US Visa  

The US J-1 Exchange Visitors Work Permit (Intern Category)

The employment authorization that applies to most undergraduate students is the US J-1 "Intern" authorization. This category is designed to "promote the exchange of persons, knowledge, and skills in the fields of education, arts, sciences and technology".
Canadian citizens obtain J-1 intern status and do not need to be screened at a US consulate prior to departure. Canadian citizens can proceed directly to the border crossing once their “Certificate of Eligibility” (their Ds 2019 form) has been received.  No Consulate appointment is required.

How to obtain your US J-1 Permit

The "Certificate of Eligibility" for US J-1 Intern Visa Status (commonly referred to as a DS-2019 form) must be obtained through a designated J-1 sponsoring agency. There are many of these in the USA, and CECA has arrangements with CDS to be our “preferred” sponsoring organization.
 Cultural Vistas has an established procedure for working with Waterloo Co-op students and their employers throughout the year. An administration fee is charged for the processing, and it is the student's responsibility to determine whether they or their employer will pay that fee.

Non-Canadian (permanent residents and visa students) students need to submit their Certificate of Eligibility to the nearest (in this case, Toronto) U.S. Consulate before traveling to the USA.

Confirm with your employer:
In order to arrange a US J-1 Intern permit, you need to have a sponsor. The U.S. employer is called the "host" and is not the sponsor. The main sponsoring organization, suggested by the University of Waterloo, is Cultural Vistas.  Please confirm with your employer which sponsor organization will be used in order to ensure you fill out the right application.
Arrange payment of fees:

  • If you are paying the fees, please check with the sponsoring organization (above) to determine a method of payment.
  • Payments to Cultural Vistas can be made on-line. Please contact Cultural Vistas for web link.
  • If your employer is paying the fees, please verify to ensure this occurs in a timely fashion, otherwise you might not receive your DS-2019 form prior to your anticipated departure date.

US J-1 Permit Fees for Current Waterloo Students

We also have relationships other sponsoring organizations besides Cultural Vistas such as Intrax, CICD and SWAP.

Cultural Vistas - regular processing time: three weeks
Training Program: available year- round for co-op undergraduate and graduate students
Co-op and regular student for a 4-12 month internship with UW Health Insurance US $800
SEVIS Fee US $180
New Employer Fee US $200

Intrax Canada - regular processing time: four weeks
Training Program: available year- round for co-op undergraduate and graduate students
Co-op and regular student for a 4-12 month internship with UW Health Insurance CAD $785
Co-op and regular student for a 8 month internship with UW Health Insurance CAD $905
SEVIS Fee included
New Employer Fee CAD $215


SWAP/Travel Cuts - regular processing time: four weeks

Note: as of March 12, 2012  SWAP can NO LONGER be used for Co-op  work terms due to their change in issuing dates and new visa regulations.
Summer Work/Travel Program: available from May 1- October 1
General Fee - with SWAP Health Insurance CAD $585
General Fee - without SWAP Health Insurance CAD $485
SEVIS Fee US $35

Note: Above prices include taxes

Travel Health Insurance:
These are the only options for health coverage on a work term in the US:

  • FEDS/GSA Health and Dental Plan (if you opt out you cannot opt back in)
  • Cultural Vistas - IEEE Insurance at US $46 per month for 5 months
  • Intrax Canada - insurance at $65 per month

The processing fee at the US Consulate in Toronto is US $140. There may be additional charges depending on your nationality.  Please refer directly to the US consulate website for further details.

US J-1 Permit Fees for Regular and Graduating Students

Waterloo regular students and Waterloo students who are graduating and who are no longer on official co-op work term status can still access a US J1 permit  the following ways:

  1. Complete an application
    A student application form must be completed; available online. Cultural Vistas is our preferred sponsor.
  2. Ensure an employer-completed training plan is sent to your visa sponsor:
    In addition to your application and the fee, an employer-completed training plan is also required. Samples are available online at: You need to ensure that the training plan is completed and sent to the visa sponsor organization by your employer, in order to receive your visa on time.
  3. Attend a On-Campus Pre-Departure Session with your visa sponsor:
    • There will be mandatory pre-departure sessions offered by both Cultural Vistas in conjunction with Co-operative Education & Career Action. The sessions usually take place on or shortly after the last day of classes each term. If the application, the fee and the training plan are received by your visa sponsor in a timely fashion, you will receive your US J-1 Training Visa at the mandatory orientation session.
  4. Tips and Reminders:
    • Time is very important in this process. Start early!
    • If the student application, the fee and the employer's training plan are completed and received by the visa sponsor organization in a timely fashion, then the sponsoring organization can issue your US J-1 Training Visa prior to departure.
    • Ensure that you and your employer discuss the start and end dates of your work term. Once your US J-1 Training Visa has been issued, the dates cannot be changed.
    • If you have any questions and/or problems please contact Cathy Stein .