The J1 Visa programme has been temporarily suspended for 60 days after President Trump declared the Covid-19 pandemic a national emergency.
The US Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs says the decision will be reviewed after the initial period, with a further 30-day suspension possible.
USIT, which oversees the process in Ireland, expects to know more early next week after it talks to US authorities.
Last year 3,000 people took part in the J1 programme.
According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, there are 1,663 confirmed cases of the virus in the US.
