Category Status Remarks Document required

Intern Student Still enrolled in studies Proof of enrollment /

Immatrikulationsbescheinigung

Legal Before first state exam Proof of enrollment /

Immatrikulationsbescheinigung

Recent grad Within 12 months of graduation Degree certificate (Bachelor,

Master, PhD) /

Zeugnis (Bachelor, Master, PhD)

Vocational Still within vocational training Copy of contract with vocational

school and training company /

Ausbildungsvertrag mit

Ausbildungsunternehmen und

Schule

Vocational Within 12 months after

completion of vocational

training

Vocational school-leaving

certificate (IHK) /

Ausbildungszeugnis (IHK)

Trainee Professional; completed

studies at university

Outside of the 12-month

window after graduation

MUST HAVE one year of full-

time professional work

experience in field

Copy of employment contract, if

employed at the time of

application / Arbeitsvertrag

AND/OR

Letter(s) of reference /

Arbeitszeugnis(se)

Professional; no completion of

studies, no schooling

MUST HAVE five years of full-

time professional work

experience in field

Letters of reference covering the

entire 5-year period

Legal After the first state exam /

Erstes Staatsexamen; currently

in legal clerkship /

Rechtsreferendariat

MUST HAVE completed one full

year of clerkship

Certificate of First State Exam plus

official confirmation of legal

clerkship /

Zeugnis des Ersten Staatsexamens

plus Dokument “Berufung ins

Rechtsreferendariat”

Vocational Outside of the 12-month

window after completion of

vocational training;

MUST HAVE one year of full-

time professional work

experience in field

Copy of employment contract, if

employed at the time of

application / Arbeitsvertrag

AND/OR

Letter(s) of reference /

Arbeitszeugnis(se)

Required documents to prove education status according to J-1 category