Need academic credit as part of your degree or want to spend the summer getting ahead? USIT provides the sponsorship and placement support to intern anywhere in the USA for 1-12 months – with 30 days either side to travel.
On the fence?
Let’s talk
Hiring this summer! We currently have paid US internships in Law, Business, Design and more.
Make your summer count
In a competitive job market and increasingly interconnected world, having international work experience on your CV is a guaranteed way to help you stand out. On this program, you’ll get world-class training in your field, build a global network, and show future employers you have the motivation to live and work abroad. Plus, your visa allows you to travel for 30 days before and after your placement - meaning you can live and work in the USA for 14 months in total.
Why do it with USIT
USA sponsorship
Together with CIEE, our US partner, we set you up with the sponsorship and placement vetting to intern anywhere in the States for up to 12 months.
Expert support
We’ve been bringing our USA game for 60+ years. Our dedicated USA team will guide you through the visa, embassy and training plan process.
Placement support
You can find your own placement, or apply for vetted internships on the USIT Job Hub - with position in fields from Business to Design.
Aged 18+
Full-time student and grad-only
US sponsorship for 1-12 months
30 days either side to travel
Great for uni placements
Search employers on the Job Hub
From €1,979
Laura, Intern in NYC
Empire state of mind
"I’m getting on great in New York and really loving it so far. I’m interning in an advertising agency in the Empire State building which is really cool!’’
Need to know
We provide the US sponsorship, visa assistance and internship placement support to make your CV stand out with a paid or unpaid internship in America.
The Internship USA program is designed for current students or recent grads to put their academic skills to work in the States. From fashion to finance – you can work for between 1-12 months anywhere in the States in a field related to your studies.
Once you’ve found your position, the USIT team take it from there – checking your internship meets the visa criteria, vetting your host company (if required), and starting the process of sponsoring you. When you’re in the States, our long-standing partner CIEE supports you 24/7 – with regular check-ins to make sure your training is on track.
Eligibility
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Who can apply
If you're old enough to vote, then you can tick the "yes please" box on this USA internship visa too.
You must be 18+ and be able to fulfil one of the below student requirements:
If you're a full-time enrolled student your course must be at a recognised Irish college or university (or EU or UK institution) and be at least a two-year course that ultimately leads to a degree or higher qualification. Unfortunately, online, lifelong, special purpose or distance learning courses are not permitted on this visa. If you’re not a student but have five years’ experience in the field your internship relates to, check out our Trainee USA program instead.
If you’ve already graduated you must enter the USA within 12 months of the date on your graduation certificate. Recent graduates will also qualify for our 1-year Grad USA program.
When to apply You can apply at any time of the year. However, it takes 12 weeks to process your application, so if you’re looking to do an internship over the summer or have already graduated, make sure you build this into your timescales.
Internships
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What you can do
Your internship must be related to your academic field and you must have an internship offer before we can start the process of sponsoring you to work in the USA.
Duration and salary Depending on the length of your internship, you’ll be issued with a 1-12 month visa with 30 days before and after to travel. You can do a paid or unpaid internship. The salary for paid internships will be negotiated directly with your host company and will vary depending on the city and company you intern for. You can typically expect to earn between USD $2,100-4,500 a month.
Finding an internship It’s your responsibility to secure your own internship. If you don’t have one lined up already, after you’ve paid your deposit, we’ll give you access to our Job Hub. Our dedicated Jobs team find internships with US employers in popular industries for Irish students; such as finance, marketing, media and engineering. You can search for positions and reach out directly to employers, interviewing via video call.
Approving your internship All internships and training plans must be vetted by our US sponsor CIEE to ensure they meet the visa and labour criteria. This may include a site visit to your prospective employer. For more info, check out our FAQs.
Industries
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Where you can do it
Popular industries for Irish graduates to work in are construction, engineering, tech, politics, law, finance, science, architecture, media, publishing, marketing and fashion – but you can intern in any field as long as it is related to your education.
There are some roles within certain industries such as agriculture, teaching and medicine that aren’t permitted, but our USA team will be able to guide you around these restrictions and help you find a position within that industry that is likely to be approved by our sponsor. For more on the industries you can intern in, check out our FAQs.
Popular destination for Irish graduates to intern are New York, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego – but you can live anywhere in the States. Check out our US city guides for more intel and inspo on where to go.
How it works
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Let’s go
The process to apply for USA visas can be complex. But the payoff to upskill in the USA can be invaluable to your future career goals and progression. Plus, our team will support you throughout the entire process.
1. Secure your position Check you’re eligible in the tab above, start your online application and pay your deposit. If you don’t already have an internship secured, you’ll get access to our Job Hub where you can search and reach out to vetted US employers.
2. Book a call Once you have a position secured, you’ll have an in-depth call with our USA team to run through the program, answer any questions, get you set up the sponsor’s system and conduct a phone interview (this is a visa requirement).
3. Assessment by CIEE Your employer will need to fill out your DS7002 Training Plan which will then go to CIEE, our US sponsor, for approval. If your application is approved, your work papers will be issued within 15 business days – or 21 business days if a site visit to your employer’s workplace is required.
4. Pre-departure pack Once CIEE approves your application, we’ll email your DS2019 work papers, SEVIS receipt and DS7002 Training Plan to your home address. You’ll then receive your pre-departure pack by email with all the information you need to schedule your US Embassy appointment.
5. US Embassy interview You're off to the US Embassy! This interview and a 5-7 day review of your passport will provide them with the information they need to issue your visa.
6. Land in the USA Before you go, you’ll complete an online orientation with CIEE to make sure you’re perfectly prepped for life in the USA. CIEE are then on hand 24/7 to support you during your stay.
What’s included
Internship USA inclusions
What you get
Internship USA cost breakdown
The brass tax
Your program cost is determined by the length of your traineeship in the US.
0-3 months €1,979 | 4 months €1,999 | 5 months €2,059 | 6 months €2,089 | 7 months €2,119 | 8 months €2,129 | 9 months €2,169 | 10 months €2,195 | 11 months €2,239 | 12 months €2,289 | 13 months €2,359 | 14 months €2,389
What’s not included
Flights
We don’t recommend booking flights until your visa is approved.
Travel insurance
To cover against cancellation, we recommend taking out comprehensive travel insurance as soon as you book.
Site visit
A fee of USD $250 will be added to your program fee if a site visit to your prospective employer's workplace is required.
US visa fee Irish passport holders
This is paid directly to the US Embassy and currently costs USD $185.
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Why America
Aside from the obvious – the food, weather, cities, beaches, the food again… this visa is the chance to learn from the best in the business. The land of opportunity, you’ll have access to companies in America that you just won’t get staying in Ireland. From multinational headquarters to media start-ups, every industry and sector is represented here. Attracting the leading talent from around the world, you’ll gain invaluable international experience and grow your network – all while living in one of the most exciting countries in the world.
Why USIT
It’s not possible to work or intern in the USA independently – it must be done via a US Department of State approved sponsor organisation. The work in America experts, USIT partners with the largest and oldest work abroad non-profit in America, CIEE. Together we provide the sponsorship, internship vetting and paperwork to apply for your visa. If you’re applying for your own internship, make sure you mention that you’re applying for sponsorship with USIT and CIEE – as this is often a barrier for US companies looking to take on international interns.
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