Paid Internship & Trainee in South Florida - Miami, Ft Lauderdale & Palm Beach ($16–$22/hr)
Global Career Bridge
Miami, FL, United States
Train at Riviera Dining Group in Miami on a paid J-1 Internship or Trainee program - placed and supported by Global Career Bridge (GCB), with J-1 visa sponsorship through our official U.S. Department of State-designated J-1 Visa Sponsor partner.
This placement is open to EU-based hospitality and culinary candidates - students and recent graduates on the J-1 Internship track, or experienced professionals on the J-1 Trainee track.
OPEN POSITIONS AND PAY
Culinary & Pastry - $21-$27/hr (paid by host employer)
- Culinary Intern
- Pastry Intern
- Sous Chef Trainee
- Pastry Chef Trainee
Front-of-House Reservations & Guest Experience - $26/hr (paid by host employer)
- Reservations & Guest Experience (Intern or Trainee track)
Food & Beverage Service - F&B tips with $19.50/hr guaranteed if tips are insufficient
- Food and Beverage Intern
- Banquet and Events Intern
- Food and Beverage Trainee
WHAT YOU GET
- Paid placement at a Riviera Dining Group property in Miami, paid directly by the host employer at the rate stated for your role
- 12 months of structured J-1 training with a DS-7002 training plan, supervisor evaluations and progressive responsibility
- J-1 visa sponsorship (DS-2019) through GCB's official U.S. Department of State-designated J-1 Visa Sponsor partner
- Mandatory J-1 health insurance for the full program
- 24/7 in-country participant support from GCB
- Cultural exchange in Miami - 80°F year-round, beach, Cuban food, nightlife, alongside colleagues from 50+ countries
HOW PLACEMENT WORKS (6 STAGES)
1. Apply - submit CV, motivation and program preference at gcbeurope.com/riviera-dining-group
2. Pre-screen - GCB recruiter reviews eligibility, English level, role fit (≈15 min video)
3. Matching - GCB matches you with the vetted Riviera Dining Group host
4. Host interview - typically a single video interview with the host
5. Documents - GCB and the sponsor prepare your DS-7002 training plan and DS-2019, you pay the SEVIS I-901 fee and book your J-1 visa interview
6. Visa & arrival - on visa approval, travel to Miami and start the program with full GCB support
WHO HANDLES WHAT
- Global Career Bridge - recruitment, host matching, visa interview prep, 24/7 participant support
- J-1 Sponsor partner (U.S. Department of State-designated) - DS-2019 issuance, program compliance, mandatory insurance, regulatory reporting
ABOUT GLOBAL CAREER BRIDGE
GCB is a Miami-based J-1 placement agency - 25+ years in cultural exchange, 200+ vetted host employers across South Florida, 50+ nationalities placed.
HOW TO APPLY
Go to gcbeurope.com/riviera-dining-group and submit your application. A GCB recruiter will respond within 2 business days.
EU candidates only - open to candidates based in the European Union, EEA, Switzerland or the United Kingdom.
You must meet ONE of the following paths:
J-1 INTERNSHIP
- Currently enrolled full-time at a recognised post-secondary institution outside the U.S., OR
- Graduated from a recognised post-secondary institution outside the U.S. within the past 12 months
J-1 TRAINEE - Path A
- Post-secondary degree or professional certificate from outside the U.S., plus at least 1 year of related work experience in hospitality, F&B, culinary, restaurant operations or guest experience
J-1 TRAINEE - Path B
- At least 5 years of full-time work experience in hospitality / restaurant operations / F&B / guest experience, without a degree
Plus, for everyone:
- Non-U.S. passport, from an EU / EEA / Swiss / UK country
- English proficiency suitable for the role
- Hospitality, hotel management, culinary or restaurant operations background
- Available for a placement starting August / Sept / Oct / Nov 2026 - apply 3-6 months ahead
Program cost & what's included
The program runs in two phases, and you only ever commit to the larger cost after you've accepted a host offer.
Phase 1, to start and get matched: $19. You can begin for $19 (billed monthly, capped at $199 total), or pay $199 once, and if you choose the one-time $199 payment it's fully refunded if we don't place you within 3 months. This covers your video consultation, written eligibility assessment, and profile preparation. Once you finalize your profile in our portal, the matching begins: we add you to our open candidates list, which is shared with host companies in our network so they can review your profile and invite you to interview. If there's a particular host employer you're interested in, we start with them first. When a host interviews you, accepts you, and you're happy to sign the job offer, that's the point we move into Phase 2.
Phase 2, only after you accept a host offer: the program fee. This covers the J-1 sponsor work: your DS-2019, the DS-7002 training plan, mandatory J-1 health insurance for the full program, compliance, and 24/7 in-country support. For a 12-month Internship placement the program fee is $3,500, with a few ways to handle it:
Government and travel costs you pay directly (standard for any J-1): SEVIS fee $220, U.S. visa (MRV) fee $185, and airfare.
You see every number in writing before you commit to anything, and you're never required to accept an offer.
Global Career Bridge (GCB) connects European hospitality and culinary students, graduates, and young professionals with paid internships, traineeships, and seasonal J-1 programs in top U.S. hotels, resorts, and restaurants. We work with accredited J1 Visa Sponsors and trusted employers to provide structured training, full visa support, and ongoing guidance -so you can build an international career, improve your English, and experience life in iconic U.S. destinations.