The J-1 Visa is a nonimmigrant visa for foreign students and exchange visitors who will participate in study-and-work programs in the United States. The J-1 Visa has several categories which include programs for Au Pairs, Professor and Research Scholars, Physicians, and Specialists. Each J1 Visa type has specific requirements the most common of which are English language proficiency, an academic degree or certificate, and sponsorship from an accredited U.S. institution.
Applying for the J1 Visa Program benefits foreign nationals who wish to advance their knowledge and skills in a multicultural environment. The dependents of J 1 Visa holders can accompany them to the US where the spouse can work after obtaining employment authorization. J 1 Visa holders have to undergo a mandatory Two-Year Home-Country Residency to impart the skills and knowledge they learned from their stay in the U.S. to their country of origin.
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What is a J-1 Visa?
The J-1 Visa is a nonimmigrant visa for foreign citizens who wish to undergo work-and-study-based exchange and visitor programs in the United States. The J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa requires sponsorship from an educational or nonprofit institution approved by the U.S. Department of State (DOS). The J1 Exchange Visitor or Student must be entering the U.S. to teach, instruct, study, observe, conduct research, consult, receive training or graduate medical education that is unavailable in his/her home country.
What Kind of Visa is J-1?
The J1 Visa is a type of Exchange Visitor Visa issued specifically for participants in exchange programs administered by the U.S. Department of State (DOS). The J1 Visa is under the nonimmigrant visa classification and requires the visa holder to return to their home country after finishing their J1 Exchange Program.
How Does a J-1 Visa Work?
The J 1 Visa Program facilitates the interchange of knowledge, skills, culture, and persons in arts, education, and sciences. There are 14 Types of J1 VIsa available for study and/or work exchange programs.
- Au Pair
- Camp Counselor
- College and University Student Program
- Secondary School Student Program
- Government Visitor Program
- International Visitor Program
- Short-Term Scholar Program
- Summer Work Travel Program
- Teacher Program
- Trainee Program
- Intern Program
- Professor and Research Scholar Program
- Physician Program
- Specialist Program
The J student or exchange visitor applicants must be accepted by an approved and authorized U.S. sponsor prior to submitting a J 1 Visa application. The spouses and unmarried minor children of J1 Visa holders are allowed to accompany them under the J-2 Visa. The J-2 Visa spouse can work in the U.S. after acquiring an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The J Visa holder is required to return and reside in their home country for 2 years after finishing their exchange visitor program. The J Visa holder has to complete this two-year mandatory home residency before applying for an immigrant, temporary worker, intracompany transferee, or fiancé(e) US visa.
What are the Benefits of J-1 Visa?
These are the top benefits of the J-1 Visa for Exchange Students and Visitors.
- Gain skills and knowledge in a multicultural environment. J-1 Visa holders are able to enhance their social, communication, professional, and cultural skills through exposure to a diverse environment in the US. The education and work experience J1 Visa holders gain in the US make them more globally competitive and emerge with better career prospects.
- Work in the US for the J2 Visa holder. The dependent spouse of the J 1 Visa holder is allowed to work legally in the US with an approved Form I-756, Application for Employment Authorization. The salary of the J-2 Visa holder must not be used to support the J1 spouse.
- Take advantage of US tax exemptions. The J-1 Visa holder is exempt from paying Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) taxes within the first 5 years of being exchange students or within the first 2 years if they are teachers or trainees.
What are the Risks of J-1 Visa?
There are limitations to the J-1 Visa and these are the following.
- Home residency requirement. Most J Visa holders are required to return and remain in their country of origin for 2 years before they can apply for US visas under the immigrant, temporary worker, or fiancé(e) categories.
- Duration of J status. Some J1 Visa types have short durations such as programs for camp counselors and summer work travel which allow only 4 months of stay in the US.
- Work limitations. J 1 Visa holders can only work for their J program sponsors. J1 students can have on-campus jobs if only associated with scholarships, fellowships or assistantships, and off-campus jobs if they are under a summer work travel program.
How Much Does a J-1 Visa Cost?
