If you wish to gain practical, professional experience in the United States, whether your internship is paid or not, and regardless of its duration, the U.S. Department of State requires that you obtain a J-1 Intern visa.
In order to obtain this visa, you must go through a sponsor organization. Your host company cannot be your sponsor unless it can (in rare cases) deliver the certificate of eligibility entitled «DS-2019».
To give you access to J-1 visas, Parenthèse has set up a partnership with an official sponsor appointed by the U.S. Department of State.
The official documents that are delivered to you – DS-2019, DS-7002 and SEVIS receipt – will allow you to apply for the J-1 Intern visa at the American consulate.
The average time frame to obtain the DS-2019 is 15 business days.