DS-7002 Training Plan: How to Clear Review the First Time

Every J-1 intern or trainee visa starts with the DS-7002. The U.S. Department of State uses the form to confirm that the placement is a structured learning experience: defined training phases, a named supervisor, a clear evaluation framework, and a verified site of activity. Without an approved DS-7002, the sponsor cannot issue the DS-2019, and without the DS-2019, no visa interview happens. A plan that lacks specificity in any section is returned for revisions, which can push your participant's visa interview back by weeks.

This guide is written primarily for the HR or hiring manager filling out the DS-7002. Interns about to sign one, placement coordinators learning the form, and anyone encountering it for the first time will find the explanations and worked examples below apply to them, too.

Intrax has been a U.S. Department of State-designated J-1 visa sponsor since 2003. Through our Global Internships program, we have placed more than 50,000 J-1 participants at U.S. host companies since 2010, and we review thousands of DS-7002 forms a year. This guide walks you through what the form requires, what gets sent back, and how to write a plan that clears review the first time.

Quick decoder for first-timers:

• DS-7002: This form, the training plan
• DS-2019: Certificate of Eligibility, which the sponsor issues so the participant can apply for a J-1 visa
• SEVIS I-901: Federal exchange-visitor fee, paid online before the embassy interview
• DS-160: Online visa application form, which the participant completes for the U.S. consulate 

What the DS-7002 Actually Is

The DS-7002 is a legal training plan required by the U.S. Department of State before any J-1 Intern or Trainee visa can be issued. Without it, there is no DS-2019, and without the DS-2019, there is no visa.

Three parties co-author this document: the host company, the sponsor (Intrax), and the participant. Each signs it and takes on legal obligations. The State Department uses it to verify that the placement is a genuine learning experience governed by 22 CFR § 62.22, the federal regulation that defines exchange visitor programs.

One clarification before you go further: the DS-7002 is required ONLY for the Intern and Trainee J-1 categories. Research scholars, professors, teachers, au pairs, and camp counselors use different program structures and do not file this form.

Note for participants: Your signature is legally binding. It attests that you've read the plan and accept the role, the wage, the named supervisor, the schedule, and the duration as written. Material disagreements you don't surface upfront will surface during the embassy interview, when fixing them takes days or weeks rather than a phone call. If anything looks wrong (especially the wage, the supervisor's name, the start and end dates, or the site of activity), raise it with your sponsor before signing.

If you've been emailed a DS-7002 to sign, jump to the FAQ section below. The rest of this guide is written for the host company filling it out.

DS-7002 vs DS-2019: The 60-Second Comparison

If you're new to J-1 sponsorship, the two forms get confused constantly. Here's the short version.

DS-7002 (Training/Internship Placement Plan)

• Who fills it out: Host company drafts; sponsor reviews
• Required for: J-1 Intern and Trainee categories only
• When: Before the DS-2019 can be issued
• Where it goes: Sponsor's program file
• Signed by: Sponsor + host supervisor + participant

DS-2019 (Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status)

• Who fills it out: Sponsor issues
• Required for: All J-1 categories
• When: After the DS-7002 is approved (if applicable)
• Where it goes: Embassy interview + U.S. port of entry
• Signed by: Sponsor, J-1 participant, and consular officer 

The DS-7002 enables the DS-2019, and the DS-2019 enables the visa. Fix a problem in the training plan now, before all three signatures are collected, and you save days or weeks on the timeline.

The Three Parties Who Sign the DS-7002

Every DS-7002 requires three signatures, and each party carries specific obligations under that signature.

1. The sponsor (Intrax) vets the placement against federal regulations, signs the form, and issues the DS-2019 once approved.
2. The host company (you) drafts the training plan, names the on-site supervisor, certifies the wage and hours, and signs.
3. The participant reviews the plan they'll be living by for the next several months and signs.

All three signatures must be on file before the DS-2019 is issued. 

What the State Department Actually Looks For on the DS 7002

Reviewers aren't checking a box. They're asking whether this placement will genuinely develop the participant's professional skills in a structured, supervised environment. A plan that reads like a job posting fails that test immediately.