The cost of J-1 Visa is $160. Check with your program sponsor if they will pay for the Student Exchange and Visitor Information System (SEVIS) I-901 fee as part of your J-1 Visa application. The Student Exchange and Visitor Information System (SEVIS) I-901 fee is $220 for J Visa applicants which can be paid via credit card, check, money order, or Western Union. Visa reciprocity fees may apply depending on your country of origin.
How to Apply for a J-1 Visa?
These are the 6 steps in applying for a J1 Exchange Visitor Visa.
- Find a J Program sponsor. Check the U.S. DOS website for the official list of designated approved J1 Program sponsors.
- Submit Form DS-2019, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status. Form DS-2019 is issued by your program sponsor to permit you to get a visa interview.
- Fill out Form DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application. Print out the confirmation page of your complete Form DS-160 to be brought to your visa interview.
- Pay the visa fees. Pay the J Visa and SEVIS I-901 fees and bring the receipts with you to your interview.
- Schedule the visa interview and prepare the required documents. It is best to schedule your J1 Visa interview in your country of residence. We have the complete J-1 Visa requirements list in the following section.
- Attend the visa interview. You will have the J 1 Visa interview in a U.S. embassy or consulate where you will be asked about the J Visa program, your ties to your home country, and your plans after finishing the program.
What are the Requirements for a J-1 Visa?
These are the documents you need to prepare to complete your requirements for J1 Visa.
- Form DS-2019, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status.
- Form DS-7002, A Training/Internship Placement Plan (for exchange visitor trainees or intern program applicants).
- Form DS-160 confirmation page.
- Valid passport.
- US Visa photo.
- Receipts of visa fee payments.
- J1 Visa health insurance.
- Financial documents that prove you can sustain your expenses while living in the US.
- Academic documents including transcripts, certificates, and diplomas.
- Marriage or birth certificates for dependents.
Who is Eligible in Applying for J-1 Visa?
The different J1 Visa Types have their specific eligibility requirements.
- The Au Pair program is for childcare providers between the ages of 18 and 26 who will care for a family’s children. Au Pairs must have previous childcare experience, speak and understand English, and have a secondary school education.
- The Camp Counselor program includes post-secondary students and youth workers who will work in summer camps. Camp Counselors have to speak and understand English, be experienced in dealing with children, and be at least 18 years old.
- The College and University Student Program is for foreign students who will study full-time courses in US colleges and universities. The funding for the course must come directly or indirectly from the US government, the student’s home country government, or a global organization where the US is a member.
- The Secondary School Student Program is for foreign high school students who will study in public or private US high schools while staying with a host family or at a boarding school. The student must be between 15 and 18.5 years with less than 11 years of primary school education not including kindergarten.
- The Government Visitor Program is for select international visitors chosen by a US federal, state, or local government agency entering the US to engage in activities that strengthen the relationship with the United States.
- The International Visitor Program is for persons instrumental in strengthening the relationship between key foreign nationals and Americans. The US DOS selects these individuals who are leaders in a specific field of knowledge or skill.
- The Short-Term Scholar Program is for professors, research scholars, and persons with the same educational background who will lecture, observe, train, or impart special skills at academic or research institutions, libraries, or museums.
- The Summer Work Travel Program is for post-secondary students who are finishing a university degree and have completed at least one semester of their course. Students must have a US job offer to qualify except for Visa Waiver Program countries like Australia, Italy, Japan, and Chile.
- The Teacher Program is for foreign educators who will be teaching in primary and secondary US schools. Foreign teachers must have at least 3 years of teaching experience, meet the teaching standards of the US state where they will be teaching, and have the English skills required for the program.
- The Trainee Program is for foreign professionals seeking to gain training in fields such as arts and culture, health occupations, business management, or public administration and law. The foreign professional must possess a degree or international certificate from a post-secondary academic institution and be at least 20 years old. The applicant must have at least 1 year of work experience in his/her occupational field or 5 years of work experience in the occupational field he/she is seeking to be trained.
- The Intern Program is for foreign citizens who are presently enrolled in a foreign degree or certificate or who have graduated from a post-secondary institution no more than 12 months before the program’s start date. The applicant must be at least 18 years old and have an English language test evaluation.
