It is possible for faculty members to host an overseas undergraduate student in an internship at Northwestern University. If all the criteria for participation are met, the International Office (IO) can issue the DS-2019 immigration document for the student intern to obtain a J1 visa in this category.

J-1 exchange visitors may receive a salary or stipend from various parties. They can receive funding from Northwestern, the government, private organizations, their current place of employment (outside the U.S.), or personal funds but it must meet the current living expense requirements.  This requirement is $1,765/month or $21,180/year as of December 2011.

If NU will be paying the J-1 intern, the required amount per hour must meet or exceed $8.25/hour. 

The following are the criteria for an intern:

1. The internship cannot be for more than 12 months for an Intern.
2. The intern is a foreign national enrolled in and pursuing an undergraduate degree at an accredited post-secondary academic institution outside the U.S. S/he must be in good academic standing.
3. The intern must be engaged full-time (32 hours/week) in the internship at Northwestern University that will fulfill the educational objectives for his/her current degree program at his/her home institution.
4. The intern is maintaining satisfactory advancement towards completion of his/her internship program.
5. The intern has verifiable English language skills to function in the internship environment.
6. The intern is primarily in the US to engage in the intern program rather than to engage in employment or provide services to Northwestern University.
7. The intern will return to his/her academic program and obtain a degree from their overseas academic institution after completion of the student intern program. The intern can not transfer into an academic degree program at Northwestern University while in his/her internship.
8. The intern has adequate finances to support himself/herself and dependents for their duration of their stay in the US. The intern can be paid by the sponsoring department.
9. The student internship exposes participants to American techniques, methodologies, and technology and expands upon the participants' existing knowledge and skills.
10. The internship cannot duplicate the student intern's prior experience.
11. The intern must have sufficient health insurance coverage for the entire duration of their internship program.

Northwestern University supervisor's responsibilities include the following:

• Ensure that there are sufficient resources, plant, equipment and trained personnel available to provide for the specified internship program.
• Ensures the internship does not displace full or part-time temporary or permanent American workers or serve to fill a labor need.
• Ensure that the intern is not placed in an unskilled or casual labor position, in a position that requires or involves child care or elder care, a position in the field of aviation or in clinical positions or any other kind of work that involves patient care or contact, including therapy.
• Ensures that the position the intern fills exists solely to assist the intern in achieving the objectives of his/her participation in an internship program and does not involve more than 20% clerical work.
• Complete the required evaluation of the intern's performance at the conclusion of the internship.
• Internships lasting longer than 6 months require a mid-point evaluation.
• Ensure the intern will be oriented with the department personnel, equipment, procedures, etc.

J-1 Intern Process:

• Department establishes internship program, conducts selection process and identifies suitable candidates.
• Department completes J-1 Intern Department Application
• Department requests intern to complete J-1 Intern Student Application
• Department submits completed forms (J-1 Intern Department Application and J-1 Student Application) to IO via  J1requests@northwestern.edu
• An IO advisor reviews application and will create DS-2019 and DS-7002
• Department picks up documents and mails to J-1 Student Intern 
• J-1 Student Intern will apply for J-1 visa stamp in his/her home country
• At completion of internship (or at 6 month midpoint) Department submits Supervisor Evaluation to IO

All forms can also be found here