Top 10 Government and Public Sector Employers Sponsoring J-1 Visas

Mihailo Bozic
Mihailo Bozic
Updated August 26, 2026 · 4 min read

The top 10 government and public sector employers sponsoring J-1 visas include State of Michigan, San Francisco Unified School District, and Brookhaven National Laboratory, spanning state agencies, public school districts, universities, national laboratories, and science and research organizations across the United States. Migrate Mate is tracking 23 live J-1 jobs across these employers as of August 26, 2026, updated daily. For candidates pursuing an exchange visitor position in education, government, or science and research, these employers offer structured J-1 programs backed by designated sponsor organizations and a defined DS-2019 process.

Which government and public sector employers sponsor the most J-1 visas?

Ranked by live J-1 openings on Migrate Mate, updated daily

  1. 01
    State of Michigan

    State of Michigan

    GovernmentPublic PolicyAdministration

    State of Michigan has 6 live J-1 jobs on Migrate Mate, the most of any government and public sector employer on this list. Its openings concentrate in Allied Health and Teaching & Instruction. Michigan state government administers public services across health, environment, infrastructure, and economic development.

    Open roles by team

    • Allied Health3
    • Teaching & Instruction3
    • Nursing2
    • Mental & Behavioral Health2
    • Healthcare Administration2

    +3 roles across other teams

    Open roles at State of Michigan6 open
    MDOC Internship
    Lansing, Michigan · On-site
    Apply
    FOA METRO Internship
    Michigan · On-site
    Apply
    Occupational Therapy Intern
    Caro, Michigan · On-site
    Apply
    Psychology Intern
    Caro, Michigan · On-site
    Apply
    Division of Victim Services Intern
    Lansing, Michigan · On-site
    Apply
    See all State of Michigan J-1 jobs
  2. 02
    San Francisco Unified School District

    San Francisco Unified School District

    K-12 EducationPublic SchoolsTeaching

    San Francisco Unified School District has 3 live J-1 jobs on Migrate Mate. San Francisco Unified School District operates public K-12 schools serving one of California's most diverse urban communities.

    Open roles by team

    • Teaching & Instruction6
    Open roles at San Francisco Unified School District3 open
    Early Childhood Special Education Teacher
    San Francisco, California · On-site
    Apply
    Elementary School Bilingual Spanish Teacher
    San Francisco, California · On-site
    Apply
    Middle School Bilingual Spanish Teacher
    San Francisco, California · On-site
    Apply
    See all San Francisco Unified School District J-1 jobs
  3. 03
    Brookhaven National Laboratory

    Brookhaven National Laboratory

    Science & ResearchFederal LabEngineering

    Brookhaven National Laboratory has 2 live J-1 jobs on Migrate Mate. Its openings concentrate in AI & Machine Learning and Software Engineering. Brookhaven National Laboratory conducts scientific research in physics, energy, and national security for the U.S. Department of Energy.

    Open roles by team

    • AI & Machine Learning4
    • Software Engineering3
    • Data Science & Analytics2
    • Science & Research2
    • Cloud & DevOps1

    +1 roles across other teams

    Open roles at Brookhaven National Laboratory2 open
    Postdoctoral Research Associate
    Upton, New York · On-site
    Apply
    PostDoc – Machine Learning
    Upton, New York · On-site
    Apply
    See all Brookhaven National Laboratory J-1 jobs
  4. Unlock every J-1 job from these sponsors

    Find 42 J-1 jobs
  5. 04
    Manassas Park City Schools

    Manassas Park City Schools

    K-12 EducationTeachingPublic Schools

    Manassas Park City Schools has 2 live J-1 jobs on Migrate Mate. Manassas Park City Schools is a Virginia public school district serving K-12 students across the city of Manassas Park.

    Open roles by team

    • Teaching & Instruction7
    Open roles at Manassas Park City Schools2 open
    Special Education Teacher
    Manassas Park, Virginia · On-site
    Apply
    Special Education Teacher - General Curriculum
    Manassas Park, Virginia · On-site
    Apply
    See all Manassas Park City Schools J-1 jobs
  6. 05
    North Central Texas Council of Governments

    North Central Texas Council of Governments

    GovernmentRegional PlanningConsulting

    North Central Texas Council of Governments has 2 live J-1 jobs on Migrate Mate. Its openings concentrate in Marketing and Content & Communications. North Central Texas Council of Governments is a regional planning organization coordinating transportation, environment, and public services for the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

    Open roles by team

    • Marketing2
    • Content & Communications2
    • Photography1
    • Videography1
    • Communications1

    +4 roles across other teams

    Open roles at North Central Texas Council of Governments2 open
    Interns – Digital Productions and Social Media
    Arlington, Texas · On-site
    Apply
    Intern – Public Affairs and Media
    Arlington, Texas · On-site
    Apply
    See all North Central Texas Council of Governments J-1 jobs
  7. Editor’s note

    How this list is ranked

    These employers are ranked by how many J-1 openings they have live on Migrate Mate right now, so the list reflects who is actively hiring for J-1 roles today rather than historical government filings. Openings change daily, so treat a high count as a strong current signal, and confirm the specific role and your eligibility before you apply.