- The Professor and Research Scholar Program is for foreign nationals participating in research, teaching, and lecturing activities in the US. Applicants must not be a candidate for a tenure track position and not have completed a professor or research scholar program in the last 24 months. Professors and research scholars should not have participated in a prior J-Visa Program in the 12 months preceding the program they are applying for.
- The Physician Program is for foreign physicians who will take part in graduate medical education programs or training in the US. The foreign physician must have the appropriate education and training for the program and must have sufficient English skills. Foreign physicians should pass any of Parts I or II of the National Board of Medical Examiners Examination, the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination Step I and II, or the Visa Qualifying Examination (VQE). The government of the physician’s home country should provide a statement of need that indicates the necessity for the foreign applicant to acquire the training for the benefit of his/her home country.
- The Specialist Program is for experts in a field of specialized knowledge who will promote an interchange of knowledge or skills between foreign and US specialists. Specialist Program applicants cannot be engaged in permanent employment in the US.
How Long is the Process of J-1 Visa?
The processing time for J-1 Visa is between 8 and 13 weeks. The application time for J1 Visa involves finding a J program sponsor, processing DS-2019 and SEVIS I-901, submitting DS-160, and the J-1 Visa interview.
How Do I Apply for a Two-Year Residency Waiver Request in J-1 Visa?
The mandatory Two-Year Home-Country Physical Presence Requirement can be waived in certain situations. J1 Visa holders who attended a graduate medical training program, participated in a program funded by the US government or the government of their home country, and pursued special skills training are required to complete the two-year physical presence requirement. J-1 Visa holders cannot obtain or change their status to temporary work visas, immigrant visas, or a fiancé(e) visa within the mandatory two-year home residency.
These are the 5 conditions that allow J Visa holders to apply for a Two-Year Residency Waiver Request.
- Request from a U.S. federal agency. J-1 Visa holders working for a U.S. federal agency are eligible for the J-1 Waiver if their return to their home country would be detrimental to the agency’s program or project.
- Qualification in the Conrad 30 Waiver Program. The Conrad 30 Waiver Program is for eligible J-1 foreign medical graduates who have met the following conditions.
- Have an offer for a full-time position at a hospital in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA), Medically Underserved Population (MUP), or Medically Underserved Area (MUA) under the H-1B Visa for specialty occupation workers.
- Agree that they will start working within 90 days of the J waiver approval.
- Have a written agreement to work 40 hours per week for a minimum of 3 years.
- Issuance of No Objection Statement. The No Objection Statement is issued by the J 1 Visa holder’s home country indicating that they have no objection to the adjustment of status or continued stay in the US of the J1 Visa holder.
- Fear of Persecution. J1 Visa holders who are potentially subject to persecution in their home country because of race, religion, or politics can apply for the J1 Waiver.
- Exceptional Hardship. In cases where a US citizen or permanent resident spouse or child would lead to exceptional hardship because of the two-year physical presence requirement, the J Visa holder can apply for the waiver.
These are the documents and fees needed in applying for the Waiver of the Exchange Visitor Two-Year Home-Country Physical Presence Requirement.
- Form DS-3035, J-1 Visa Waiver Recommendation Application, with barcode.
- Form I-612, Application for Waiver of the Foreign Residence Requirement (for conditions under persecution and exceptional hardship).
- Legible copies of all Form DS-2019 issued.
- 2 self-addressed, stamped legal-size envelopes.
- Application fee worth $120 paid via money order or check from a bank or institution in the U.S. payable to the U.S. DOS.
- Supporting documents
- No Objection Statement from the home country government.
- Request from the interested US federal agency.
- Request from a Designated State Public Health Department.
- A written statement explaining the nature of persecution to the J-1 Visa holder or the exceptional hardship of the spouse and children of the J-1 Visa holder.
How Long Does it Take to be Approved for a J-1 Visa?
Approval time for a J1 Visa is between 8 and 13 weeks. You can check the Visa Appointment Wait Times of the U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country for the J-1 Visa.
How Long Can I Stay on a J-1 Visa?
