International Application Process

UH Dietetic Internship is a diverse program and we are proud to have interns coming from all backgrounds. International students are encouraged to apply to our program; however, we do advise students to make the necessary inquiries about obtaining visas for the period of the internship before applying to the program.

The UH internship program is a separate entity from the University of Houston and cannot provide visas to interns. The internship program takes no responsibility for the interns towards maintaining legal status in the US. The interns are not enrolled as UH students and hence the University does not provide F-1 (student) visas. It is the responsibility of the intern to obtain the necessary visa to enter the US. We will provide all the supporting paperwork as necessary.

Click here for information on some agencies that evaluate international credentials.

Please check the State department website to learn more about the various categories of visas available.

Some of the common visa categories are:

F ( Student )

"an alien having a residence in a foreign country which he has no intention of abandoning, who is a bona fide student qualified to pursue a full course of study and who seeks to enter the United States temporarily and solely for the purpose of pursuing such a course of study at an established college, university, seminary, conservatory, academic high school, elementary school, or other academic institution or in a language training program in the United States, particularly designated by him and approved by the Attorney General after consultation with the Secretary of Education, which institution or place of study shall have agreed to report to the Attorney General the termination of attendance of each nonimmigrant student, and if any such institution of learning or place of study fails to make reports promptly the approval shall be withdrawn"

International students who have current F1 status can enter the internship program using OPT (optional practical training visa) during the period of the internship. OPT visa takes about 3 months to obtain and students planning to use this option are encouraged to start their paperwork immediately upon acceptance to the internship program. Students with an F visa should try and not leave the country and apply for practical training (CPT or OPT) from their respective graduating institutions once accepted into the internship.

Current UH international students (on F1 visa) accepted to the internship program can maintain legal F1 status by providing the UH International Students Office with a letter from the Internship Director. This must be done immediately upon acceptance to the program.

J (Exchange Visitor):

"an alien having a residence in a foreign country which he has no intention of abandoning who is a bona fide student, scholar, trainee, teacher, professor, research assistant, specialist, or leader in a field of specialized knowledge or skill, or other person of similar description, who is coming temporarily to the United States as a participant in a program designated by the Director of the United States Information Agency, for the purpose of teaching, instructing or lecturing, studying, observing, conducting research, consulting, demonstrating special skills, or receiving training and who, if he is coming to the United States to participate in a program under which he will receive graduate medical education or training, also meets the requirements of section 212(j), and the alien spouse and minor children of any such alien if accompanying him or following to join him"

The exchange visa (J) is the last resort in case of emergency when other options have been explored and depleted. This visa will have to be sponsored by the University of Houston and intern will need to contact Dr Bode regarding sponsorship for the same. Applicants planning to enter the US on a J1 visa must contact the internship director as soon as they learn of acceptance into the program. It is the responsibility of the applicant to obtain pertinent paperwork for the visa.

B1 (business/pleasure)

"an alien (other than one coming for the purpose of study or of performing skilled or unskilled labor or as a representative of foreign press, radio, film, or other foreign information media coming to engage in such vocation) having a residence in a foreign country which he has no intention of abandoning and who is visiting the United States temporarily for business or temporarily for pleasure"

Please not that B visas should be arranged for by the intern with supporting paperwork being provided by the UHDI

Please contact the program director regarding your options. We will provide all the information and help available to us. Good luck!

Agencies that evaluate international credentials

Your academic degree should be validated as equivalent to the bachelor’s or master’s degree conferred by a U.S. regionally accredited college or university. Some non-profit agencies that perform this specialized service are listed below. Contact the agency for current information, procedure and costs.