Internships in the U.S.

General info | Scholarships | Resources | Videos | Organizations

If you are not a U.S. citizen, you can still apply for certain internships. If you are applying from your own country, you should ask if the employer knows about the requirements for assisting you to secure a proper visa and if the employer is willing to take the necessary steps on your behalf. If you are enrolled at a U.S. school and applying for an internship, you should make your status in the United States clear to the prospective employer at the time of application. Remember, though, that as a student at an American university, permission to work off‑campus must be requested from the BCIS (Bureau of Citizen and Immigration Services) and that this permission is difficult to obtain. It will never be possible to finance all or most of your studies by working in the United States.

Unlike most other countries, the United States does not use a “work permit” to verify the legal eligibility of a non‑citizen to work. Instead, a non‑citizen is permitted to undertake a paid internship or other practical training employment depending on the type of U.S. visa he/she is granted (read more about the different types of visa: http://belgium.usembassy.gov/categories_of_visas.html). As a general rule, the proper visa must be secured before entering the United States since a change after entry can often take two to four months. Working with an improper visa (including work while waiting for a change to be granted) can be cause for arrest and detention by the BCIS (Bureau of Citizen and Immigration Services). Also, a student cannot arrange a proper visa alone, there must be an American sponsor to take care of the necessary paperwork on behalf of the individual.

Everyone who goes to the U.S. for an internship requires a J visa. The institution that is arranging your internship will determine the visa type and will issue you the appropriate form.

All visa applicants must call 02-788-1200 to set up an appointment at the US embassy in Brussels. Please go to the Embassy website to see a listing of all basic requirements for a visa applicant at http://belgium.usembassy.gov/applying.html.

In addition to basic requirements, if you are an Exchange program participant traveling on a J-1 visa you will need (http://belgium.usembassy.gov/exchange_visitors2.html) the following items:

- Original, signed DS-2019 Form (Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status)
- SEVIS fee payment receipt http://www.fmjfee.com/
- DS-160 online form
- DS-7002 (Training/Internship Placement Plan)
- Proof of financial support

As of June 1, 2011 there will be a new J-1 Visa website. More info can be found here: http://www.uspolicy.be/headline/launch-new-j-1-visa-exchange-visitor-program-website

Please note that veterinary medicine is excluded from the exchange visitor internship program.
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“j) Program exclusions. Sponsors designated by the Department to administer training and internship programs must not:

(1) Place trainees or interns in unskilled or casual labor positions, in positions that require or involve child care or elder care; or in clinical or any other kind of work that involves patient care or patient contact, including any work that would require trainees or interns to provide therapy, medication, or other clinical or medical care (e.g., sports or physical therapy, psychological counseling, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, social work, speech therapy, early childhood education);”

For the actual regulations, kindly see here:
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&rgn=div5&view=text&node=22:1.0.1.7.37&idno=22

The Fulbright Commission does not give any Fulbright scholarships for these types of projects for the same reasons.

II. SCHOLARSHIPS FOR BELGIAN CITIZENS FOR INTERNSHIPS:

Walloon Region Internship Grants: http://www.wbi.be/cgi/bin3/render.cgi?id=0133977_article&ln=ln1&userid=&rubr=bourse
Flemish Region Internship Grants: http://iv.vlaanderen.be/nlapps/docs/default.asp?fid=64
University of Antwerp Internship grants: http://www.ua.ac.be/main.aspx?c=.ENGLISH&n=25908
Prince Albert Fund: http://www.kbs-frb.be/call.aspx?id=209784&LangType=1033

III. RESOURCES TO FIND YOUR OWN INTERNSHIP:

Yale University Career Services Website: http://www.yale.edu/career/students/intern/create.html
Mount Holyoke College Career Services Website: http://www.mtholyoke.edu/cdc/internships.html

IV. VIDEOS:

WATCH VIDEOS OF BELGIANS WHO HAVE RECENTLY DONE AN INTERNSHIP IN THE U.S.:

V. ORGANIZATIONS

What Europeans call a “stage” is not commonly offered in the United States. Most firms would far rather provide a training program for a new employee than offer a “traineeship”. Nevertheless, the following possibilities, provided by private organizations specialized in this area, do exist:

BELGIAN-AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: EXCHANGE VISITOR PROGRAM
Tel: (201) 631-8065
E-mail: visa@belcham.org
Website: http://www.belcham.org/index.php?pag=visa

As a sponsor of the Exchange Visitor Program, the BACC is permitted to issue a “Certificate of Eligibility” (Form DS-2019) to qualified Belgian students and young professionals, allowing them to train in the United States under a J-1 Visa in the field of Management, Business, Commerce and Finance. Under the Fulbright-Hayes Act, the BACC also is required to recruit American students and young professionals to train in Belgium.

The purpose of the BACC J-1 Visa Program is to expose Belgian trainees to American business practices, corporate organization and substantive occupational experiences, as well as U.S. social and cultural history, that they may take back to their chosen career in Belgium. In turn, employees of the trainee’s host company will gain valuable experience working with a person from a different cultural background and an understanding of the business culture of foreign companies with whom they might do business in the future.

Trainees must be at least 18 years old and have completed at least two years of study in a field related to the training and be enrolled full-time in a university of college. Trainees must also be Belgian citizens. Proficiency in English is required.

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY WASHINGTON SEMESTER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
The Washington Semester Program, American University
4400 Massachusetts Avenue
NW, Washington, DC 20016‑8083
Tel.: (202) 895.4900
E-mail : washsem@american.edu
Website: www.washingtonsemester.com
Contact: Carey Roberts, Coordinator

The program offers students the opportunity to intern for two days per week on the days that they do not attend seminar classes. As an International Washington Semester Internship Student you intern in one of the following fields: National Government & Politics, Foreign Policy & International Affairs, Justice & Law, Print & Broadcast Media and Communication, International Business & Economic Policy , Peace & Conflict Resolution, etc… The internships, though unpaid, are at well‑known organizations in the public and private sector. International students may choose to attend the Washington Semester Certificate Program for a full academic year, beginning in the fall semester and continuing in the spring. Students who attend the Academic Year program may apply for employment authorization through Optional Practical Training. This permit allows you to work in the U.S. for up to one year.

AMITY INTERN TEACHER PROGRAM

For more information, please visit the website www.amity.org.

Live, Teach & Learn in the USA : The Amity Intern Teacher Program offers to young people from around the world the opportunity to serve as ambassador of their countries by volunteering as teaching assistants of their native languages and cultures at primary, secondary and post secondary levels . The student – who must be between 20 and 30, single with no children and currently enrolled in/completed higher education – lives with a host family, works with a teacher, experiences life in the U.S. American culture and education, takes classes, participates in activities with the school, etc…

EUROPEAN STUDENTS
Rue Margot 38
B- 1457 Nil-St-Vincent
Tel. : 010/ 65.59.95
E-mail: info@europeanstudents.be
Website: www.europeanstudents.be

3-4 weeks of English courses followed by an internship in different areas for students aged between 18 and 27.

INTERLINGUA/LANGUES VIVANTES
John Waterloo Wilsonstraat 28
B- 1000 Brussels
Tel. : 02/ 230.01.90 (French) – 02/ 280.15.67 (Dutch)
E-mail : info@taalreizen.com
Website: www.taalreizen.com

12 to 24 weeks : including 6-16 weeks of English courses + 6-8 weeks of non paid internship. Candidates must be between 20 and 26. They need to be enrolled in a higher education program since at least one year and have a good level of English.

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS IN ECONOMICS AND COMMERCE (AIESEC)
Association Internationale des Etudiants en Sciences Economiques et Commerciales (AIESEC)
Koningstraat, 221, Rue Royale
B- 1210 Brussels
Tel. : 02/219.94.64
E-mail: be.mc@aiesec.org
Website : www.aiesec.org (international) or www.aiesec.be (Belgium)

AIESEC offers traineeships that last from 8 weeks to 18 months for those interested in business management positions, technical positions or development sector work. By participating in this type of traineeship, you will have the opportunity to work in a company, NGO, government, university or organisation and will spend the majority of your time working in areas related to management, information technology projects or development issues in a community.