The average J-1 Visa Validity is from 4 months to 18 months. The length of time that you can stay on a J-1 Visa is dependent on the type of program you applied for. Those under the Professor, Researcher and Specialist programs are issued J Visas for no more than 5 years. Foreign medical graduate students are allowed to stay in the US to finish their program for up to a maximum of 7 years. The J 1 exchange visitor can remain in the US for an additional 30 days after the end of his/her program for preparations for departing the US.
What are the Interview Questions for J-1 Visa?
The J-1 Visa interview will focus on assessing your qualifications for the J-1 Visa Program and your nonimmigrant intent. These are the 5 common questions asked in a J1 Visa interview.
- What is the purpose of your program? The different types of J1 Visa programs have their specific purpose. Be clear in explaining whether your program is geared towards research, medical training, or working as an au pair or camp counselor.
- What university or college did you attend? Programs for trainees, teachers, and interns for example require certain educational attainment to qualify for the program.
- Why did you leave your last job? The immigration officer wants to know about your work history to know if you will perform well in your internship or training.
- Why do you want to go to the United States? The J 1 Visa Program aims to facilitate the interchange of knowledge, skills, and culture. Discuss how you will be able to use the skills and knowledge you will learn for your home country’s advancement.
- Do you have any assets or investments in your home country? Having property assets or investments in your country of origin is one way to establish your nonimmigrant intent. The interviewer needs to know that you do not have any intention of overstaying your J Visa.
What are the Countries that Can Apply for a J-1 Visa?
All nationalities from any country are eligible to apply for the J-1 Visa. The top 5 countries that sent participants to the J-1 Visa program in 2021 are Dominican Republic, Peru, Mexico, Colombia, and Germany according to BridgeUSA.
What are the Differences Between J-1 Visa and F1 Visa?
The J-1 Visa and F-1 Visa are both nonimmigrant visa types. The F-1 Visa is for international students taking academic studies in a US school, college, seminary, or conservatory that lead to a degree, diploma, or certificate. These are the key differences between the J1 Visa and F1 Visa.
- Educational funding. The J1 Visa applicant must have sponsorship from an accredited J1 Program institution in the US. F1 Visa applicants can use personal funding, sponsorship from family or friends, a scholarship, fellowship, or a combination of these sources as educational funds.
- On-campus employment. J1 students can have on-campus jobs only if they are associated with scholarships, fellowships, or assistantships. All F1 students are employment-authorized for on-campus employment incident to their status.
- Restrictions on dependents. Spouses of F-1 students on F-2 Visa cannot work or engage in full-time study. F2 Visa children can only study full-time if they will enroll in an elementary or secondary school. J2 Visa spouses are able to work full-time with employment authorization. No restrictions currently exist for J-2 Visa holders studying in the US.
- Home residency. F-1 Visa holders are not subject to a mandatory home residency. Certain J-1 Visa holders must complete a 2-Year Home Residency unless they obtain a waiver.
Can I Apply for a J-1 Visa Without a License for a Specialist Occupation?
Yes, a license for a specialist (specialty) occupation is not required to apply for a J1 Visa. A specialist (specialty) occupation is a job that requires the practical and theoretical application of a specialized body of knowledge. A license is required for certain specialty occupation workers under the temporary H1B working visa.
Can I Change My Category While on a J-1 Visa?
Yes, you can apply for a change of category under the J 1 Visa. You need to submit your request for a change of category to the U.S. DOS. The change of category should remain aligned with your original exchange visitor goal and objective. The total fee for a change of category application is $570.
Can a J-1 Visa Holder Apply for a Green Card?
Yes, changing from J-1 Visa to Green Card is possible for exchange visitors who are not subject to the Two-Year Home-Country Residence Requirement or have obtained a J1 Waiver. A Green Card is a document that indicates the right of a foreign national to reside permanently in the United States. Changing your J-1 Visa to Green Card is done through family sponsorship, employment-based sponsorship, or immigration through investment.
Is Working Student Allowed in J-1 Visa?
Yes, J1 students can work in the US with work authorization. Working students on J1 Visa cannot exceed 20 hours of on-campus and off-campus work per week within the academic year.
Is a Student Allowed to Apply for J-1 Visa?
Yes, international students are allowed to apply for a J-1 Visa. The College and University Program, Secondary School Student Program, and Physician Program are examples of J-1 Visa categories that are eligible for foreign students.