This section is for MSU departments that are considering hosting or are actively hosting a J-1 student intern. If you are a student looking for information, visit the J-1 Scholars and Student Interns page.
J-1 Student Intern status is designed for students enrolled in degree programs outside the U.S. who are completing a structured internship that supports their academic program.
The internship must:
The student must:
The department must:
If you are unsure whether the internship qualifies, contact the OISS J-1 Team before beginning the request process.
The hosting department is responsible for the $150 J-1 Scholar Hosting Fee, this includes J-1 Student Interns.
The fee is assessed after the student intern arrives and completes immigration check-in, and not charged if the intern is unable to arrive.
The fee supports:
Federal regulations require all J-1 and J-2 visa holders to maintain qualifying health insurance for the duration of their program. MSU requires J-1 Student Interns to purchase health insurance from the MSU Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) for the duration of the internship.
Learn more on the Health & Wellness page.
Step One: Request a DS-2019 & Gather Required Documents
The department provides:
The student intern provides:
Step Two: Complete the Export Control Review (if applicable)
If the internship involves research, departments must submit the Export Control Worksheet (ECW) to the MSU Office of Export Controls and Trade Sanctions.
If required, ECW must be submitted on or before the DS-2019 request date. In that case, OISS cannot issue a DS-2019 until the ECW has been approved.
Step Three: Submit the Request
Departments must email a complete request to jvisas@msu.edu with the subject line: "J-1 Student Intern DS-2019 Request".
Step Four: OISS Review & DS-2019 Issuance
OISS will complete an initial review within 10-15 business days. If additional information is needed, OISS will contact the department.
If additional information is not needed, the DS-2019 is typically issued within 2-3 business days.
Step Five: Student Intern Receives Form DS-2019 & Form DS-7002
The student intern will receive instructions for accessing and signing the required documents before applying for a visa and traveling to the U.S.
The Form DS-2019 and Form DS-7002 are issued electronically.
Federal regulations require documented evaluations of every J-1 student intern. A final evaluation is required for all internships, and a midpoint evaluation is required for internships lasting more than six months.
Evaluations must be completed using the OISS J-1 Student Intern Evaluation Form or a department evaluation form and signed by both the student intern and the immediate MSU supervisor. The evaluation form must be sent to jvisas@msu.edu.