J-1 Visa Videographer Jobs
Videographers pursuing U.S. work experience typically enter through the J-1 visa Trainee or Intern program category, depending on their career stage. Both require a designated sponsor organization to issue your DS-2019 and provide sponsorship. Host employers in media production, advertising, and broadcast are eligible hosts under both categories.
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Academic Success (Success Initiatives – Success Operations) is seeking an intern to work on a variety of videography projects and assignments in support of all departments within Success Initiatives. As an intern on the Digital Media team, you receive mentorship by expert specialists, are provided with career relevant networking opportunities, and are provided with portfolio-building projects for a variety of digital media needs. This intern must be a free and creative thinker bringing new ideas to the table with the ability to collaborate and grow with their team. The Digital Media Team office, located at Strong Hall Rm 150 and operates from 8am-5pm Monday-Friday.
To help with your job application and required documents, visit https://career.ku.edu/resumes and https://career.ku.edu/cover-letter
Job Description
Perform a wide range of duties dependent upon a unit's needs. However, such job responsibilities are not seen as critical to the completion of a graduate level degree. Must meet the enrollment guidelines as defined by the University and may be a undergraduate or graduate student. Standard hours of 1.00 is used for all positions. STN paygroup.
Required Qualifications
- Availability to work over the summer
- Experience with planning, directing, shooting and editing video-based work product as evidenced by application materials.
- Self-starter who can take artistic direction and contribute original ideas in a collaborative manner within the team as evidenced by application materials.
- Intermediate experience, knowledge and skills with Adobe Creative Suite (Adobe Premier Pro, Adobe Rush, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom), and/or similar photo/video editing and motion graphics programs as evidenced by application materials.
- Intermediate experience with Canva as evidenced by application materials.
- Ability to prioritize tasks and projects independently to meet established deadlines as evidenced by application materials.
- Strong communication skills as demonstrated by application materials.
- Previous experience with camera, sound and lighting equipment as evidenced by application materials.
- Participation in professional development through attendance of keynote presentations, Q&A sessions and workshops assigned to the Digital Media team.
- Flexibility in adjusting deadlines for deliverables throughout the design process.
- Ability to work in office and on location for assignments.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with Adobe Animate or similar motion graphics programs as evidenced by application materials.
- Experience with Microsoft Office 364 as evidenced by application materials.
- Ability to focus and work on multiple projects simultaneously as evidenced by application materials.
- Knowledge of the principles and practices of digital marketing related to the use of photography and video as evidenced by application materials.
- Knowledge of management and planning strategies for design focused collaborative projects as evidenced by application materials.
Position Requirements
During the semester term of the appointment, the student hourly must be enrolled in no fewer than 6 credit hours. For summer periods the student hourly must: (1) have been enrolled in no less than 6 hours in the past spring semester or (2) be pre-enrolled in the upcoming fall semester in no less than 6 hours or (3) be enrolled in summer session or (4) be admitted to study in the upcoming fall semester. Student Hourlies may be undergraduate or graduate students. (Exceptions granted for GRA/GTA/GA appointments DO NOT apply to Student Hourly appointments).
Employment Conditions
(1) Student employees are not eligible for remote work arrangements unless an exception is approved by the unit leadership and HR.
(2) This is an hourly/non-exempt position. A student employee cannot hold an hourly/non-exempt position and a salaried/exempt graduate or undergraduate position (GRA/GTA/GA/RUA/RGA) concurrently.
Additional Candidate Instructions
In addition to the online application, the following documents are required to be considered for this position:
- A cover letter
- Resume
- 3-5 work samples 3-5 examples of video-based work you have completed – these examples should include a variety of projects or mediums used in the creation process, and a variety of intents for each project. Please provide a short description of each project and what programs were used to create the final product.
Application review begins Wednesday, July 1, 2026 and will continue until a qualified pool of applicants are identified.
Contact Information to Applicants
Olivia Favrea:
ocfavreau@ku.edu
Advertised Salary Range
$11.50 per hour
Anticipated Start Date
Monday August 24, 2026
Posting Information
- Posting ID: 32548BR
- Department: Success Initiatives
- Primary Campus: University of Kansas Lawrence Campus
- Reg/Temp: Temporary
- Employee Class: S-Student
Position Overview
Academic Success (Success Initiatives – Success Operations) is seeking an intern to work on a variety of videography projects and assignments in support of all departments within Success Initiatives. As an intern on the Digital Media team, you receive mentorship by expert specialists, are provided with career relevant networking opportunities, and are provided with portfolio-building projects for a variety of digital media needs. This intern must be a free and creative thinker bringing new ideas to the table with the ability to collaborate and grow with their team. The Digital Media Team office, located at Strong Hall Rm 150 and operates from 8am-5pm Monday-Friday.
To help with your job application and required documents, visit https://career.ku.edu/resumes and https://career.ku.edu/cover-letter
Job Description
Perform a wide range of duties dependent upon a unit's needs. However, such job responsibilities are not seen as critical to the completion of a graduate level degree. Must meet the enrollment guidelines as defined by the University and may be a undergraduate or graduate student. Standard hours of 1.00 is used for all positions. STN paygroup.
Required Qualifications
- Availability to work over the summer
- Experience with planning, directing, shooting and editing video-based work product as evidenced by application materials.
- Self-starter who can take artistic direction and contribute original ideas in a collaborative manner within the team as evidenced by application materials.
- Intermediate experience, knowledge and skills with Adobe Creative Suite (Adobe Premier Pro, Adobe Rush, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom), and/or similar photo/video editing and motion graphics programs as evidenced by application materials.
- Intermediate experience with Canva as evidenced by application materials.
- Ability to prioritize tasks and projects independently to meet established deadlines as evidenced by application materials.
