J-1 Visa Security Guard Jobs
Security Guard positions in the United States are available to international exchange visitors through the J-1 visa Trainee and Intern program categories, which require a designated sponsor organization to issue your DS-2019. Finding a host employer willing to structure a J-1 training plan is the first step toward sponsorship in this field.
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Get Access To All JobsISW Internship Program Overview
ISW is offering in-person, remote, and hybrid internships for Fall 2026. Instructions to apply for the scholarship are below.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) is committed to training the next generation of national security leaders through its innovative educational programs. ISW seeks motivated and experienced college students or recent graduates to join our intern team. ISW offers internships across diverse research portfolios and departments, including Russia, China, and Iran's proxy networks. ISW also offers internships in National Security & Intelligence Analysis, our Cognitive Warfare Task Force, and in Communications.
Why Work for ISW?
ISW believes that ground realities must drive the formulation of strategy and policy. In pursuit of this principle, ISW conducts detailed open-source intelligence analysis to provide timely and accurate information on current conflicts and security threats directly to policy-makers and warfighters.
Interns at ISW have an unparalleled opportunity to analyze conflicts in ways that directly inform policymakers on some of the most pressing issues facing American national security. Our interns work directly with analysts. They receive classroom education, regular leadership engagement, and a chance to work with cutting-edge technologies employed in business and the intelligence community. Interns have the opportunity to stand at the front lines of military research and policy development, tackling the latest crises in the headlines.
The ISW Internship Program is one of three core education programs housed within The General David H. Petraeus Center for Emerging Leaders, launched to identify, educate, and develop the future cadre of leaders committed to America’s national security. ISW views interns as an integral component of its team. ISW has worked with interns to draft, edit, and publish their own research under the mentorship of senior analysts. It has also hired many interns onto its staff.
Geospatial Intelligence and National Security Technologies Internship: ISW uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing technologies to improve research collection, intelligence analysis, and visualizations. Interns will use Geographic Information Systems (GIS), satellite remote sensing, and data visualization to help refine how ISW’s analysts implement these cutting-edge tools. This internship provides practical hands-on experience using GIS in national security and intelligence applications. Interns will support data collection, analysis, and visualizations that support ISW’s world-renowned maps. Interns may also have valuable interactions with software partners who are transforming the national security space. Interns will receive further training on some of these platforms. ISW’s roster of technology partners includes Neo4J, Babel Street, Ntrepid, and Planet Labs, among many others. This is a full-time internship (five days per week), but part-time work will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Qualifications
- Candidates must be motivated and organized college students or recent graduates with demonstrated expertise in a related field.
- Candidates must possess excellent writing, editing, and oral communication skills.
- Candidates must possess strong capabilities in GIS software such as Esri's ArcGIS Pro, ArcMap, or ArcGIS Online. Experience with SQL or ArcGIS Python (Arcpy) is a plus.
- Candidates must display the ability to conduct complex tasks in a timely and efficient manner.
- Candidates should be self-motivated, independent, creative, and capable of working in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
- Candidates will preferably have a demonstrated interest or expertise in national security issues, particularly Russia, Ukraine, China, or issues in the Middle East.
- Candidates must show commitment to—and interest in—the core mission and values of ISW.
Fall 2026 Internship Program Dates: ISW internships start September 8, 2026. The program will run until December 11. Interns must both be authorized to work in the United States and be physically present in the United States during their internship tenure. Working remotely outside of the United States is not authorized. If you attend a US university on a student visa, you must be eligible for and obtain a CPT authorization before beginning at ISW. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until July 24, 2026.
Instructions: Please upload your resume, cover letter, and writing sample. Your cover letter and writing sample should be no longer than five pages combined; the writing sample can be excerpted from a longer paper.
ISW will work with students to gain academic credit for internships where applicable.
ISW Scholarship Application
The Institute for the Study of War will offer intern candidates up to a $1,000 monthly living stipend as part of a scholarship program. To be considered for the scholarship, candidates must upload a scholarship application as part of their internship application. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until July 24, 2026.*
Candidates will be assessed based on the following criteria:
- Ability to contribute as a member of one of ISW’s research, operations, business development, or external relations teams; and
- Financial need, such that an unpaid internship would not be possible without assistance.
To be considered for the scholarship, candidates must upload a scholarship application as part of their internship application.
