Eligibility Requirements

General Requirements

If you are applying through an accredited US institution to any program except the Sophomore Exploration or Postgraduate Professional Development Programs, you must:

• Be enrolled in an accredited college or university as a second semester sophomore or above during the term of your internship. Graduate students receiving credit are also eligible.
  
  
• Maintain a grade point average of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale. Your application MAY be considered with a third letter of recommendation if your GPA is below 2.75. Students with GPA’s lower than 2.75 are encouraged to submit their applications early. Higher GPAs (minimum 3.0) may be required for federal agencies such as the U.S. Departments of Justice and State, the U.S. Attorney's Office, and the Cable News Network (CNN).
  
  
• Receive academic credit from your college or university for your participation in the Internship Program. The Washington Center does not grant academic credit.
  
  
• Receive the endorsement of your campus liaison, or, if your institution does not have a campus liaison, the endorsement of a faculty sponsor. You must see this person before you begin your application. If you are unsure who this person is, please email info@twc.edu.

Requirements for Sophomore Exploration Program

If you are applying for this summer-only program, you must:

• Be enrolled at an accredited college or university. Students must have completed at least their first year and not have begun their junior year of study at the time of enrollment.
• Be 18 years of age.
• Maintain a grade point average of at least 3.25 on a 4.0 scale.
• Receive academic credit from your college or university for your participation in the Internship Program. The Washington Center does not grant academic credit.
• Receive the endorsement of your campus liaison, or, if your institution does not have a campus liaison, the endorsement of a faculty sponsor. You must see this person before you begin your application. If you are unsure who this person is, please email info@twc.edu.
• Complete a phone interview with a member of The Washington Center staff. Once you’ve submitted your materials, you’ll be given additional information about this step.

Requirements for Postgraduate Professional Development Program Applicants

Postgraduate Professional Development Program applicants must have received their most recent college degree within 18 months of the start of the program or be currently enrolled in graduate school. Liaison or sponsor approval is not needed. Applicants must have maintained a 2.75 grade point average.

Additional Information for International Applicants

Eligibility Requirements
International applicants who are not applying through a U.S. accredited institution must meet the same requirements as U.S. citizens, plus the following 7 additional requirements:

1. PASSPORT:
Submit a copy of first page of passport.  Passport must be valid for at least 6 months.

2. TOEFL:
Trainees must present a valid TOEFL score of 213 or higher in order to qualify (equivalent to 550 on the previous scale).

3. J1 Visa:
Foreign nationals who wish to enter the US to participate in Washington Center training programs come under a J-1 Visa. To qualify for the J-1 Visa, you must:

• Have two years of education or work experience in a field related to the training.
  
  
• Know English well enough to perform successfully in the proposed position.
  
  
• Plan to leave the U.S. within 30 days after completion of the program.
  
  
• Have not held the J-1 Visa in the Trainee category previously.

To apply for the J-1 Visa you must:

• Submit a complete Washington Center application before the deadline.
  
  
• Once accepted, pay one half of the cost of the program. TWC will send you the DS-2019 and DS-7002 forms with the acceptance letter.
  
  
• Go to the Sevis page to pay the Sevis fee.
  
  
• Make an appointment at the local U.S. Consulate in your country.
  
  
• At the appointment, submit the DS-2019 and DS-7002 forms along with your other required materials to obtain your J-1 Visa.
  
  
• We cannot guarantee that a U.S. consulate will issue you the J-1 Visa.

4. Health Insurance:
All trainees must be covered by an insurance plan that satisfies the requirements of the U.S. Department of State for the duration of the training program. Once you are accepted, you will receive more information on how to comply with these requirements.

5. Financial Support
The U.S. Department of State requires that all international applicants demonstrate they have funds to cover the cost of the program. In order to ensure that you have sufficient funds, you must pay one half of the cost, as soon as you agree to participate in it. You must also present a copy of a financial statement showing enough funds to cover the expenses associated with the program and a copy of a valid credit card that would only be used in case of payment default. Payment of the remaining 50% is due prior to check-in.

6. Home Country Presence Requirements:
Some participants are required to spend two years in their home country before they are allowed to apply for another U.S. Visa. This requirement applies if:

• Participation in the program was financed by the U.S. or a foreign government.
  
  
• The skills that you are going to develop are listed as "special" in the State Department skills list. A waiver procedure exists in certain cases.
  

7. Application Fee:
All international students are required to pay a $125.00 application fee. This includes one FedEx delivery of your J-1 Visa form. For more information please contact virginiag@twc.edu.

For more information about International applicants please visit the International Students Section

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