Has anyone successfully convinced a U.S. company to host them on a J-1 Trainee visa for Architecture?

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for some advice from people who have gone through the J-1 Trainee process or from U.S. employers who have hosted trainees.

I’m an architect from South Africa with a Master’s degree, and I’m planning to apply for the J-1 Trainee program through an official sponsor. My understanding is that I would pay the program fees, visa fees, insurance, and other associated costs. The host company’s main responsibility would be providing a structured training opportunity and completing the required training plan.

The biggest obstacle I’m running into is that many companies immediately reject my applications because I answer “No” to the question asking whether I have U.S. work authorization. I suspect they assume I’d need H-1B sponsorship, so the conversation ends before I can explain that I’m referring to a J-1 Trainee program instead.

I’m considering following up with firms that rejected me to explain the program and ask if they’d be willing to have a short Zoom call to discuss whether they might consider hosting a trainee.

For those who have been through this process:
Is this a reasonable approach, or would it generally be seen as a waste of time?

Have any of you successfully convinced a company after an initial rejection based on work authorization?

From an employer’s perspective, what concerns would make you hesitant to host a J-1 trainee?

Is there a better strategy for finding companies willing to participate in the program?

I’d really appreciate any honest advice or experiences, whether positive or negative.

Thank you!