Here are the specific requirements that determine whether a DS-7002 clears review:

• Phases of no more than 4 months each (per Intrax program rules for trainee programs)
• Supervisor named in full (full name required; a title alone is incomplete; the supervisor must be a current employee with relevant expertise; contractors and peers do not qualify)
• For paid internships, wage must meet or exceed federal minimum wage plus any applicable state or local minimum (see Department of Labor minimum wage guidelines)
• Phases must describe what the participant will learn beyond the duties they'll perform (the plan should read as a learning roadmap rather than a job description)
• Hours must represent a full-time placement
• Cultural component must be substantive ("intern may attend optional events" does not qualify)
• Prohibited activities for interns: unskilled or casual labor, childcare, elder care, medical patient care or contact, or more than 20% clerical or office support work (see j1visa.state.gov/programs/intern)

How to Structure Phases That Pass Review

Specificity separates a plan that passes from one that gets sent back. Vague phase descriptions are one of the most common reasons a DS-7002 returns to the host for revision.

Here's what the difference looks like in practice.

Vague (may get sent back):

Phase 1 (months 1-3): The intern will assist the marketing team with various campaigns and learn about digital marketing.

Specific (more likely to clear review):

Phase 1 (months 1-3): The intern observes two full campaign cycles, shadows the SEO Lead on three campaign reviews, completes the company's HubSpot certification, and produces a competitive landscape report by week 12. Evaluation: a four-criterion rubric covering accuracy, depth of analysis, communication, and project management, scored on a 1-5 scale by the supervisor.

The second version names the methods (observing, shadowing, completing a certification), names the deliverables (competitive landscape report), and names the evaluation framework. Reviewers need to see structured learning, and that structure has to be visible on the page.

Phases should also build on each other. Phase 1 typically covers onboarding and observation. Phase 2 introduces supervised contribution. Phase 3 moves toward independent work with mentor checkpoints. A 12-month plan where all three phases look identical reads as copy-pasted, and reviewers notice.

8 Reasons DS-7002 Plans Get Sent Back

A returned plan costs your intern time on the visa timeline. These are the issues that come up most often.

1. Phase descriptions are vague. "Will help with various tasks" is a job ad rather than a learning plan. Every phase needs specific skills, methods, and deliverables named. Fix: rewrite each phase to name three specific deliverables and the methods you'll use to teach them.
2. Supervisor listed by title only. A real human's name is required. "Marketing Manager" without a name attached is incomplete. Fix: enter the supervisor's full name and confirm they're a current employee with relevant expertise.
3. Supervisor mismatched to the role. A graphic design intern supervised by a regional sales manager will trigger questions about whether the learning objectives can actually be met. Fix: assign a supervisor whose role aligns with the participant's training field, even if it means moving the placement under a different department.
4. Wage on the DS-7002 doesn't match the offer letter. Even a small discrepancy gets flagged and requires correction before the form can proceed. Fix: open both documents side by side and reconcile every dollar figure before submitting.
5. Hours scheduled do not meet full-time placement. Part-time placements do not qualify under standard J-1 intern/trainee rules. Fix: confirm the offer letter and DS-7002 both list full-time hours a week before submission.
6. Cultural component is missing or filler. A blank section or generic language about optional events reads as non-compliance with the spirit of cultural exchange. Fix: replace generic language with two or three concrete examples specific to your company, like a mentorship pairing, a quarterly company outing, or a planned visit to a local cultural site.
7. The plan reads like a job description. It lists duties for the company rather than learning objectives for the participant. Fix: rewrite each phase to start with what the participant will learn rather than what they will produce for you.
8. Site of activity doesn't match the actual placement. Missing satellite offices or undocumented multi-site rotations are common triggers. Fix: list every location the participant will work at, including satellite offices, and any rotation schedule.

Where the DS-7002 Sits in Your Hiring Timeline

The DS-7002 is a pre-visa document, and it sits near the beginning of a sequence that takes weeks to complete.

1. Host company defines the role, supervisor, and compensation
2. Sponsor confirms the placement qualifies under J-1 regulations
3. Participant is interviewed and accepted
4. DS-7002 drafted by the host with input from the sponsor
5. DS-7002 signed by all three parties
6. Sponsor issues the DS-2019
7. Intrax pays SEVIS I-901 fee, participant completes DS-160 and attends embassy interview 
8. Visa approved, participant arrives in the U.S.
9. Midpoint evaluation submitted to sponsor (for programs over 6 months)
10. Final evaluation submitted to sponsor before program end
11. 30-day grace period after program end date
12. Participant must depart the U.S. within the 30-day grace period; they cannot work, continue program activities, or re-enter once they leave

Understanding the length of this sequence is the main reason hosts should start the DS-7002 early. Each revision cycle adds days. Consult the full J-1 visa application process for detailed timing.

