Content
Breadcrumbs
Off-Campus Internships
The GTI’s Off-Campus Student Intern program enables eligible undergraduate or graduate students enrolled at one NC State’s partner universities overseas to engage in a student internship (externship) in their field of study with a company in the United States. Students (or their academic advisors) must identify an appropriate company placement. The GTI does not identify internship opportunities for interested students or provide a list of companies who are looking for possible interns. Students at universities that do not have a valid “Memorandum of Agreement” with NC State or who will not be returning to their home university upon completion of the internship are NOT eligible. To determine if your university is an official partner, view the list of partner schools on the OIA website.
Student interns must be in good academic standing at their home university and the internship must be integral to their academic program back home and be recommended by their advisor. Students must have remaining at least one full semester of courses at the home university to return to after the internship period – this program is NOT for students who have graduated.
Students who are accepted into the program should carefully read through the application instructions below. Student interns must complete a virtual check-in with NC State before the start of their internship. They must also submit an evaluation at the end of the internship. Failure to follow these steps could result in the cancellation of your visa and hurt future chances or returning to the United States.
Application Process for Off-Campus Interns
Student Actions |
Company Actions |
|---|---|
1) The prospective student intern finds and secures an internship offer from a US company/organization. 2) The prospective student intern submits an online application (go.ncsu.edu/iac_apply) and enters the name(s) and email address(es) of the home school faculty advisor(s) who will receive a separate email message with further instructions about submitting a recommendation. 3) At the end of the online application, the student will be directed to pay the administration fee online by using a major credit card. Be sure the credit card can be used in the United States and that the information is entered accurately. No personal credit card information is seen or stored by the University. This fee is not refundable or transferable. The administration fee does not have to be paid at the same time as the online application is submitted - the payor may log on later to the application fee site and pay at a different time (by entering the application id), but the application will not be processed until the administration fee has been paid. 4) The prospective student intern will receive an email verification after submitting the online application and will be given an International Application Code and a link to the GTI Application Center. 5) The prospective student intern uploads the supporting documents listed below, including the Training/Internship Placement Plan (Form DS-7002) that should be completed with the internship supervisor at the company. 6) Once the supporting documents are completed, uploaded, and approved, the GTI will issue a visa certificate (Form DS-2019) within 10 (ten) business days and mail the necessary documents to the student intern. 7) The student intern should apply for the J-1 Student Intern visa and bring the official acceptance letter, the signed DS-7002, and the DS-2019 to the visa interview. |
1) The company sends a job offer letter with dates, duties, and details to the student. See sample letter. 2) The company uploads a completed and signed Third Party Agreement* to the GTI Application Center (if necessary). 3) The company uploads a completed a one-page company supplemental form to the GTI Application Center. or email to the GTI. 4) The internship supervisor completes the Training/Internship Placement Plan (Form DS-7002) with the student. 5) New company placements with fewer than 25 employees or less than $3 million in annual revenues must arrange and pay for one round trip ticket (and local transportation) for a GTI staff member to conduct a site visit (usually about 2-3 hours within the first few weeks of the internship) if they are located outside central North Carolina. *If there are mutiple GTI student interns at a given company, only one copy per organization/company is required. The agreement is valid for a two-year period. |
The following is a list of documents that must be uploaded to the GTI Application Center before the application can be processed and who is responsible for uploading them:
Supporting Documents
The following documents should be uploaded to the GTI Application Center. You will receive your "International Application Code" after your initial application (http://go.ncsu.edu/iac_apply) has been reviewed and accepted. We can NOT process your application until all documents are complete and uploaded at least 45 days before your start date.
Responsible |
Documents |
Explanation |
Additional Notes |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
Student |
Biographical page in passport |
|||
 |
||||
Proof of English ability |
Below are a list of the minimum required test scores. You only need to submit ONE test.
Student interns may use a letter from the English Department or Foreign Language English Department at their home university stating their sufficient English ability. Students will also satisfy this requirement if they have taken a full academic year of courses taught in English at the university-level. |
|||
Proof of financial support |
Student interns need to provide a minimum of $1,250 a month (in English and in US dollars) for the length of the internship. Students will have to provide a bank statement* if their expenses are not covered by a company, institution, or other sponsors. The support letter from the company may be the same as the job offer letter. |
*A letter of support from your family is only needed if your internship is unpaid or if your paid internship will not meet the J-1 visa minimum requirement of $1250 US Dollars per month. Examples of support letters: |
||
Proof of health insurance |
All student interns are required to have health insurance which meets certain federal requirements:
|
Below are the names of a few companies that offer insurance that meets the J-1 specifications.
