Mikes Agency and the American Visa Sponsor through Internship America Program offers you the opportunity to participate in a short or long-term professional internship or training program in the United States.  Participants experience American culture and practice conversational English in their field of study or expertise by living and working with Americans for a period up to 18 months.

 

Program Includes:

 

PREMIUM PROGRAM:

One internship placement in the participant’s field of study/profession including one housing option, DS-2019 to support the application for a J-1 Internship, Trainee or Work/Travel visa (appropriate visa type will be determined based on applicant’s background and requested internship duration), orientation session, medical insurance and 24-hour support from Spirit’s experienced staff.  Internships may be paid or unpaid, depending on the length of stay and field of study. 

 

INDEPENDENT PROGRAM:
Includes all of the above EXCEPT internship placement and housing option.

 

Neither program includes SEVIS or visa application fees, airport transfers, international airfare, domestic transportation in the US, daily public transportation to and from work, housing fees & deposits, meals or spending money.  Participants should arrive with at least $1000 available to cover settling in expenses.

Participant Qualifications:

Internship America Program participants must meet the following qualifications:

• Able to demonstrate a high intermediate level of English through an in-person interview

• Proof of SLEP or TOEFL minimum English test score:

• SLEP Listening Scaled=26; SLEP Full Scaled=55 or TOEFL Paper-based=550

• Interested in learning about the culture and people of the United States.

Further qualifications depend on the type of visa the candidate qualifies for:

J-1 Internship Visa (Usually Paid Internships up to 18 months)
Currently enrolled at a degree-granting or certificate-granting post-secondary academic institution outside the USA OR graduated from such an institution no more than 12 months prior to their program start date
OR
J-1 Trainee Visa (Usually Paid Internships up to 18 months)

- Foreign nationals with five years of work experience outside the USA in their occupational field OR
- Foreign nationals who have either a degree or professional certificate from a foreign post-secondary academic institution AND at least one year of continuous work experience in their occupational field acquired in their home country.
OR
J-1 Work/Travel Visa (Usually Unpaid, Short-term Internships up to 4 Months)

Applicants must be currently enrolled full-time in a university degree-granting program and may only participate during their official summer break from classes.

 

Program Dates:

Program dates are flexible and based on employer’s and participant’s needs.

 

Program Options:

Internships are available in the following areas:

• Hospitality & Tourism (including Culinary) (12 months maximum)

• Management, Business, Commerce & Finance (up to 18 months)

 

 Placement Process:

1. Sponsor  posts available Internship opportunities online.
2. Sending Agent sends a CV to Sponsor in application for a posted Internship opportunity.
3. CV is reviewed by Sponsor.  Selected applicants will be asked to write a letter to the employer detailing why they are interested in a specific position.
4. Sponsor reviews CVs and cover letters and conducts Skype interviews with select candidates.
5. If Sponsor feels that a candidate is a good match for an available position, the CV and letter will be presented to the employer for review. 
6. Employer will interview the candidates they feel are the best match for their needs.
7. If applicant passes these preliminary interviews and the employer is interested in offering a position to the candidate, the applicant will be asked to complete a formal application.
8. Once the formal application is received and accepted, an Internship Training Plan from the respective employer will be presented to the applicant for their signature. 
9. Placement is complete once the formal Training Plan is signed by both the employer and participant and approved by visa sponsor.

CV Requirements:

All submitted CVs must include the following information in order to be considered:

1. Photo:  3cm x 5xm photo
2. Personal Information:  Name, Home Address, Phone, Email and Skype Address (if available), Citizenship, Date of Birth, Driver’s License, Smoker/Non-smoker
3. Educational Information: Detail all post-secondary study, including dates (month/year) of study and graduation.  Include field of study.
4. Work Experience: Detail all work experience, including name of employer, type of employer (restaurant, export business, etc) work dates (month/year), job titles and job descriptions.
5. Other Skills: Foreign Languages, computer skills, swim level, ski level, etc
6. Certificates:  List any additional certifications that the candidate possesses.
7. Activities: List other extra curricular activities that may be of interest to a prospective employer.
8. References:  At least two reference letters (in English) should be available upon request.  Applicant may also list reference contact information on the CV.

Tips for Skype & Phone Interviews:

 

When a candidate is selected to interview with Sponsor and/or the employer via Skype or telephone, please make sure that applicants pay special attention to the following items:

 

1. Skype ID Photo should be appropriate for a potential employer to view.
2. Skype interviews with Spirit require a video connection, so applicants should be sure to dress appropriately.
3. Skype video interviewees should look into the camera when speaking and try not to move too much.  It is best if the camera is placed above the computer monitor.
4. High speed internet service is required for Skype interviews.  If the applicant does not have a good connection to the internet, the interview should be arranged to occur at a place where there is a strong connection.
5. Applicant should be well informed about the type of internship they are interviewing for and be pre-screened for English level and motivation, to ensure that they are a good candidate for the position.