Note for participants: Your earliest possible visa appointment depends on when this entire sequence finishes. A clean DS-7002 on the first pass can save you weeks.

Evaluations: What Happens After the J-1 Program Begins

Program obligations don't end when the J-1 visa is approved. Two evaluation checkpoints are built into every J-1 trainee or internship placement.

• For programs shorter than 6 months: one final evaluation, signed by both participant and supervisor
• For programs longer than 6 months: midpoint evaluation plus final evaluation, both signed
• All evaluations go to the sponsor before the program end date

At Intrax, we send the mid- and final evaluations to the host and participant. The format is already prepared by Intrax, but the host can (and should) include other types of evaluation metrics in the training plan. 

How Intrax Helps You Clear Review on the First Pass

Intrax pre-checks every DS-7002 against federal regulations before it is submitted to SEVIS to ensure answers are accurate and comprehensive. With more than 20 years as a designated J-1 Intern and Trainee sponsor and 50,000+ J-1 participants placed at companies like Splunk, Lime, Robinhood, Superhuman, and Equilar, our team has seen nearly every issue a training plan can have. We know what it takes to get your plan approved and your intern or trainee on the plane!

Host a J-1 Intern or Trainee with Intrax

A well-structured DS-7002 is the foundation of a compliant J-1 placement, and getting it right on the first submission protects your timeline and your intern's visa. Intrax handles the sponsorship, the regulatory review, and the DS-2019 issuance. You bring the role, the supervisor, and the learning plan.

Ready to move forward? Connect with the Intrax team today about J-1 sponsorship or review pricing and eligibility.

DS-7002 FAQs

What is the DS-7002 form?

The DS-7002 is a Training/Internship Placement Plan required by the U.S. Department of State for J-1 Intern and Trainee visa categories. It outlines the participant's learning objectives, phase structure, supervisor, wage, and evaluation criteria. The sponsor, host company, and participant all sign it before the DS-2019 can be issued.

Where do I get a blank DS-7002 form?

Your designated J-1 sponsor sends you the DS-7002 template once your placement is identified. The blank form is also publicly available from the U.S. Department of State. Intrax will send the final version to all parties for signature via DocuSign.

Is the DS-7002 the same as the DS-2019?

No. The DS-7002 is the training plan drafted by the host company and reviewed by the sponsor. The DS-2019 is the Certificate of Eligibility issued by the sponsor after the DS-7002 is approved. The participant brings the DS-2019 along with a copy of their DS-7002 to their embassy interview. 

How long can DS-7002 phases be?

For trainees, each phase can be no more than 4 months long per Intrax program rules. A 12-month program would typically have three phases of up to 4 months each.

What are the maximum durations for J-1 Intern and Trainee programs?

J-1 Intern programs run a maximum of 12 months. J-1 Trainee programs run a maximum of 18 months (except for programs in Hospitality, which have a maximum duration of 12 months). See j1visa.state.gov/programs/trainee for trainee-specific requirements.

Can the same DS-7002 be reused for multiple participants?

No. Each participant requires their own DS-7002 tailored to their specific role, supervisor, phases, and compensation.

How do I know if my DS-7002 is ready to submit?

Run it through the 8 reasons above. Every phase should name specific deliverables and the methods you'll use to teach them. The supervisor should be named in full and matched to the role. The wage and hours should match the offer letter. The cultural component should be more than filler. The site of activity should match where the participant will actually be working. When in doubt, ask your sponsor for a pre-submission review.

What happens if we make a mistake on the DS-7002?

Contact your sponsor immediately. Minor corrections may be handled administratively. Significant changes to the role, supervisor, or program structure typically require a formal amendment. Attempting to proceed with incorrect information on file creates compliance risk.

What if the role changes significantly during the program?

A formal amendment to the DS-7002 must be filed through the sponsor. Changes to the site of activity, supervisor, or core training objectives cannot be made informally. If you have any questions, contact the Intrax team directly.