If your AIPT program just ended, you are probably curious as to what to do next. To learn more about what to do do after your program ends, click on any of the links below:
How long can participants stay in the United States after the training program?
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) currently allows individuals to legally remain in the United States for 30 days after the end date indicated on their DS-2019 (Certificate of Eligibility). It is very important to comply with this regulation. If a participant’s training program ends before the end date indicated on the DS-2019, he or she should contact AIPT. Anyone who remains in the United States beyond their legal status, even for one day, is subject to stiff penalties if the individual ever wants to return to the United States.
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Can a participant stay in the United States as a tourist after his or her training program?
Yes. If a participant wants to travel around the United States for more than 30 days after his or her training program has been completed, he or she can apply to the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for a change of status to a B1/B-2 Visitor's visa. This will allow the participant to extend his or her stay in the United States. The participant must apply for this change of status before the last day of his or her training program that is noted on the Form DS-2019. Please note that the participant cannot remain on the payroll of his or her host employer beyond the last day of the training program that is noted on the Form DS-2019. Substantial penalties exist for both the participant and the employer if he or she is not legally authorized to earn a wage at that employer.
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Can a participant change status from a J-1 visa to another visa, such as an H-1B visa, at the end of the program?
The J-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa which means that participants are supposed to leave the U.S. at the end of the program. As part of AIPT’s sponsorship, the participant and host employer sign the obligations and responsibilities form confirming that the participant intends to enter the United States for practical training and does not intend to abandon his or her non-immigrant status.
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Can a participant have a second J-1 training program?
Yes, under certain conditions. For both trainees and interns, additional training and internship programs must address the development of more advanced skills or a different field of expertise. Interns may participate in additional internship programs as long as they maintain student status or begin a new internship program within 12 months of graduation. Trainees are eligible for additional training programs after a period of at least two years residency outside the United States, following their initial training program. Summer work and travel participants may take part in that program for as many summers as they like, as long as they are enrolled full-time in post-secondary education.
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Can someone participate in a training program right after an internship?
No. Participants who have successfully completed an internship program and no longer meet the selection criteria for internship programs have to reside outside of the Unted States for two years before they can apply for a training position.
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Can a participant extend his or her training program?
The maximum time allowed on the J-1 visa for on-the-job training is 18 months. The maximum time allowed on the J-1Intern visa is 12 months. If a participant has entered the United States for a six-month program, and he or she and the host employer find it would be valuable for him or her to continue the training program for another 12 months, AIPT can process an extension to the program. Please note that AIPT charges a fee to extend a program, and requires submission of a training plan for the extension period of the program. The extension approval period may take 2-3 weeks, therefore please plan accordingly to apply for an extension in advance of the original program end date. Please contact AIPT at aipt@aipt.org for information on how to request an extension.
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