J-1 Trainees

Across Cultures International is designated by the United States Department of State as a Sponsor of the Exchange Visitor Program (under the J-1 Training Category).

The primary objectives of the Exchange Visitor Training Program are to enhance the skills and expertise of exchange visitors in their academic or occupational fields through participation in structured and guided work-based training programs, and to improve participants' knowledge of American techniques, methodologies, and technology.

Such training programs are also intended to increase participants' understanding of the American culture and society and to enhance Americans' knowledge of foreign cultures and skills through an open interchange of ideas between participants and their American associates.

Across Cultures International selects qualified participants to come to the United States to gain exposure to the American culture and society, and to receive specialty training in U.S. business practices and procedures related to their chosen occupational field, through a pre-arranged cultural and professional exchange program, full time (at least thirty-two (32) hours per week) hosted at eligible American companies for a period of up to eighteen months. Please note, Across Cultures International sponsors training programs only in specialty fields related/adjacent to Information Media and Communications, Management, Business, Commerce and Finance, the Sciences, Engineering, Architecture, Mathematics and Industrial Occupations.

We welcome qualified applicants from all countries, we can sponsor eligible programs anywhere in the US, and we accept applications continuously, year-round (the program(s) could start at any time during the calendar year, as mutually agreed/approved with the prospective host companies).

Across Cultures International does not sponsor J-1 Training Programs having proposed operations exclusively in the field(s) of agriculture, hospitality (hotel and restaurant), direct patient healthcare/counseling, and direct student teaching/counseling. Additional exclusions might apply, pertaining to repeat participation, and duplication of previously acquired experiences, as well as other statutory limitations and restrictions; ordinary/marginal employment, manual/unskilled labor, virtual offices, work-from-home, consulting/placement, sub-contracting, temp replacement, or programs that would displace/replace regular American workers, and other similar arrangements, are also excluded.

Please visit www.j1visa.state.gov to learn more about the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program.

General Applicant Prerequisites

To be considered for participation in the proffered J-1 Exchange Visitor Training Program, candidates must be foreign nationals who have either a degree or professional certificate from a foreign accredited post-secondary academic institution (colleges or universities) and at least one year of prior specialty work experience in their occupational field acquired outside the United States, or five years of specialty work experience outside the United States in their occupational field. Considering that English language training is not part of this exchange training program, candidates are also required to already possess sufficient proficiency in the English language to enable them to participate in their program and function effectively in an English-speaking environment.

Contact us today to inquire about the J-1 Exchange Visitor Training Program sponsored by Across Cultures International, and learn detailed information pertaining to your prospective participation!

Participation Fees

No fee is due if Across Cultures International does not admit a candidate in the program, if our institution fails to find acceptable placement for the applicant.

Once that Across Cultures International determines that an applicant meets all the participation requirements, secures appropriate placement, and the candidate accepts his/her placement at the host company, the candidate must pay a five hundred U.S. Dollars ($500.00) administrative fee to Across Cultures International, which is non-refundable and non-transferable under any circumstances (including, but not limited to the participant’s voluntary withdrawal from the program, visa denial, program termination, program cancellation or program transfer).

The proposed training program intends to offer cultural and professional exchange training opportunities ranging from six to eighteen months, depending on the potential participant's intentions and hosting options secured by Across Cultures International at U.S. companies. A total participation cost for each participant will be individually calculated based on the program’s length, i.e. three hundred and fifty U.S. Dollars ($350.00) for each month and paid to Across Cultures International only after/if the applicant is granted the J-1 Nonimmigrant Exchange Visa.

We offer a month-to-month payment plan to our trainees throughout their participation the J-1 Training Program in the US, and accept only personal or business checks, or International Traveler’s Checks, International Money Orders and International Cashier’s Checks issued in U.S. Dollars by a U.S.-based financial institution (third party payments by check are also acceptable).

Across Cultures International does not charge any administrative or program participation fees for dependents (spouse and/or children under the age of 21) accompanying the participant in the United States.

Across Cultures International does not work with any third-party recruiters or foreign organizations, therefore there are no additional fees charged to the applicant for his/her enrolment and participation in the proposed program.

Moreover, no extra fees are charged for any other administrative services, including, but not limited to, placement at a host company, host site verification/inspection, drafting the training plan, extending the program, adding a dependent, etc.

Estimated travel, housing and living expenses, healthcare insurance cost and consular fees

If granted the visa, the participants must be ready to secure roundtrip transportation from/to their home country. While these charges might greatly vary based on the distance, season, class, etc., the average roundtrip airplane ticket might cost between $700.00 and $2,500.00 per person.

It is estimated, that based on maximum normal occupancy, in a shared apartment, one participant would spend at minimum a monthly average of approximately one thousand U.S. Dollars ($1000.00) for frugal housing, local public transportation, food, and living expenses; this may greatly vary based on personal needs, habits and number of dependents accompanying the trainee.