Within the scholarship application, candidates should upload a 2- to 3-page cover letter which answers each of the following questions. (This should be a different cover letter than the one used for the internship application itself.)
- Which ISW internship is your top choice? Why do you believe you are qualified?
- What do you believe to be the most pressing national security problem the US faces today? What solution(s) would you propose?
- Where do you see yourself in your future career? How will an ISW internship help you get there?
- Why have you chosen to apply for this supplemental scholarship?
- Are you currently receiving federal financial aid and/or need-based aid from your university? Feel free to describe using as much detail as you are comfortable.
*Please note that the up to $1,000 monthly scholarship is classified as taxable income.
Questions? Email internships@understandingwar.org for more information.
ISW Internship Program Overview
ISW is offering in-person, remote, and hybrid internships for Fall 2026. Instructions to apply for the scholarship are below.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) is committed to training the next generation of national security leaders through its innovative educational programs. ISW seeks motivated and experienced college students or recent graduates to join our intern team. ISW offers internships across diverse research portfolios and departments, including Russia, China, and Iran's proxy networks. ISW also offers internships in National Security & Intelligence Analysis, our Cognitive Warfare Task Force, and in Communications.
Why Work for ISW?
ISW believes that ground realities must drive the formulation of strategy and policy. In pursuit of this principle, ISW conducts detailed open-source intelligence analysis to provide timely and accurate information on current conflicts and security threats directly to policy-makers and warfighters.
Interns at ISW have an unparalleled opportunity to analyze conflicts in ways that directly inform policymakers on some of the most pressing issues facing American national security. Our interns work directly with analysts. They receive classroom education, regular leadership engagement, and a chance to work with cutting-edge technologies employed in business and the intelligence community. Interns have the opportunity to stand at the front lines of military research and policy development, tackling the latest crises in the headlines.
The ISW Internship Program is one of three core education programs housed within The General David H. Petraeus Center for Emerging Leaders, launched to identify, educate, and develop the future cadre of leaders committed to America’s national security. ISW views interns as an integral component of its team. ISW has worked with interns to draft, edit, and publish their own research under the mentorship of senior analysts. It has also hired many interns onto its staff.
Geospatial Intelligence and National Security Technologies Internship: ISW uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing technologies to improve research collection, intelligence analysis, and visualizations. Interns will use Geographic Information Systems (GIS), satellite remote sensing, and data visualization to help refine how ISW’s analysts implement these cutting-edge tools. This internship provides practical hands-on experience using GIS in national security and intelligence applications. Interns will support data collection, analysis, and visualizations that support ISW’s world-renowned maps. Interns may also have valuable interactions with software partners who are transforming the national security space. Interns will receive further training on some of these platforms. ISW’s roster of technology partners includes Neo4J, Babel Street, Ntrepid, and Planet Labs, among many others. This is a full-time internship (five days per week), but part-time work will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Qualifications
- Candidates must be motivated and organized college students or recent graduates with demonstrated expertise in a related field.
- Candidates must possess excellent writing, editing, and oral communication skills.
- Candidates must possess strong capabilities in GIS software such as Esri's ArcGIS Pro, ArcMap, or ArcGIS Online. Experience with SQL or ArcGIS Python (Arcpy) is a plus.
- Candidates must display the ability to conduct complex tasks in a timely and efficient manner.
- Candidates should be self-motivated, independent, creative, and capable of working in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
- Candidates will preferably have a demonstrated interest or expertise in national security issues, particularly Russia, Ukraine, China, or issues in the Middle East.
- Candidates must show commitment to—and interest in—the core mission and values of ISW.
Fall 2026 Internship Program Dates: ISW internships start September 8, 2026. The program will run until December 11. Interns must both be authorized to work in the United States and be physically present in the United States during their internship tenure. Working remotely outside of the United States is not authorized. If you attend a US university on a student visa, you must be eligible for and obtain a CPT authorization before beginning at ISW. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until July 24, 2026.
Instructions: Please upload your resume, cover letter, and writing sample. Your cover letter and writing sample should be no longer than five pages combined; the writing sample can be excerpted from a longer paper.
ISW will work with students to gain academic credit for internships where applicable.
