J1 Visa Sponsorship for Architects & Engineers

The two-year home residency requirement means that those who come the United States on a J1 Visa status can’t change visa status, become permanent residents or get work or family-based visas in the USA until they return to their country of last permanent residence for at least 2 years in a row. However, this will affect you if you are on a government funded program, specialized skill program, or graduate medical training program. For more on the 2-year rule, please visit this blog post.

After applying for an internship in late April, the day has finally come for me to relocate to California for the next year. The last weeks and months have been a back and forth with the host company and the sponsor, filling out documents and waiting, a lot of waiting.
The waiting part was a little stressful, as my timeline was a little tight. I finished my studies of interior architecture the end of last September and thus was only eligible for the exchange Programm until end of September.

My starting date at the architectural firm Woods + Dangaran is now set for September 19th and I am overly excited about it. However, I am also a little anxious. I spent the last 12 months travelling, surfing and skating through Central and North America, just going with the flow and living in the moment. What will it feel like to have a 9-6 schedule and hold responsibility for more than myself?

I took this break intentionally after completing my degree in interior architecture. The three years of study were fun and fulfilling, but also quite stressful. By taking a break for travelling I was hoping to get some new perspectives, become more independent and develop my personality. Before adding a masters degree to my studies, I am now excited to gain some more practical experience and further develop my taste and skills as an interior designer by completing this internship in Los Angeles.

I am very grateful for the support Architecht-US has provided me with during this process. However, there have also been some challenges along the way. I found the document names and numbers quite confusing, some are very similar, but not the same. Thankfully Sonia was always there to help me and is quick to respond 🙂 There is quite a bit of differing information out there on the internet, for example regarding what documents to bring to the embassy interview. I was worried about missing something and brought more documents than I needed to the interview. So in retrospect, I would say „Just trust Sonia and bring everything that’s shipped to you via FedEx before the appointment.

The interview itself was so quick, I couldn’t believe it. I was so happy to get my visa stamp and immediately booked my flight to LA. I wish I had been more patient, though. The officer at the embassy told me it would take one week for me to get my passport back. As I am writing this blog post, it has been two weeks already and I am waiting for UPS to deliver it today. Fingers crossed, that I can fly to LA tomorrow to start my adventure 😉

The Architect-US J1 and Job+J1 Visa programs are a great opportunity for international architects to pursue an internship or trainee position in some of the top architectural firms in the United States. If you have been dreaming about an opportunity to work in the U.S., this program is a great opportunity for you to do so in the least amount possible and with all the help you can get so that all of the aspects of a difficult visa process essentially become stress-free and easy to accomplish. The team at Architect-US will guide you along the way, and in this post has outlined just five of the many ways in which they know you will benefit from this exchange program:

1. Learn about U.S. history and culture

Possibly one of the most important aspects of this program -apart from the offered position- is that it will give you the opportunity to integrate yourself into the local culture of that city. You will be able to experience first hand what people in the city are like, the vast variety of cultures in metropolitan cities of the U.S., local and international foods, and learn from the different cultures activities that will teach you all about the history of the city and the U.S.

2. Wage

All positions offered to candidates participating in the Architect-US program are compensated according to the set minimum wages of each State and according to your academic background and years of experience. It will also give you an opportunity to earn money that you will be able to save for your future endeavors and travels.

3. Friendships and Networking

Big cities in the U.S. are heavily populated and have a wide variety of different cultures and people that you can learn from. During this experience you will be able to meet locals and people from different parts of the world giving you the opportunity to form strong bonds and hopefully future career opportunities. You will be able to attend different networking events offered by your Host Company and ones organized by the city that will grow your personal and professional connections.

4. Professional and Personal Development

This opportunity will boost your career in many ways as it will give you a platform to enhance your Portfolio and CV. You will also be able to learn from some of the world’s most prestigious organizations and top leading companies and apply that knowledge into your future in the profession. As you will go to the U.S on your own, you will also have to find ways to tackle daily aspects of your life independently, helping you build self-confidence and self-esteem.

Architect-US offers you access to one of the most competitive markets out there and will provide you with an experience and values that will impulse your international career. This will become a truly memorable, and life changing experience, so what are you waiting for?

When it comes to taking the right approach and choosing the program that best fits what you are looking for, it is important that you understand the terminology and all the moving bits and pieces that are involved in the process, that’s why this post is dedicated to the J1 Visa Terminology. Rather than applying blindly, it is always better to anticipate any problems you may run into and take all necessary precautions to avoid any confusion or unnecessary complications. Although it may seem complicated, it really is very straightforward, and we are here to help you along the way! You can read about some of the experiences of our past candidates here so that you don’t have to take only our word for granted!

First and foremost, you must decide which is the right visa for you, which in the case that you are looking for a cross cultural experience in a leading American firm for up to 18 months, the J1 Visa is the right choice for you! Bear in mind that depending on your marital status and whether you have children or not, they too can take part of this experience and tag along under the J2 Visa status; which will be granted once you have received approval for the J1. Something that we know can be a significant factor when considering this opportunity.

Now, think about what your experience level is thanks too the J1 Visa Terminology? And what is the annual salary that you expect to receive from your Host Company? It really all depends on whether you are an intern or a trainee. Additionally, your salary will vary depending on your years of experience and whether you have a degree from a post-secondary institution. Once all of this is settled and you are deciding between the offers that we send to you after you have joined our program and paid the initiation fees, you have to understand the documentation that you will need to receive and that which you will need to fill out and present at your embassy.

