J-1 Visa Public Relations Intern Jobs
Public Relations Intern positions in the United States are available to current students and recent graduates through the J-1 visa Intern program category, which requires sponsorship from a U.S. Department of State-designated organization. Host employers in PR agencies, corporate communications teams, and nonprofits hire J-1 interns for placements typically lasting up to 12 months.
Find J-1 Visa Public Relations Intern JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 15+ Public Relations Intern jobs










See all Public Relations Intern Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Public Relations Intern roles.
Get Access To All Jobs
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
-
CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process . Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
-
CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
-
If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants .
Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.
JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS
The J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School is seeking a creative, organized, and motivated student (graduate or undergraduate) to serve as a Marketing Communications Intern. This position will support the school’s Marketing and Strategic Communications team through strategic content creation, social media management, event promotion, and digital communications.
This internship offers hands-on experience working with a collaborative communications team focused on telling the stories of graduate students, faculty, staff, and alumni while promoting the impact and initiatives of the Fox Graduate School.
Responsibilities
The primary responsibility for the position is social media and content creation, which includes:
- Create engaging written, visual, and video content for Instagram, LinkedIn, and other platforms
- Capture photos and short-form video clips featuring graduate students, faculty, staff, and alumni
- Assist in maintaining an editorial calendar and publishing schedule
- Monitor engagement and support community management efforts
- Research trends and recommend new ideas, tools, or platforms
Additional responsibilities may include the following, based on the candidate’s skills, experiences, and interests, such as:
- Developing promotional materials for Fox Graduate School initiatives and events (e.g., Graduate Exhibition, Three Minute Thesis, Summer Research Opportunities Program, commencement activities, workshops)
- Supporting event marketing campaigns across digital and print channels
- Assisting with on-site event coverage, including live posting and photography
- Helping to update and manage website content
- Drafting news and feature stories
- Drafting and testing promotional emails
- Supporting copyediting and proofreading of marketing materials
- Ensuring content aligns with Penn State brand standards
- Developing analytics reports
Qualifications
- Enrolled undergraduate or graduate student in marketing, communications, public relations, journalism, business, English, or a related field
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Experience with social media platforms and content creation tools
- Familiarity with Adobe Creative Cloud
- Basic photography and/or videography skills preferred
- Comfort with analytics tools (e.g., platform insights, Google Analytics)
- Highly organized, self-motivated, and able to manage multiple projects
- Willingness to learn new tools and adapt to evolving priorities
Compensation and Time Commitment
This is a paid internship, $15 per hour, for 10 hours per week during the fall 2026 semester with possibility of extending into the spring semester.
To Apply
Please submit a resume, cover letter, and 3–5 samples of relevant work (writing, social media posts, graphics, video, or other marketing materials). Applications without these required documents will not be reviewed.
BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES
Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.
CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS
Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.
EEO IS THE LAW
Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.
Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university’s teaching, research, and service mission.
See all J-1 Visa Public Relations Intern Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new J-1 Visa Public Relations Intern Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship as a Public Relations Intern
Align your DS-2019 dates with internship timelines
Your designated sponsor issues the DS-2019 with fixed program start and end dates. Confirm your host employer's internship window before the sponsor submits paperwork, because changing dates mid-program requires a formal extension request and additional sponsor approval.
Document your PR coursework for sponsor eligibility
J-1 Intern eligibility requires enrollment in or recent graduation from a degree program directly related to the internship field. Gather transcripts, a letter from your academic advisor, and course descriptions that connect your communications or public relations studies to the specific host employer role.
Verify the host employer can sign a training plan
Your host employer must complete a structured training plan outlining your specific PR tasks, supervision schedule, and learning objectives. Agencies without a dedicated HR function sometimes delay this step, so confirm early that a supervisor can complete the required CIEE, Cultural Vistas, or IIE training plan documentation.
Search Migrate Mate to find J-1-aligned PR roles
Use Migrate Mate to identify U.S. public relations employers and internship roles that are open to J-1 exchange visitors. Filtering by visa category before applying saves time and avoids targeting positions where the host has no experience hosting sponsored interns.
Check whether your home country triggers the two-year rule
Some J-1 participants must return home for two years before changing to certain U.S. visa statuses. Check your DS-2019 and consult your designated sponsor before accepting a PR internship if your government funded your exchange or your field appears on the Exchange Visitor Skills List.
Request your SEVIS fee receipt before the consular interview
The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee must be paid and the receipt confirmed before your visa interview. PR interns sometimes overlook this because the designated sponsor, not the host employer, initiates SEVIS registration, creating a timing gap between the job offer and visa application readiness.
Public Relations Intern J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category applies to public relations intern roles?
The J-1 Intern category applies to current post-secondary students and graduates who completed their degree within the past 12 months. It covers placements in fields directly related to the intern's course of study, which includes communications, journalism, and public relations. If you graduated more than 12 months ago, you would need to qualify under the J-1 Trainee category instead, which has different eligibility criteria and a longer maximum program duration.
Who actually sponsors my J-1 visa for a PR internship -- the employer or a designated organization?
The visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated sponsor organization, not your host employer. Organizations like CIEE, Cultural Vistas, and IIE issue the DS-2019 form that makes you eligible for a J-1 visa. The PR agency or company you work for is the host employer. They provide the internship and sign the training plan, but they do not hold the legal sponsorship role under State Department regulations.
How do I find PR internships where the host employer is open to J-1 exchange visitors?
Most standard job listings do not specify J-1 host eligibility, which makes targeting the right employers difficult. Migrate Mate lets you search for public relations roles and filter by visa category, helping you identify host employers who have experience working with designated sponsors and exchange visitor interns. Approaching employers who already understand the training plan and DS-2019 process significantly reduces the risk of an offer falling through during the sponsorship coordination stage.
Can I extend my J-1 public relations internship if my host employer wants to keep me longer?
Extensions are possible but must be approved by your designated sponsor before your current DS-2019 end date. Your host employer cannot grant an extension independently. The J-1 Intern category allows a maximum total program duration of 12 months. If you are already at the 12-month limit, an extension is not available and you would need to depart or transition to a different visa status through the appropriate process.
What training plan documents does the host employer need to prepare before I can get my DS-2019?
Your host employer must complete a Form DS-7002 training plan, which details your specific PR tasks, supervision structure, and the skills you will develop. The plan must be signed by both your supervisor and your designated sponsor before the DS-2019 is issued. Sponsors require this document to confirm the placement is a genuine learning experience rather than standard employment. Gaps or vague task descriptions are the most common reason sponsors delay or reject training plan approval.