Welcome to Italy-America Chamber of Commerce Texas

Please be advised that in order to take advantage of this program, you must already have found a company that is ready to employ you. The Chamber only provides visas and does not seek employment opportunities for those interested in participating in this program.

The J-1 visa is a cultural exchange visa issued by the U.S. Department of State that allows foreign students and professionals to train with an American corporation for a period not to exceed 18 months. The objective of the J-1 visa is to facilitate exchanges that allow individuals from around the world to gain a firsthand understanding of U.S. culture and institutions and to foster a better understanding of the American perspective on a variety of issues.

In which categories and professional fields is the IACC designated to sponsor J-1 Visa candidates?

The IACC has been designated as an Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor by the U.S. Department of State and is authorized to approve training programs for young professionals (or “trainees”) in the following fields: Management; Business, Commerce and Finance; Public Administration and Law; and Restaurant Management. The IACC has the responsibility to review participant applications to ensure that they meet the criteria established by the State Department for this type of visa.

No. Trainees wishing to participate in the Exchange Visitor Program are responsible for securing their own traineeships. Similarly, companies wishing to host young professionals must have a trainee in place before approaching the IACC for assistance in securing a J-1 visa. Once a host company and its prospective trainee have a mutually agreed upon training opportunity in place, the parties may contact the IACC to begin the process.

Effective July 19, 2007, the Department of State’s Office of Exchange Coordination and Designation revised its regulations regarding eligibility for its J-1 Exchange Visitor Program. The rule amends the current Trainee category and creates a new Intern category, creating new eligibility requirements for each.
Please review the following criteria in order to ensure that the trainee possesses the requisite qualifications and experience before completing this application:

TRAINEE (maximum 18-month program duration):
A foreign national who has either:
(1) A degree or professional certificate from a foreign post-secondary academic
institution AND at least one year of prior related work experience in his/her occupational field acquired outside the United States
OR
(2) Five years work experience outside the United States in his/her occupational
field, and who enters the United States to participate in a structured and guided
work-based training program in his/her specific occupational field.

INTERN (maximum 12-month program duration):
A foreign national who either:
(1) Is currently enrolled in and pursuing studies at a degree- or certificate-granting
post-secondary academic institution outside the United States
OR
(2) Graduated from such an institution no more than 12 months prior to his/her
exchange visitor program begin date, and who enters the United States to participate in a structured and guided work-based internship program in his/her specific academic field.

If a potential host company has not already received a site inspection from the IACC, the company
must meet the following criteria in order to participate in our J-1 Program:

-> Annual revenues of at least $3 million
The IACC, in its sole discretion, may deem it necessary to perform a site visit of facilities to determine eligibility in our program. Site visits by IACC staff will be at the expense of the Host Company and in no way guarantee acceptance into our Exchange Visitor Program.
In addition, all host companies must now provide the following information: Dun & Bradstreet number; EIN/Federal Taxpayer ID number and Workmen’s Compensation Policy number.

Once a host company and a trainee have agreed upon a suitable training opportunity, they can contact the IACC to begin the application process. Upon receiving all completed application materials and provided that there is no need for further documentation or clarification, the IACC’s Responsible Officer will begin a review of the application. Upon an initial approval of the submitted application and a determination that the proposed trainee shall not be employed for the purpose of staffing or obtaining temporary help, the IACC will conduct an in-person or telephone interview with the prospective trainee in order to ascertain the trainee’s ability to adequately speak and comprehend the English language. Once the applicant has proven a level of English language proficiency that is satisfactory to the IACC officer processing the application, the IACC will send a “Certificate of Eligibility” (Form DS-2019) as well as additional orientation materials directly to the trainee abroad. The trainee must then present the application to the Non-immigrant Visa Unit of an American consulate located in Milan , Rome or Naples . The Consul shall then issue the applicant a J-1 Non-Immigrant Visa.

The Italy-America Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit 501(c)(6) organization whose training programs receive no funding. Accordingly, its operating costs shall be covered by the fees paid

Yes. Participating host companies are required by law to provide trainees with an amount equivalent to at least the current prevailing minimum wage as determined by the U.S. Department of Labor. The IACC encourages host companies to compensate trainees in a manner that is consistent with the salary that would be paid to a regular employee with commensurate levels of education and experience.

Yes. Trainees are required to pay all federal and state taxes associated with earnings derived from their traineeships. State income tax rates vary (and some states do not have an income tax), but the federal income tax rate is determined by the level of one’s wage. Federal and state income taxes will be automatically deducted from the trainee’s paycheck by his or her employer. Trainees must file both federal and state (if applicable) income tax returns by April 15th for each year in which they earn income in the United States . For additional information on filing income tax returns, please visit the web site of the Internal Revenue Service at www.irs.gov.

Yes. Upon arriving in the U.S. , trainees should apply for a Social Security card. In order to do so, trainees must present themselves at their local office of Social Security Administration with a valid passport and DS-2019 Form. The nearest Social Security Administration office can be located on the Internet at www.ssa.gov.

Yes. Spouses and children wishing to accompany trainees to the States during the duration of their training programs are included on the trainee’s “Certificate of Eligibility” (Form DS-2019) and are issued separate J-2 visas by the appropriate consulate in Italy . The visa status of dependents is contingent upon the visa status of the J-1 holder. Therefore, spouses and children are permitted to remain in the U.S. as long as the trainee is participating in a valid program and must leave upon the J-1 holder’s return to his or her home country.

Yes. United States Federal Regulations state that all trainees and any accompanying dependents who enter the United States under the sponsorship of the IACC must be covered by health and accident insurance for the entire duration of their program. Any private insurance coverage or the host company’s insurance plan may be used in order to fulfill the obligatory insurance coverage requirement. However, the minimum coverage set forth by U.S. regulations must be met or exceeded and must remain in effect throughout the entire duration of stay in the United States . At present, the regulatory coverage limits are as follows: Medical & Accident: $50,000.00 per illness/accident with a $500.00 deductible per illness/accident; Medical Evacuation: $10,000.00; and Repatriation: $7,500.00.

How long can trainees remain in the U.S. after their training program has ended?

Trainees are permitted to remain in the United States for up to 30 days after the program end date indicated on the Certificate of Eligibility.

J1 VISA PROGRAM