When the offer has been accepted and the company is already waiting for you to start your program with them, there will be three main documents that you will need to be aware of. One is called the DS-7002, the Training Internship Placement Plan, which be filled out by your Host Company, and the other two are the DS-160, the Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application Form, and the DS-2019, the Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status, that you will need to take care of on your end and submit to SEVIS. You will need these documents in order to start the Visa issuance process and do the interview your embassy. From then on is just waiting for the approval, and don’t worry we haven’t had any major complications in the past, and you can always count on us for help along the way and if you have any questions. We’ve placed numerous applicants in leading firms and we would be happy to do the same for you!

Now you know almost everything about the J1 Visa Terminology.

When entering our program, there are two different routes that you can take. One is the J1-Visa and the other is the Job+J1 Visa. The main differences between both programs is the “Job” part, and that means us being the ones that find you the placement. So basically, it depends on what it is that you are looking for. Do you want us to sponsor your Visa after you have already found a job opportunity in the States, or do you want us to present you with different job opportunities for you as well? There are candidates which already have an offer in the States and all they are looking for is the right Visa that will take them there in as short amount of time. Which we will gladly facilitate for them and the Host Company which is looking to add the participant to the team. On the other hand, there are participants which join the Job + J1 Visa Program as we will also find them the right intern or training opportunity for them. Putting our participants in the front steps of leaders in the Industry, and securing all the documentation that is required prior to the move.

1. Job

With the Job+J1 we are constantly presenting you with new offers and offers from our partner companies that are looking to bring in somebody new to their team. We are continuously growing the number of companies that we are working with and we are able to put your CV and Portfolio in their sights. Making sure that they keep us updated on the reviewing process and the interviews. If you do not have an offer yet, this is probably the quickest way for you to find a job in the States!

2. Cost

Both program fees make sure that they cover J-1 Visa application processing fees, issuance and shipping of the DS-2019 and acceptance packet, Accident and Sickness Insurance, the mandatory SEVIS Fee, Informative Dossier, 24 Hour Emergency support, and the English interview. The difference is in the added cost of the Job+J-1 Visa, and that is the 8% of the yearly salary that is offered by the American Company.

3. Communication

During the duration of the Job+J1 program we are also in communication with the Host Company to make sure that the training plan that was set by the company is being followed and that you are provided with the adequate training experience that you were looking for. We also make sure that all the necessary communication that is needed is covered by our end, that way the participant does not have to be in constant check with the company for the documentation.

It’s even hard to describe how much I have already learned in my experience with Architect-US since my journey started seven months ago, how much I have grown both professionally and personally thanks to this experience. I have already done a couple of internships/traineeships before ( for more than a year ), the first one was prior to my graduation in Slovakia and the other one was in Paris after I graduated. Both of them have taught me more than any other job, especially the one abroad because it helped me to improve my language skills, broaden my horizons in architecture and design. I have also met so many interesting people and gained valuable connections in an architectural environment. Since my first day as a trainee at KFA Architecture in Santa Monica I have gained so much more experiences, learned more about my profession as an architect and it has also prepared me for having more responsibilities.

1. Different design approach

Thanks to my jobs/internships abroad, I already got used to different styles, types of architecture, different ways of thinking, design approaches. However, in my opinion in Europe, architecture/design doesn’t change that much from country to country. In the US I had to start from zero because it’s a completely new experience, wooden framing instead of concrete and bricks, different units of measure, a different style ( especially the architecture in Los Angeles ).

2. Working independently/multi-tasking

Working for a big firm as my host company comes also with more responsibilities, more projects, and opportunities. That’s why it’s pretty common that every employee works on several projects at the same time. It’s very important to manage your time to meet your deadlines. I haven’t had this kind of experience before so it took me some time to get used to it.

3. Technical/computer skills

Since this is not my first work experience, I’ve been pretty skilled and have been using many different softwares before. However, I knew that the American market is focused mostly on working in Revit. I haven’t used it much before but I’ve learned a lot since my first day here. Now I can say that I’m quite advanced and I have also learned a lot about construction administration and gained some experience in a more technical domain of architecture that will be very useful for me in the future.

4. Social network

Working abroad thanks my experience with Architect-US, especially in a foreign language speaking environment is not always easy, however it allows me to connect with people and architects from all over the world. Especially in the US and big multi-cultural cities like Los Angeles, there’s a great opportunity to meet people from various cultural backgrounds. I have co-workers from many different countries/continents as well. Thanks to my host company I’ve also been participating in the meetings with the clients and engineers, learning how things work and what is every phase of designing process like.

5. Finding my voice, confidence, motivation, passion

Day by day I am given more and more responsibilities and also the freedom to be creative and make my own decisions in the designing process. It has helped me enormously to have the courage to say my opinion, to rediscover my voice as a professional architect, my passion for architecture and motivation to work harder. This opportunity has also made me step out of my comfort zone and helped me to become more confident.

The last thing I’ve learned in my experience with Architect-US (a very important one ) is to never give up on your dream no matter how though the way to make it come true could be.

As a Trainee you have to provide Architect-US with the following documents:

1. Resume (with start and end dates for each experience/education).

2. Portfolio (required only for architects).

3. Copy of Passport (scanned).

4. Academic Transcripts.

5. Degree Diploma (in English) / Certificate of Professional Education (we can send you).

6. Two Reference Letters in English (that must prove that you have at least 1 year of professional experience).

7. Signed Rules & Regulations (which we will send you).

8. Profile Picture (Passport or LinkedIn type).