Program Fees

Transparent, all-inclusive pricing

From visa sponsorship and compliance to 24/7 support, everything is handled for you — so you can focus on your future in the United States.

At a Glance

Application Term
Year-round
Program Duration
1–18 months
Insurance
Required · $120 / month
Housing Assistance
Provided
Compensation
Stipend negotiable with host
Weekly Training
Minimum 32 hours
Outside Employment
Prohibited
Not Eligible
Unskilled / clinical roles
Host Company Change
Rare · case-by-case

Who qualifies? Bachelor’s degree + 1 year of experience, or 5 years of work experience in the trainee field. English proficiency required.

Standard J-1 Trainee Program Fees

Most common

Participation Fees

Based on program length
Up to 3 months$2,200
Up to 6 months$2,500
Up to 12 months$3,800
Up to 18 months$4,200

Mandatory Additional Costs

Applies to every participant
Medical Insurance$120 / month
SEVIS I-901 Fee$220
Placement Fee$690
Host Company Setup$300

Customized Placement Program

Customized Placement

Unpaid positions only
Up to 3 months$2,200
Up to 6 months$2,500
Up to 12 months$3,800
Up to 18 months$4,200
Selected City Placement$1,000

Includes up to 3 professional interviews within 2 months. Balance due after placement acceptance.

Optional & Special Fees

Optional / Special Fees

Charged only when applicable
J-2 Dependent Application$600 + $120/mo per dependent
Priority Application Processing$500 · within 3 working days
Site Visit Fee$350
Program Extension / Company Transfer$795
Adjustment after DS-2019 Issuance$200
DS-2019 Replacement$200
Re-entry without Travel Authorization$200
Housing Placement (optional)$200
Refund Policy

If you cancel your program or are denied a visa, you may receive a refund of your program and insurance fees, except as noted below.

  • Notification of visa denial must be received in writing within 5 business days.
  • The original DS-2019 and DS-7002 must be returned within 20 days.
  • A $250 cancellation / visa denial fee applies.
  • The SEVIS fee is non-refundable.

All fees are in USD and subject to change to offset changes in U.S. Department of State regulations and/or insurance premiums. Fees cover document issuance (DS-2019), compliance, orientation, monitoring, emergency assistance, and cultural programming.
For more information, visit ustrainee.org.