ISW Scholarship Application
The Institute for the Study of War will offer intern candidates up to a $1,000 monthly living stipend as part of a scholarship program. To be considered for the scholarship, candidates must upload a scholarship application as part of their internship application. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until July 24, 2026.*
Candidates will be assessed based on the following criteria:
- Ability to contribute as a member of one of ISW’s research, operations, business development, or external relations teams; and
- Financial need, such that an unpaid internship would not be possible without assistance.
To be considered for the scholarship, candidates must upload a scholarship application as part of their internship application.
Within the scholarship application, candidates should upload a 2- to 3-page cover letter which answers each of the following questions. (This should be a different cover letter than the one used for the internship application itself.)
- Which ISW internship is your top choice? Why do you believe you are qualified?
- What do you believe to be the most pressing national security problem the US faces today? What solution(s) would you propose?
- Where do you see yourself in your future career? How will an ISW internship help you get there?
- Why have you chosen to apply for this supplemental scholarship?
- Are you currently receiving federal financial aid and/or need-based aid from your university? Feel free to describe using as much detail as you are comfortable.
*Please note that the up to $1,000 monthly scholarship is classified as taxable income.
Questions? Email internships@understandingwar.org for more information.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship in Security Guard
Frame your background as a training program
J-1 Trainee sponsorship requires a structured training plan, not just a job offer. Document your prior security or law enforcement experience abroad so your host employer can justify the U.S.-based training component to a designated sponsor organization.
Verify your program category fits your timeline
Current students in a degree program use the J-1 Intern category, while those with a degree plus one year of professional security experience qualify as Trainees. Applying under the wrong category will get your DS-2019 application rejected before a sponsor reviews it.
Search for host employers on Migrate Mate
Use Migrate Mate to find U.S. security employers that have hosted J-1 exchange visitors before. A host with prior J-1 experience already understands the training plan requirements and is far more likely to move forward quickly.
Check whether your role triggers the two-year rule
Security roles funded by your home government or falling under an Exchange Visitor Skills List can trigger the two-year home residency requirement under INA Section 212(e). Confirm your country and funding source with the designated sponsor before accepting any offer.
Ask the host employer about E-Verify enrollment
Your host employer must be able to verify your employment eligibility. Confirm they are enrolled in E-Verify before the designated sponsor finalizes your DS-2019, since compliance gaps discovered late can delay your program start date by weeks.
Request a signed training plan before your visa interview
The DS-7002 training plan must be signed by both you and the host employer before your consular interview. Security-specific plans should outline shift supervision, emergency response protocols, and report-writing objectives across each phase of your exchange period.
Security Guard J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category applies to Security Guard positions?
Most Security Guard roles fall under the J-1 Trainee category, which is for individuals who have completed a degree or professional certificate and have at least one year of related work experience outside the United States. If you are currently enrolled in a degree program and the position forms part of your curriculum, the Intern category may apply instead. The designated sponsor organization, not the employer, determines which category your situation fits.
Who actually sponsors my J-1 visa for a Security Guard role?
The visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization such as Cultural Vistas, CIEE, or AIPT, not the security company where you will work. The security company is your host employer. The designated sponsor issues your DS-2019, reviews and co-signs your DS-7002 training plan, and monitors your program compliance throughout your stay.
How do I find a U.S. security employer willing to host a J-1 exchange visitor?
Use Migrate Mate to search for Security Guard roles at U.S. employers that have prior experience with J-1 exchange visitors. Hosts familiar with the program already understand the DS-7002 training plan requirement and the oversight responsibilities that come with hosting. Cold-applying to employers with no J-1 history significantly increases the risk of a rejected training plan.
Does the two-year home residency requirement affect Security Guard J-1 participants?
It can. If your security training is funded by your home government, or if your home country lists your occupation on the Exchange Visitor Skills List, the two-year home residency requirement under INA Section 212(e) applies after your program ends. This bars you from changing to H-1B visa or permanent resident status in the United States until you return home or obtain a waiver. Confirm your eligibility with the designated sponsor before signing any host employer agreement.
What does a J-1 training plan for a Security Guard role need to include?
The DS-7002 training plan must detail the specific skills you will develop at the host site, broken into phases with objectives and timelines. For Security Guard positions, this typically covers areas such as access control procedures, incident reporting, emergency response coordination, and surveillance equipment operation. Vague plans citing only general security duties are frequently rejected by designated sponsors. Your host employer needs to provide enough operational specificity to demonstrate genuine skill transfer.