- Strong communication skills as demonstrated by application materials.
- Previous experience with camera, sound and lighting equipment as evidenced by application materials.
- Participation in professional development through attendance of keynote presentations, Q&A sessions and workshops assigned to the Digital Media team.
- Flexibility in adjusting deadlines for deliverables throughout the design process.
- Ability to work in office and on location for assignments.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with Adobe Animate or similar motion graphics programs as evidenced by application materials.
- Experience with Microsoft Office 364 as evidenced by application materials.
- Ability to focus and work on multiple projects simultaneously as evidenced by application materials.
- Knowledge of the principles and practices of digital marketing related to the use of photography and video as evidenced by application materials.
- Knowledge of management and planning strategies for design focused collaborative projects as evidenced by application materials.
Position Requirements
During the semester term of the appointment, the student hourly must be enrolled in no fewer than 6 credit hours. For summer periods the student hourly must: (1) have been enrolled in no less than 6 hours in the past spring semester or (2) be pre-enrolled in the upcoming fall semester in no less than 6 hours or (3) be enrolled in summer session or (4) be admitted to study in the upcoming fall semester. Student Hourlies may be undergraduate or graduate students. (Exceptions granted for GRA/GTA/GA appointments DO NOT apply to Student Hourly appointments).
Employment Conditions
(1) Student employees are not eligible for remote work arrangements unless an exception is approved by the unit leadership and HR.
(2) This is an hourly/non-exempt position. A student employee cannot hold an hourly/non-exempt position and a salaried/exempt graduate or undergraduate position (GRA/GTA/GA/RUA/RGA) concurrently.
Additional Candidate Instructions
In addition to the online application, the following documents are required to be considered for this position:
- A cover letter
- Resume
- 3-5 work samples 3-5 examples of video-based work you have completed – these examples should include a variety of projects or mediums used in the creation process, and a variety of intents for each project. Please provide a short description of each project and what programs were used to create the final product.
Application review begins Wednesday, July 1, 2026 and will continue until a qualified pool of applicants are identified.
Contact Information to Applicants
Olivia Favrea:
ocfavreau@ku.edu
Advertised Salary Range
$11.50 per hour
Anticipated Start Date
Monday August 24, 2026
Posting Information
- Posting ID: 32548BR
- Department: Success Initiatives
- Primary Campus: University of Kansas Lawrence Campus
- Reg/Temp: Temporary
- Employee Class: S-Student
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship as a Videographer
Build a reel that documents specialized technical skills
Your portfolio needs to demonstrate specific production competencies, such as cinematography, color grading, or drone operation, because designated sponsors evaluate whether your host employer's training plan connects directly to skills your home-country experience hasn't covered yet.
Distinguish Intern from Trainee eligibility before applying
Intern status requires current enrollment in a degree program, while Trainee applies to graduates with at least one year of professional videography experience. Applying under the wrong category is one of the most common reasons DS-2019 applications stall.
Confirm your host employer can write a formal training plan
Designated sponsors require a detailed training plan outlining week-by-week objectives, skills to be developed, and supervision arrangements. Ask the production company or studio early whether they've hosted J-1 exchange visitors and can complete that documentation.
Search Migrate Mate to find U.S. employers open to J-1 exchange visitors
Videography roles with J-1-compatible host employers aren't always flagged as such on general job boards. Migrate Mate filters for employers and roles that align with J-1 sponsorship, saving you from pitching companies that can't or won't serve as a host organization.
Research the two-year home residency rule before committing
Some J-1 participants are subject to a two-year home-country residency requirement before adjusting status or obtaining an H-1B visa or L-1 visa. Whether it applies depends on your funding source and country of nationality, so confirm your situation with your designated sponsor before signing an offer.
Verify your host employer's E-Verify enrollment at the offer stage
Designated sponsors such as CIEE, Cultural Vistas, and AIPT require host employers to participate in E-Verify as a condition of placing J-1 exchange visitors. Confirming enrollment before you accept an offer prevents delays after your DS-2019 is already in process.
Videographer J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category applies to videographers?
The right category depends on your career stage. If you're currently enrolled in a film, media, or communications degree program, you'd qualify under the Intern category. If you've graduated and have at least one year of professional videography or media production experience, the Trainee category applies. Both allow structured, hands-on experience with a U.S. host employer in a supervised training environment.
Who actually sponsors the J-1 visa for a videographer role?
The visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization, not the production company or studio where you'll work. Organizations like Cultural Vistas, CIEE, and AIPT issue your DS-2019 form and are legally responsible for your program compliance. The employer is your host organization, meaning they provide the training environment but are not the designated sponsor on your visa.
How do I find U.S. videography employers that work with J-1 exchange visitors?
Most production companies don't advertise J-1 compatibility openly, which makes direct outreach hit-or-miss. Migrate Mate is built to surface U.S. employers and open roles that align with J-1 sponsorship, so you can focus on host organizations that already understand the program structure rather than educating every employer from scratch.
What does the J-1 training plan require for a videographer placement?
Designated sponsors require a formal training plan that maps specific skills to be developed across the program duration. For videographers, this typically means detailing camera operation techniques, post-production workflows, client project involvement, and supervision arrangements on a phase-by-phase basis. The host employer must be able to provide structured instruction, not just on-the-job task completion.
Can a freelance or self-employed videographer qualify as a J-1 host employer?
No. The J-1 Intern and Trainee programs require a legitimate U.S. organization that can provide a structured training environment, formal supervision, and documented learning objectives. Self-employed individuals and informal arrangements don't meet the host employer standards set by State Department-designated sponsors. You'll need a registered business entity with the capacity to fulfill the training plan requirements.