What does “have a sponsor” mean?

The U.S. authorities are outsourcing most of the visa procedure in the J-1 visa program to designated organizations, hereby authorizing them to act as legal sponsors during your internship/training. Sponsors are responsible for reviewing and processing your J1-visa request. You cannot apply for a J-1 visa without having such a designated sponsor.

With our visa application program, we will support and assist you throughout your J-1 visa application. Our visa agency partners, U.S. State Department designated sponsors, will review your application documents according to U.S. State Department rules and regulations. If your application and your internship/training offer meet all of the outlined requirements, your designated sponsor will approve your application and issue you a form called “DS-2019.” Legal sponsors are the only institutions allowed to grant a DS-2019 form. With this form you may then schedule your interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate to request a J-1 visa.

The process of applying for a J-1 visa is always as follows: First, secure an internship or a training placement, then, apply for your DS-2019 with a designed sponsor, and finally, apply for a J-1 visa with the U.S. embassy or consulate.