Need to know / USA
How to find an internship in the USA
SWAP staff
Mar 27 2026
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Intern USA
Professional internships in America
Visa sponsorship, medical cover + optional hospitality placement
Turn your academic achievements into professional work experience with a 1-12 month USA internship, now with a pre-arranged placement option for hospitality students and graduates.
Swap uni breaks for USA movers + shakers
Why should Canadians do an internship in the USA?
Internships bridge the gap between education and real-world work experience, providing post-secondary students and recent grads with hands-on training alongside industry pros. Interning in the USA vs Canada can give you access to more businesses... Read more
Need to know
What is Intern USA?
Intern USA is a SWAP program for full-time Canadian students or graduates of one year to do a professional placement in their area of study for up to 12 months.
For current students, it's a way to get practical work experience during your summer... Read more
At a glance
From $2,375
18+, student or recent grad
1-12 visa sponsorship
30 days either side to travel
Depart any time of year
Great for uni placements
Intern Hub resources
Pre-arranged hospitality placement
Reasons to do an internship in America
Resume building
In a crowded and competitive job market, getting hands-on work... Read more
New skills
From creative start-ups to tech giants, the US attracts leading... Read more
Live abroad
Sure, the USA is only over the border. But if you've every dreamt of... Read more
Visa + cost
Intern USA visa requirements
It’s not possible to intern in the USA independently – it must be done via a US Department of State... Read more
Own Placement
Deposit
$100
Second payment
$350
Final payment
$1,925
Total from
$2,375
US Embassy fee
This is paid directly to the US Embassy and currently costs USD $185
Visa integrity fee
We're anticipating the US will bring in a refundable USD $250 visa integrity fee for future departures. More info to follow
I-94 arrival fee
This is paid directly to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and currently costs USD $24
Site visit (if required)
Check our FAQs for the cost and scenarios of when a site visit will be required
Travel insurance
Medical cover is included, but you must buy travel insurance to cover against the rest of your trip
Flights
We don’t recommend booking flights until your visa is approved
Support funds
You must be able to show you have USD $2,000 proof of funds when entering the US or USD $1,500/month for Canadian passport holders
Accommodation
Chat with our team about accommodation options over the summer
Hospitality Placement
Deposit
$400
Second payment
$850
Final payment
$3,229
Total
$4,479
US Embassy fee
This is paid directly to the US Embassy and currently costs USD $185
Visa integrity fee
We're anticipating the US will bring in a refundable USD $250 visa integrity fee for future departures. More info to follow
I-94 arrival fee
This is paid directly to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and currently costs USD $24
Site visit (if required)
Check our FAQs for the cost and scenarios of when a site visit will be required
Travel insurance
Medical cover is included, but you must buy travel insurance to cover against the rest of your trip
Flights
We don’t recommend booking flights until your visa is approved
Support funds
You must be able to show you have USD $2,000 proof of funds when entering the US or USD $1,500/month for Canadian passport holders
Accommodation
Chat with our team about accommodation options over the summer
The below information is for Intern USA 'Own Placement' only
Your program cost is determined by the length of your internship placement. On this visa, you have a 30-day grace period either side of your internship where you can travel in the USA. This is automatically included in your sponsorship and medical insurance policy. e.g., if you choose a 6-month internship, your overall stay in the USA can be up to 8 months.
Length of internship
0-3 months - $2,375 | 4 months - $2,450 | 5 months - $2,525 | 6 months - $2,600 | 7 months - $2,675 | 8 months - $2,750 | 9 months - $2,825 | 10 months - $2,900 | 11 months - $2,975 | 12 months - $3,050
Paid internships
What you can earn
Your earning potential will depend on your sector and location. Average monthly salaries per industry for past interns include: Marketing or Business Management USD $3,000/month; Law or Engineering $4,000/month; Finance or Politics $5,000/month; Media or Film $2,000/month; Hospitality $2,450/month.
Internships
What types of internships can I do?
Industry sectors + locations With a few exceptions in regulated or restricted sectors (see our FAQs), Canadian students can complete internships across a wide range of industries throughout the United States. Your internship must align with your... Read more
Intern USA in numbers
50
Years we’ve run US cultural exchanges
80%
Of our interns find paid positions
50
Number of US states you can intern in
10/10
Your resume after your internship
Finding your internship
Hospitality placement
If you're a student or recent grad with a hospitality degree, our... Read more
Own placement
For roles outside hospitality, you are responsible for finding your... Read more
Talk to us
Find out more about interning in the USA
If you still have questions about interning in the USA – visa requirements, types of placements, which city is the best – give us a call. We'll figure it out together.
