Companies: criteria to host a J-1 participant
A host company, an essential link in your project
Finding a company ready to host you in the United States is a first victory. But it must also be eligible for the J-1 program. The American authorities do not only set criteria for candidates: they also strictly regulate host companies, to guarantee every participant a serious, safe and truly educational experience.
To be eligible, they must meet the following conditions.
Company eligibility criteria
- Premises: have an office and a suitable working environment.
- Seniority: have existed for more than 6 months.
- Registration: be officially registered with the authorities, with a business license or a W-9 form.
- Insurance: have taken out workers’ accident insurance, called Workers’ Compensation. Companies that cannot provide it are not accepted, unless they benefit from an exemption or the state where they are based does not make it mandatory (as is the case in Texas, for example).
- Supervision ratio: have at least 1 full-time employee on site to host one J-1 participant. To host several, the company must respect a ratio of 5 full-time employees on site per participant.
- Mentoring: appoint a supervisor or manager responsible for guiding the participant and ensuring their professional development.
The American government also excludes certain types of positions and business sectors from the J-1 program: see the list (in French).
Does your future host company have questions about the J-1 visa?
You are in the middle of recruitment or in contact with a company in the United States, but your contact does not yet know the J-1 visa? We can arrange a meeting with them, by Teams or by phone, to answer all their questions. Simply fill in the form below: we will contact the company directly.