If accepted in the proposed exchange visitor training program, participants will be required to pay the SEVIS Fee (currently $220.00, online payment to U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, www.fmjfee.com) and the J-1 Nonimmigrant Visa Application Processing Fee (currently $160.00, to the U.S. Department of State / U.S. Consulate where the prospective participant applies for the J-1 Nonimmigrant Visa). Both fees must be paid before the participant can apply for the J-1 Nonimmigrant Visa at a U.S. Consulate and are nonrefundable and nontransferable, regardless of the outcome of the visa application.

As prescribed by applicable federal regulations, Across Cultures International requires each exchange visitor and accompanying dependents (spouse and/or children, if any) to have medical insurance coverage during their entire participation in the proposed exchange training program, with the following minimum benefits: medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness, repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000, expenses associated with the medical evacuation of the exchange visitor to his or her home country in the amount of $50,000 and a deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness. This insurance policy must be underwritten by an insurance corporation having an A.M. Best rating of "A−" or above; a McGraw Hill Financial/Standard & Poor's Claims-paying Ability rating of "A−" or above; a Weiss Research, Inc. rating of "B+" or above; a Fitch Ratings, Inc. rating of "A−" or above; or a Moody's Investor Services rating of "A3" or above an A.M. Best rating of "A-" or above, an Insurance Solvency International, Ltd. (ISI) rating of "A-I" or above, a Standard and Poor's Claims Paying Ability rating of "A-" or above, or a Weiss Research, Inc. rating of B+ or above, or such other rating as the Department of State may from time to time update and specify. All exchange visitors and any accompanying spouses and dependents may also be subject to the requirements of the Affordable Care Act.

Across Cultures International accepts any health insurance plan complying with the requirements specific for participation in the J-1 Training Program (aforementioned), and, as an option, we also offer a policy secured through our institution, which meets the J-1 coverage requirements.

The financial compensation from the host company (if any) and all the fees and costs associated with the candidates’ participation in the proposed exchange visitor training program, will be individually calculated for each applicant, clearly stipulated in the Form DS-7002 Training Placement Plan, and fully disclosed in writing to each potential participant before accepting the training offer.

Across Cultures International Contact Information for Exchange Visitors

Please Contact us. Across Cultures International's regular business hours for the Administration are from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Pacific Time (Los Angeles, USA).

In case of a serious, life-threatening emergency dial 911 first. Carry the health insurance card (information) and identification documentation with you at all times. Contact Across Cultures International promptly to report any significant incident immediately after the emergency was surpassed.

For significant non life-threatening emergencies, you would be able to reach an authorized representative of the J-1 Exchange Visitor Training Program sponsored by Across Cultures International anytime / outside the regular business hours at (213) 220-1440 (please use common sense to determine what circumstance would qualify as a significant emergency that could not be delayed until the next working hours).

When submitting documents or information to Across Cultures International, you should mention "ATTN: J-1 Training Program", or the name of the intended receiver/program responsible; please also include your name, e-mail address and call back number.

Our physical location and mailing address is:

• Across Cultures International
• 13400 Riverside Dr., Suite 350
• Sherman Oaks GRB Building
• Los Angeles, CA 91423

Our telephone number is (818) 387-6113.

Our website is: www.AcrossCulturesInternational.com

Vlad Cristian Chirianu is the Chief Operating Officer of Across Cultures International, and the Responsible Officer (RO) of the J-1 Exchange Visitor Training Program. His e-mail address is Vlad@AcrossCulturesInternational.com, and his telephone extension is 106.

Address and Telephone Number of the Office of Designation, Private Sector Exchanges, of the U.S. Department of State

The Exchange Visitor Program is administered under the oversight of the U.S. Department of State, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Private Sector Exchange, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).

The Office of Designation and the Compliance Unit are responsible for monitoring designated Sponsors’ activities and compliance.

Private Sector Programs Division – Office of Designation

• Mailing Address:
• U.S. Department of State Office of Designation Private Sector Programs Division
• ECA/EC/D/PS, SA-4E, Room E-B001
• 2201 C Street NW,
• Washington, DC 20520

• Street Address (couriers):
• U.S. Department of State Office of Designation Private Sector Programs Division
• ECA/EC/D/PS, SA-4E, Room E-B001
• 2430 E Street, NW
• Washington, DC 20037

• Telephone: (844) 300-1824
• Fax: (202) 203-7779
• e-Mail: DesignationTrainee@State.gov

Compliance Unit

• Mailing Address:
• U.S. Department of State Office of Exchange Coordination and Compliance
• ECA/EC/ECC, SA-4E, Room E-101
• 2201 C Street NW,
• Washington, DC 20520

• Street Address (couriers):
• U.S. Department of State Office of Exchange Coordination and Compliance
• ECA/EC/ECC, SA-4E, Room E-101
• 2430 E Street, NW
• Washington, DC 20037

• e-Mail: jvisas@state.gov

Thank you for your interest in the J-1 Exchange Visitor Training Program sponsored by Across Cultures International. Should you have any questions or concerns, or should more information be needed, please do not hesitate to contact us.

We look forward to sharing with you an excellent exchange training experience!