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE EXCHANGE OF STUDENTS FOR TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE
IAESTE United States
10400 Little Patuxent Parkway, Suite 250
Columbia, MD 21044-3519
Tel.: 410-997-3069
Fax: 410-997-5186
Email: iaeste@aipt.org
Website: http://www.aipt.org/subpages/iaeste_us/ir_index.html

IAESTE coordinates on-the-job training for students in technical fields such as engineering, computer science, mathematics, natural/physical sciences, architecture, and agricultural science. An IAESTE Internship is a paid internship abroad. Positions are available in industry, research institutes, universities, consulting firms, labs, and other work environments. Most placements are for 8-12 weeks during the summer; longer placements of up to 12 months are also available.

INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
vzw International Education asbl
Dr. Vanderperrestraat, 358
B- 2440 Geel
Tel. : 014/ 72.41.55
E-mail: karel.geyskens@pandora.be

Offers internships and summer job opportunities in different areas.

INTERNATIONAL FINANCE CORPORATION SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
E-mail : opportunities@worldbank.org

Please visit IFC’s career website (www.ifc.org) to obtain further information and apply on-line.

Admittance to the Summer Internship Program is very competitve : approximately 20-30 candidates are selected out of 1,000. All positions are located at IFC Headquarters in Washington D.C. Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree and be enrolled in a full-time graduate study program pursuing an MBA or equivalent degree. Strong computer skills and fluency in English is required. All internships are for a minimum period of four weeks, beginning as early as May and concluding by September 30th. IFC’s summer internships are paid positions.

LANGUAGES & TRAVEL
90 Rue Faiderstraat
B- 1050 Brussels
E-mail: contact@langtra.com
Website: www.langtra.com

Non paid internships in private organizations, schools, hospitals, social fields,… combined with courses of a minimum duration of 6 weeks (25 or 30 hours/week), for students aged 20 or older (exceptions possible) who are presently enrolled in or just finished higher education and who have a good level of English.

PRINCE ALBERT FUND
The Prince Albert Fund helps talented Belgian professionals acquire experience in conducting international projects by offering financial support for a 12-month project abroad through a company established or headquartered in Belgium.
More info: http://www.kbs-frb.be/call.aspx?id=209784&LangType=1033
Video Testimonials of Prince Albert Fund Recipients: http://www.princealbertfund.be/paf/testimonials.aspx?id=WhyIappliedforPAF&LangType=1033

UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
Intership Coordinator
Room S-2500J
United Nations
New York, N.Y. 10017, USA
Tel: (212) 963-1224
Fax. : (212) 963-3683
E-mail : OHRM_interns@un.org
Website: www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/examin/internsh/intern.htm

This internship program is for the United Nations Secretariat New York only and is offered on a two-month basis three times a year. Applicants must have completed at least four years of full-time study at a university or equivalent institution.

WORLD EDUCATION PROGRAM (WEP)
Av. de Jette, 26, Jetselaan
B- 1081 Brussels
Tel. : 02/ 534.53.50 (French) - 02/ 534.53.36 (Dutch)
Fax. : 02/ 534.50.70
e-mail : info@wep.org
Website: www.wep.org

Paid internships of maximum 4 months for students between 19 and 28 enrolled in or recent graduates of higher education. A good level of English is required.

NB : Other opportunities for internships may be found in books which are available in the Advising Center of the Commission. However, the very best way to try to find an internship is to explore any personal contacts you may have. For example:

- Do you have any family or friends in the U.S. who may be able to give you the names and addresses of firms, hospitals, etc.?

- If you have done an internship in Belgium was this for a firm which has any contacts in the U.S., perhaps even a branch office

- Do you know of anyone in Belgium who has contacts with Americans or American firms or who visits the U.S. regularly?