BOOK A CALL How it works
When do I need to apply?
You are allotted 2 weeks to complete your application. After submitting your application, the review process can take 6-8 weeks. Do not make travel or accommodation arrangements until your program coordinator lets you know that everything is good to... Read more
Countdown to the USA
Check your eligibility in the visa + cost section, hit Apply now and create your profile to start your application. You can then access your online account anytime from the top of this page. Once you’ve paid your deposit, book a time to have your compliance call with our team. This can take up to 45 minutes and is a US Government requirement to check your suitability for this program – plus it's a great time to ask any questions.
You need to to have an internship secured before we can start the process of sponsoring you. If you don't have one already, check out the resources on our Intern Hub or arrange a separate call with our team to talk about how you can go about finding your placement.
1+ days
- The first step is to complete your US style resume in our resume format template. We'll then set up a video interview with our US placement provider who will go over your degree and experience, what type of internship you are looking for, and discuss your options for roles, hotel groups and locations. They will then set up a video interview with employer(s) relevant to your skills, career path and preferences.
7-30 days
- You must have an internship secured before we can start the process of sponsoring you. If you don't have one already, set up a separate call after your compliance call where our team will look at your degree, recommend possible routes for you, and go over the advice and employer directory on our Intern Hub – a free resource to finding a placement that you can start using now.
7-30 days
- Your US employer will need to fill out your DS-7002 Training Plan – this details company information, your training goals and information about your role. All the instructions and links to the form are provided in your online account. Once completed, we send this to our US sponsor for approval to ensure it meets US Department of State requirements. Please note, if a site visit to your host employer’s workplace is required, this can take an additional 21 days. Check our FAQs for the scenarios and cost.
7-30 days
- Once your internship is approved and you’ve paid your balance, your work papers (DS-2019), training plan (DS-7002) and SEVIS receipt will be sent to you electronically. You’ll need these to apply for your J-1 visa. This involves an online application (DS-160).
3-30 days
- Once you have your J-1 visa, it’s safe to book your flights or transport, travel insurance, and confirm any accommodation you have sourced. Once you’ve had your online orientation to make sure you’re perfectly prepped for life in the USA – you’re good to go!
1 day
- You can arrive into the US up to 30 days before the start date on your DS-2019. When you arrive, you’ll need to download a i-94 form from the US government website and go to a local social security office to get your Social Security Number. Your US sponsor will check in with you regularly to make sure your training is going to plan – plus they’re on hand for 24/7 emergency support.
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Internship gurus
Our dedicated intern team will go over the visa eligibility, when you need to apply and what types of internships you can do.
- An internship is a paid or unpaid position within a company where you are constantly learning and training under a mentor. Internship placements must not be made up of manual or administrative tasks, but should show clear progression – enhancing the skills you have, learning new skills, and getting exposure to different areas of the department or business.
To protect you as an intern and ensure that your internship benefits your professional development, your placement must meet criteria outlined by the US Department of State. When approaching US employers, make them aware that any international internship offer must meet the below requirements:
- It must be a training position and not a job
- It must be full-time – a minimum of 32 hours a week
- It must be office based, not remote
- It mustn’t involve more than 10% clerical or basic work, or include unskilled labour
- It must benefit your career and have a clear training plan
- It must be doing work that is additional to the employer’s normal staffing requirements
- Unpaid internships are allowed for up to six months only
- There must be a minimum of five full-time employees to every intern at that location
- A site visit may be required to assess your future employer’s workplace.
- If your host company has never taken on an intern through this program before, if their annual revenue is less than USD $3 million, or if they have less than 25 full time employees – our US sponsor will need to conduct a site visit. This is a US Department of State requirement. Site visits will be charged at USD $300. Unfortunately, we only find out if a site visit will be necessary once your internship offer goes through vetting. And if required by the sponsor, it will be added to your booking.
For 'Own Placement' your overall cost will depend on the length of your internship – as this determines how long we (SWAP + IENA – our US visa sponsor) need to provide the visa sponsorship and support for your stay in the USA.
On this type of J-1 intern visa, you have a 30-day grace period either side of your internship placement where you can travel in the USA.