  8. 06
    State of Delaware

    State of Delaware

    GovernmentPublic AdministrationPolicy

    State of Delaware has 2 live J-1 jobs on Migrate Mate. Delaware state government manages public services across finance, health, labor, and natural resources.

    Open roles at State of Delaware2 open
    Internship Opportunity
    Delaware · Remote
    Apply
    Internship
    Delaware · Remote
    Apply
    See all State of Delaware J-1 jobs
  9. 07
    SPLENDORA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

    SPLENDORA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

    K-12 EducationTeachingPublic Schools

    SPLENDORA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT has 2 live J-1 jobs on Migrate Mate. Splendora Independent School District is a Texas public school district providing K-12 education to students in Montgomery County.

    Open roles by team

    • Teaching & Instruction4
    Open roles at SPLENDORA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT2 open
    High School Teacher
    Splendora, Texas · On-site
    Apply
    Bilingual Elementary Teacher
    Splendora, Texas · On-site
    Apply
    See all SPLENDORA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT J-1 jobs
  10. See J-1 jobs from all 10 sponsors and thousands more

    Find 42 J-1 jobs
  11. 08
    Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)

    Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)

    Policy ResearchInternational AffairsConsulting

    Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) has 2 live J-1 jobs on Migrate Mate. Its openings concentrate in Science & Research and Project & Program Management. CSIS is a nonpartisan policy research organization producing analysis on global security, geopolitics, and international economics.

    Open roles by team

    • Science & Research2
    • Project & Program Management2
    • Administrative & Office Support2
    • Executive Assistant & Personal Assistant2
    Open roles at Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)2 open
    Intern
    Washington, Washington DC · On-site
    Apply
    Intern - Korea Chair
    Washington, Washington DC · On-site
    Apply
    See all Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) J-1 jobs
  12. 09
    State of Missouri

    State of Missouri

    GovernmentPublic AdministrationPolicy

    State of Missouri has 1 live J-1 jobs on Migrate Mate. Its openings concentrate in Audit and Finance. Missouri state government delivers public programs spanning transportation, social services, and regulatory affairs.

    Open roles by team

    • Audit4
    • Finance4
    • Accounting4
    Open roles at State of Missouri1 open
    Staff Auditor Intern
    Kansas City, Missouri · On-site
    Apply
    See all State of Missouri J-1 jobs
  13. 10
    Arizona State University

    Arizona State University

    Higher EducationResearchAcademic

    Arizona State University has 1 live J-1 jobs on Migrate Mate. Arizona State University is a large public research university offering programs across science, business, engineering, and the humanities.

    Open roles by team

    • Administrative & Office Support1
    Open roles at Arizona State University1 open
    Management Intern
    Tempe, Arizona · On-site
    Apply
    See all Arizona State University J-1 jobs

How the J-1 visa works

J-1 is an exchange visitor program run through a designated sponsor organization, not the employer directly. A sponsor issues Form DS-2019, and categories range from intern and trainee to research scholar and professor. Some J-1 holders face a two-year home-residency requirement afterward. Confirm which category fits and who the designated sponsor is before you commit.

Ready to apply for J-1 sponsorship?

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Government and Public Sector J-1 Sponsors: Frequently Asked Questions

Which government and public sector employers sponsor the most J-1 visas?

State of Michigan has the most, with 6 live J-1 jobs on Migrate Mate, followed by San Francisco Unified School District (3) and Brookhaven National Laboratory (2). Across the 10 government and public sector employers on this list, Migrate Mate is tracking 23 live J-1 jobs, updated daily.

Who qualifies for J-1 sponsorship?

J-1 visa eligibility depends on the program category. Interns must be enrolled in or recently graduated from a post-secondary academic institution. Trainees must have a degree plus one year of related work experience, or five years of work experience in their field. Research scholars and professors must hold relevant academic or professional credentials. All applicants require a DS-2019 form issued by a designated sponsor organization, and some categories trigger a two-year home residency requirement upon program completion.

How much does J-1 sponsorship cost?

The employer pays the required government fees, not the candidate. Base fees run from a few hundred to several thousand dollars depending on the employer and processing speed, plus legal costs. Recent policy changes have added significant fees for some filings and the amounts have been in flux, so check the current figure before you rely on it.

How do I get J-1 sponsorship from a top sponsor?

To obtain a J-1 through a government or public sector employer, confirm that the employer works with a Department of State-designated sponsor organization, which issues your DS-2019 form. Once you have a signed DS-2019, you complete the DS-160 application, pay the applicable visa fee, and attend a consular interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate. Your program category determines the authorized duration of your exchange, ranging from twelve months for interns to up to five years for research scholars.