International Center for Language Studies, Inc.
Washington,  D.C.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must fulfill the following eligibility requirements to obtain the J-1 visa.

• Proof of Age. You must be at least 21 years old at the time of the application.

• Education. You must have at least a two-year college degree and two years of  work experience in the professional field in which you are seeking professional training or four years of work experience in the relevant professional field or a four-year university degree. Please submit copies of transcripts (official record of grades or marks) from your college or university. Please note that all non-English documents should be translated into English and notarized. (Please contact us if you need assistance in determining whether your education level is equivalent to a U.S. two-year college degree.)

• Language. Applicants must possess sufficient English proficiency to participate in the exchange training program. Submit the results of TOEFL, TOEIC or any equivalent test to show evidence of your English proficiency. Those who cannot submit such test will take an ESL test organized by ICLS prior to considering their application.

• Insurance. Sickness and Accident Insurance is required and must comply with the requirements of the J-1 Visa Exchange Visitor Program of the U.S. State Department. For details, please follow the instructions of the U.S. State Department’s Exchange Visitor Program Booklet. (The booklet will be sent with the J-1 visa package.)

• Financial Support. You are required to provide evidence of financial ability to meet program needs and living expenses while in the U.S., as well as evidence of ties to your home country.

• Evidence of residence abroad and intent to depart the U.S. after completion of the program. You must show a commitment to return to your home country to utilize the knowledge gained while studying in the United States.

• J-1 Visa EVP Regulations. You must agree to adhere to the J-1 Visa Exchange Visitor Program (EVP) Regulations and International Exchange and Business Training (IEBT) and Host Institution professional training policies.

Immediate Family Member

Any immediate family member (spouse or child under 21 years of age) you wish to bring with you will need to obtain a J-2 visa. ICLS will request additional documents in order to prepare an application package for your immediate family member. There is an additional fee of $300 for this service.

Dependents must have medical/accident insurance coverage and appropriate financial resources to cover living expenses for the entire stay in the U.S. while you are on training.

If your dependent wishes to work, he/she will need to apply for an employment authorization card. That application must be filed with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS, formerly the Immigration and Naturalization Service, INS). ICLS is unable to assist participants in obtaining such document for their immediate family members.

Application Processing

We hope to welcome you to our program!! To begin, please follow these steps:

Complete the items in the Application Check List (included in the IEBT Application form) and submit them to ICLS.

ICLS will review your package to check if you are qualified under the guidelines. If you are found to be qualified, ICLS will send you a Notice of Acceptance with an invoice for 50% of the program fee. If you are not, you will be so notified. The $100 application fee is non-refundable.

Once the applicant sends ICLS 50% of the program fee, we will begin to identify a suitable host organization, and will advise the applicant once a suitable host is determined. After the applicant agrees with the placement, ICLS will work with the host to jointly develop an Individual Training Plan that will be signed by the host organization, the applicant and ICLS. The applicant will then submit the remaining 50% of the program fee to ICLS. If the applicant does not accept placement, a portion of the fee is refundable, please see our Refund Policy.

Once ICLS receives the remaining program fee, it will provide the participant with the J-1 visa application package:

The J-1 visa application package consists of

• Welcoming Letter from ICLS

• DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility for applying for the J-1 visa;

• Individual Training Plan and Agreement with the Hosting Institution

• Participant Training Program Orientation Handbook

• Homestay package and U.S. Exchange Visitor Program J-1 Visa Booklet

Once you have received the J-1 visa application package, please take steps to arrange an appointment with the U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country as soon as possible.

• When you have obtained the visa,

• When you have purchased appropriate insurance document,

• When you have arranged your future homestay, and

• When your travel plans have been confirmed.

Application Check List

Application Form and Application Fee. Application Form with a non-refundable check for $100 for registration at ICLS.

• Resume/Curriculum Vitae (C.V.) (one-two page)

• Cover Letter or Essay (one page). Please describe your professional goals and skills you would like to acquire skills during training.

• Letter of recommendation. One letter should be from your employer, supervisor, university faculty member, or other individual (who is not a family member) who has supervised your education or work. If English is not your native language, a second letter should offer an assessment of your English language capabilities.

• Previous copy of IAP-66 Form. If you were granted a J-1 visa in the past to participate in the Exchange Visitor Program, please send a copy of your former IAP-66 Form with your application. In case you did not save the IAP-66 Form, please enclose a copy of all J-1 visas from your passport.

• Visa Procedures. ICLS will process the paperwork that you will need to take with you to your visa interview. You must apply for, and pay a fee to the Embassy or Consulate of the United States in your home country to obtain your J-1 visa. Please check with the local U.S. Embassy or Consulate on specific procedures before submitting your visa application.

• Passport. Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the completion date of your training. Please submit a copy of the first page (with identification information) and the page containing your photo.

• Photos. Please submit two passport-sized photo (black & white or color are acceptable).

Please send your application and required documents to the following address:

International Exchange and Business Training Program
INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR LANGUAGE STUDIES
727 15th Street, NW
Suite 400
Washington, DC 20005
USA

For more information regarding the International Exchange and Business Training Program at ICLS in Washington, DC, please write to iebt@icls.com

ICLS welcomes applications year-round.