This is automatically included in your sponsorship and medical insurance policy. Therefore, you will only pay for the cost of your actual internship. For example, if your internship is for 6 months, you can stay in the US and be covered by the included medical insurance we provide for up to 8 months.
For 'Hospitality Placement' there is one set cost – irrespective of the duration of your placement.
- A training plan is a condition of your visa sponsorship and is where your US host company must detail what you will be doing, give a clear understanding of the goals of the training, and how you will meet those goals. Our team will go over exactly what is required and what questions your employer will be asked to complete.
Own Placement
Such is the breadth of degree subjects and US industries and roles that might align with individual's career goals, it's not currently possible for us to secure a pre-placement for degree subjects outside of the hospitality world. It is your responsibility to find your own placement, however, our team are here to assist you. We’ll give you advice on where previous applicants doing your degree have interned, provide tips on how to lay out your US resume, and can recommend placement partners you can reach out to. You’ll also have all the free resources on our Intern Hub – which is full of info to help you search and apply for international internships.
Hospitality Placement
For those with a hospitality related degree, we work with a US partner to place you in an internship before you go. Scroll up to our 'Internships' section for the type of degrees, roles and employers that they can support you with. Once you have your position secured, we then take over with the vetting, sponsorship, legal paperwork and everything else that's required to intern in the USA.
- On this visa, you're only permitted to do one 1-12 month internship. Your sponsorship is tied to that employer and the duration will be based on the length of your pre-arranged internship – with the option to travel for 30 days before and after.
- Your position can be paid or unpaid, but you cannot do more than six months interning in the US on an unpaid internship. The USA has an established and well-paid internship culture, with most sectors commanding a monthly salary of between USD $2,000-5,000. However, this will also vary depending on the size of the company and the city/region of the United States, with larger cities like New York, Boston and Washington commanding higher salaries. Salaries are negotiated directly between you and your employer, and the earning potential is uncapped.
- Yes, your position must be connected to your area of study. However, with the breadth of sectors, industries and businesses in the United States – our team can work with you to understand your career goals and try and advise on a position to target that would both satisfy your degree requirements and the direction you’d like to take your internship in.
On this visa, there are some fields that are restricted. In general, you can’t have patient or person contact. For example, you can intern in medical research or nutrition development, but you can't work as a doctor or PT seeing patients or clients.
- Education You can’t work as a teacher or teaching assistant, but you can work in curriculum development, lesson planning and more.
- Oenology and Viticulture You can’t do fruit picking, vine and harvest work, but you can do fermentation management, distribution and more.
- Construction You can’t operate heavy machinery or intern as part of a work crew, but you can do project management, drafting and more.
- Healthcare and veterinary You can’t do clinical care or administer medication or procedures, but you can do observation-based internships.
- Hospitality Typically, hotels must be rated 4-star or higher and have broad operations to facilitate a comprehensive training in the hospitality field. For culinary training, restaurants must be a fine dining establishment in order to qualify.
- Social services You can’t work directly with patients, but you can do social work and policy (unpublished), community outreach and more.
- Sports and nutrition You can’t do coaching, physical therapy or personal training, but you can do Sports Medicine business management, food product development and more.
- Retail Internships must be management-focused, and typically include training in areas such as human resources practices, accounting, staffing practices, buying, merchandising and more.
- Sales You cannot do commission sales, sales quotas as part of evaluations and/or compensation, cold calls and direct sales, independent representation of host organisation on sales calls. But you can do forecasting, budgeting, sales analysis, presentation creation, client presentations under supervision, learning how to pitch sales, client management, learning sales management tools and attending client meetings.
This list is not exhaustive, so if your industry or planned internship falls under one of these categories – please give us a call and we can advise.
- Yes. Medical insurance is included that covers against accident and illness while you are in the USA, but does not cover for routine care. You must also purchase comprehensive travel insurance to cover you against other aspects of your trip – including cancellation, curtailment, legal cover, luggage, personal items, repatriation and more.
- DS-2019 (Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status) is the official certificate of eligibility that you need to apply for a J-1 visa.
- SEVIS stands for Student and Exchange Visitor Information System and is a database where the US Government keeps track of cultural exchange visitors on a J-1 visa. The cost of being placed in the SEVIS database is USD $220 and is included in your program cost.
- Ask your question here and one of our team will come back to you.
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