We do not endorse any of these companies or the products/services they may offer. We encourage you to investigate and read carefully any health insurance policy before purchasing. |
||
School transcripts |
Applicants should upload their most recent official school transcript(s) in English or with English translations |
|||
Student Intern Supplemental Form |
Fill out this supplemental questionnaire form |
|||
Faculty |
Academic recommendation |
The academic recommendation comes from the student’s advisor at their home institution that explains how the internship is related to the applicant’s degree program. It is completed and submitted online by the faculty member. The faculty member is sent an email with instructions to the email address you enter for them on your application. |
Each applicant receives a unique International Application Code that is generated when they complete an application. The faculty recommendation must be linked to the correct code, so please use the link included in an automatically generated email. |
|
Student and internship |
Training/Internship Placement Plan |
Download the form here. Both pages must be completed* and signed. The student signs first, then sends it to the supervisor for his/her signature. The student or supervisor can upload the document to the GTI Application Center. The T/IPP will detail: |
*Do NOT sign the “Sponsor” section at bottom of Page 2 (this section is for the GTI). |
|
Company |
Third Party Agreement |
Download the form here. If there are mutiple GTI student interns at a given company, only one copy per organization/company is required. |
The agreement is valid for a two-year period |
|
Company Supplemental Form |
Download the form here. Email the completed form to the GTI / Upload the form to the GTI Application Center. |
|||
Sample application
Make sure all of these supporting documents are completed and uploaded to the GTI Application Center at least 45 days before the start of your internship. Incomplete applications will not be processed until all the documentation has been received. There are multiple steps in the approval process that cannot be expedited if your application is not completed in time.
Click here to see a completed application for an off-campus student intern with examples of supporting documents you need to include in your application. This is only a sample and should be used as a guide to help you determine what documents you need to upload.
Internship Process
1) Student interns must complete a virtual "check-in" with the GTI before the start of their internship and within 7 days of their arrival to the US. Failure to do so can result in the cancellation of the visa.
The following steps must be completed (links to the Google Form and the online module are emailed to each student intern):
- Completely fill out the Google Form emailed to you by the GTI
- Watch the J-1 Student Intern Virtual Orientation module
- Email the GTI a copy of the US visa in the passport, the entry stamp received upon entering the US, and a screenshot of the completion certificate at the end of the J-1 Student Intern Virtual Orientation module
2) Students can be paid for the internship ONLY IF its approved beforehand in the federal database. If an internship is paid, the company must pay at least the US federal minimum wage for a full-time position (35 hours per week or more) for the entire period of the internship.
3) Paid student interns must complete an I-9 and apply for a Social Security Card and Number.
4) The GTI will conduct a site visit for any new company placement of a student intern if the company has fewer than 25 employees or less than $3 million in annual revenues. We ask companies outside central North Carolina provide for one round trip ticket (and local transportation) for a GTI staff member to conduct a site visit (usually about 2-3 hours within the first few weeks of the internship).
5) Student interns must engage in a final evaluation along with their company supervisor (incorporating both the learning outcomes and assessment tools described in the Form DS-7002 as well as any company assessment processes). This should be completed at the end of their internship period (final week or prior to leaving the US). These will be submitted to the GTI online.
Click here to access the evaluation forms for the intern and his/her supervisor.
Information for Companies/Organizations
Once a student has been accepted into the Off-Campus Internship program, the sponsoring department has several responsibilities (some only pertain to paid student interns):
-
Provide a job offer letter to the student with dates, duties, and details about the internship (see sample.
-
Complete the Training/Internship Placement Plan (DS-7002) with the student
-
Payment is optional, but if you do pay the international student intern, you must pay
the intern at least the federal minimum wage for a work week between 35 and 40 hours. -
If the intern is not paid initially but you wish to begin paying wages after
commencement, please consult the GTI beforehand to learn about how employment can
be authorized. -
Paid student interns need to complete an I-9 and apply for a Social Security Number (SSN).
-
The GTI is required by federal regulations to conduct a site visit for any new company placement of a student intern if the company has fewer than 25 employees or less than $3 million in annual revenues. We ask companies outside central North Carolina provide for one round trip ticket (and local transportation) for a GTI staff member to conduct a site visit (usually about 2-3 hours within the first few weeks of the internship).
-
Make sure the student completes and submits the final evaluation during their last week or before they leave the US. The intern's supervisor should also submit a final evaluation to the GTI. These will be submitted to the GTI online.
Click here to access the evaluation forms for the intern and his/her supervisor.
There's more information in the section of the website that provides more resources for companies hiring student interns.