FAQ

If you wish to gain practical, professional experience in the United States, whether your training or internship is paid or not, and regardless of its duration, the U.S. Department of State requires that you obtain a J-1 «Intern» or «Trainee» visa.

In order to obtain this visa, you must go through a sponsor organization. Your host company cannot be your sponsor unless it can deliver the certificate of eligibility entitled «DS-2019». This case is rather unusual.

To give you access to J-1 visas, Parenthese has set up a partnership with an official sponsor designated by the U.S. Department of State. This partnership allows you to undertake a structured program of practical training within a U.S. host company.

Yes we can! We are not a placement agency but can certainly help you find your host company in the United States.

Please contact us for more information.

You do not only pay for the DS-2019. You pay for all the services included.

The DS-2019 is a legal document, numbered and nominative, issued by the U.S. government through a legal sponsor.

The issuance of the DS-2019 requires a thorough vetting of your application. It also requires follow-up and a 24 hour/7 days a week service on the part of your sponsor. We also provide you with the necessary insurance for the duration of your stay in the U.S.

The presence of a sponsor is the only way American employers will consider your application. Without a sponsor, they would have to get into a long-term and expensive process to obtain a work permit for you!

The insurance policy included in your program fees is mandatory.

This allows the sponsor to have the same insurance policy for all its participants and guarantee the coverage required by the U.S. Department of State.

Yes. Even if you have already found your host company, you must pay all the Parenthese fees since they do not include work placement.

A common mistake!

If you are going to the United Sates for any other purpose than tourism, you must have a visa.

If you leave without a visa, you are running the following risks:

• Being refused entry at customs,
• Not being authorized to return to the U.S. for several years.

Do not worry. For all our programs, the turnaround time for the receipt of your DS-2019 is 15 business days.

In spite of high demand, the embassy does its best to give J-1 visa applicants an appointment as soon as possible. You have priority over all other visa categories.

We will email you instructions on how to make an appointment and how to move it up if necessary.

Please do not schedule your appointment at the Consulate before sending us your application and receiving specific instructions from us.

We process applications the same day they are received. As soon as your application is approved, you will receive your DS-2019 in 24 hours and we will send you detailed instructions to schedule your appointment.

Once you gain access to your online application, you will receive your DS-2019, DS-7002 & SEVIS receipt in 15 business days. These timeframes can be even shorter when both you and your employer are responsive.

Generally, visa interviews can be scheduled within a week.

You should add 2 business days after your interview to obtain your visa.

The choice of program depends on your status at the time of your application:

If you are a student or have graduated within the past 12 months, you qualify for an Intern program.

If you have already graduated and have at least 1 year of professional experience or if you simply have 5 years of professional experience, you qualify for a Trainee program.

The J-2 visa is for accompanying family members – spouse or children only – of the J-1 applicant.

Not at all. We have had participants from all over the world who obtained their visa without difficulty.

You need to apply at the U.S. consulate of your home country or country of permanent residence.