Before comparing J-1 sponsor quotes, ask these questions

You have two sponsor quotes and one question: are they quoting the same thing? Before putting the totals side by side, make the program and the proposed placement clear. Then ask each organization to explain its quote in writing.

This worksheet gives you a place to record the answers. The questions are an editorial planning tool, not an official application form or a statement of what every sponsor charges.

Confirm the program before comparing the price

The State Department’s employer guidance starts with choosing a program, followed by contacting a designated sponsor for that program.

Source: State Department, J-1 visa employers

Check the category before the quote

1. 1
   ProgramWhich category are we discussing?
2. 2
   OrganizationIs this organization listed for that category?
3. 3
   AssessmentWhat details does it still need from me?

Use the official sponsor directory to check the organization’s name and category. For an internship, read the Intern program guidance and ask the sponsor which details it needs to assess your situation. Finding a name in the directory does not answer your individual questions.

Ask about the work location separately from the sponsor’s office

The directory lists the sponsor’s official address. It explains that many sponsors can place participants elsewhere in the United States and directs readers to ask the sponsor for details.

Source: State Department, Designated Sponsor Organizations By Program

An office address and a work location answer different questions

1. Directory addressWhere is the sponsor's office?
2. Proposed placementWhere would the training happen?
3. Sponsor's answerCan it review this proposed placement?

A useful question is: “For this program and proposed work location, what would you need to review before you could tell me whether you can proceed?” Record the reply as a reply, including anything the organization still needs to check.

Keep the quote and its conditions together

Ask for a dated written quote and keep the answers beside it. These are comparison questions, not claims that any particular charge or refund rule applies to you.

Leave no unanswered line looking like zero

1. IncludedWhat services and duration does this quote cover?
   Not yet confirmed
2. SeparateWhat would I pay separately, and to whom?
   Not yet confirmed
3. TimingWhen is each payment due?
   Not yet confirmed
4. ChangesWhat happens if plans change or the application cannot proceed?
   Not yet confirmed
5. Written recordWhat is the quote date, expiry and written policy link?
   Not yet confirmed

If a line is unanswered, write “not yet confirmed.” Do not turn a blank cell into zero cost. If one quote covers a different duration or set of services, ask for a comparable version before deciding which total is lower.

For the wider process, read what a company does to host a J-1 intern. You can also send a correction or suggest a question for this worksheet.

This worksheet does not decide eligibility, approve a host or give legal advice. Its citations identify the public guidance behind the program and directory checks; the quote questions are prompts for getting specific answers from the organization you contact.