“I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.” – Mark Twain

While this quote from my favorite writer and well-known American satirist of all time, Mark Twain is thought to criticize the existing education system, modern students understand how they can combine their schooling with an enriching internship experience that will take them to emerge as world-class leaders in any discipline they choose to work in. While preparing for a job, students often do not address their weak points in a strict and competitive workplace, nor do they enjoy many instances where they can boost their skills especially as a fresher. On the contrary, when you choose to avail an internship option, especially in European countries such as UK, Germany, and others, you know that you would gain knowledge about the industry and groom your skills with an extra focus on technological advancements and research, etc.

While your academic record plays a dominant role in pushing your candidature for an internship, you also have to deal with immigration issues. Getting a visa beforehand, planning out the accommodation and managing funds, you can’t afford to lose your career prospects in anyway. This post discusses some of the key issues that you must address before packing your bags to a new country that has a vast amount of opportunities for you.

• Is my prospective employer a designated Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor?

You must cross-check the facts before making a decision. This may be your once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ride on a successful career, but careless excursions may lead to unexpected consequences. So be on the safe side and check whether your prospective employer has permissions from the local and national authorities. If this employer is a designated exchange visitor program sponsor, you are dealing with the right company who is not only going to provide for your livelihood and education abroad but will also help you deal with issues like immigration, safety, and other unforeseen circumstances.

Your prospective employer will be able to issue you with an appropriate Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status. You will need this certificate on many occasions, especially while applying for a J-1 visa form.

• What if my employer is not a designated exchange visitor program sponsor?

If your prospective employer is transparent and has informed you about this, you are good to go. All you have do is to modify your process. For example, if you are planning an Internship in US, you will be required to get the required sponsorship through some work exchange program so that you can apply for a J-1 Visa. With new avenues opening in the diverse interlinked fields of Arts and Humanities, Social Science, Business and Commerce, Science and IT-related studies, you can easily find some reputed institutes that permit enthusiastic aspirants like you to participate in any employment option available to them. You can even discuss your concern with the individual program sponsors to have their viewpoint about the same.

In the worst case, when you fail to obtain sponsorship for an exchange visitor visa, what can you do to ensure that your dreams see the colors of reality, sooner and with more vigor than ever? You can talk with your prospective employer and convince him/her to help your cause. For instance, in case of an Internship in US, trusting the value that you are likely to add to the organisation as a motivated employer, your prospective employer will have to file a petition on your behalf that will qualify you to apply as a trainee. In such scenario, you will be at ease in applying for H-3 visa. The only demerit with this method is that this petition can take months to go through all the proceedings. Rest assured, with the right planning and proper documentation, you can get the work done. An Internship abroad is a perfect career option and an Internship Provider can make the process easier for you by helping you get the necessary formalities done.