International Students and Scholars
An AILA practice advisory with helpful advice concerning the representation of J-1 clients.
What is the Australia/United States of America Work and Holiday Visa?
Recently AILF has been fielding questions regarding the Work and Holiday Visa announcement made in September by the government of Australia. The announcement has generated much excitement as it has been reported in the U.S. press as an unlimited opportunity for young Americans and Australians to work in each other’s countries. Sounds too good to be true? What’s really involved with the Australian Work and Holiday visa?
Other News Items
How to Write a J-1 Training Plan
The IEC video, "How to Write a J-1 Training Plan" provides tips and explainations about how to write a DS-7002 Training Plan for J-1 Trainee/Intern programs.
J-1 Alumni Impact Survey
Do the J-1 intern and trainee programs sponsored by the American Immigration Council produce a lasting and positive impacts on the lives of the J-1 visa holders? Do the J-1 visa holders leave with a lasting and positive impression of the United States? The responses from our alumni survey indicate an overwhelming “Yes.”
Survey results show that our alumni “Learned, Left and Leveraged” their experience in America.
- They learned from their host company sponsors and about American culture–20% arrived in the US with a very positive impression but 59% left with a very positive impression.
- The vast majority left when their visas ended—89% reported that they left the United States after the conclusion of their J-1 program.
- After returning home they leveraged their new skills into new jobs and expanded responsibilities—95% of the respondents reported that the J-1 training or internship has had an impact on their current career
Between 2007 and January 2011, approximately 1200 J-1 Interns and Trainees completed programs sponsored by the American Immigration Council. 678 were invited by e-mail to participant in the Alumni Impact Survey. 79 or 11.7% of those invited answered the survey and the results indicate that our J-1 Visa Program participants overwhelmingly report a positive experience with our program.
J-1 Interns and Trainees Go Home
Key results show that 89.3% left the United States after the conclusion of their J program. As sharing one’s positive experience with family, friends, and colleagues is an important goal of the exchange visitor visa, the result is a positive indicator that US Department of State objectives are being met.
Impressions of the United States Improve
The change in overall impression of the United States from before to after participating in the J-1 program is notable. Only 20% of the respondents reported having a very positive impression of the United States before participating on the J-1 program; 58.7% reported a very positive impression after participating. 12% reported having a negative or very negative impression of the United States before participating on a J-1 program; 2.7% reported having a negative impression after participating and no one reported a very negative impression.
The very positive impressions are not limited to the J-1s themselves. 64.3% of Trainees who brought their family as J-2 dependents reported that family members described their impressions of the United States at the end of the J program as very positive.
The J-1 Training or Internship had an Impact on Careers.
94.7% of the respondents agreed that the J-1 training or internship has had an impact on their careers. 70.7% strongly agreed. 89.3% reported that they maintained professional contact with Americans they met during their J-1 programs. Even more impressive is the 90.7% who have maintained personal/social contact with Americans they met during their J-1 programs.
From the words of one of the respondents, “I found people not like those we see in tv.politics and citizens are not the same. Because before I came to the US, I use to see it in news in Iraq so taught that all Americans are that way, but thanks God I didn’t die with that idea in my head.”
Satisfied with the Support from the American Immigration Council
97.3% of the respondents reported they either agreed or strongly agreed that the American Immigration Council was helpful throughout their J-1 experience.
