Around 450,000 visitors from over 200 countries and territories are accepted into the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program each year. This program is a way for international visitors to experience the life and culture of the United States, engaging with Americans and fostering global interaction and enrichment. What makes the J visa unique from other temporary nonimmigrant visas is its selection of programs, which span academics to employment opportunities to childcare. Specific programs are provided for:
These programs are hosted by academic institutions. Each program has its own limitations regarding the length of the visitor’s stay. Some programs, such as the professor and research scholar programs, have a minimum stay of three weeks, while the physician program can have a maximum stay of seven years.
In addition to the J-1 visa, the J-2 visa is available for the spouse and/or dependents of the J-1 visa holder. The J-2 visa allows the spouse and/or dependents to travel and stay with the primary visa holder.
Applicants must first apply for and be accepted into their chosen program. After choosing your program, find and contact a designated sponsor that offers that specific program. Designated sponsors, which are unique to J-1 visa holders, are organizations that are designated by the Department of State and administer the exchange program. They provide the connections between J-1 participants and the schools, employers, or hosts the J-1 participants wish to study under and/or work for, as well as monitor the participants’ safety, health, and overall well-being throughout the program. These sponsors screen select participants according to criteria established by each program category. These criteria may include:
If you are accepted into a program, you will be enrolled in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Some sponsors include the SEVIS-I-901 fee as part of the program fees, but other sponsors or programs may require you to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee to the Department of Homeland Security. Check with your sponsor for details.
Once enrolled in SEVIS, you will be issued a Form DS-2019. This form is a basic document that identifies the participant, the sponsor, and the outlines of the program you have been accepted into, including the beginning and end dates.
Once you have your Form DS-2019, it’s time to apply for your visa.
J-1 visas require application through the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your country. Each country may have different instructions, so check your specific embassy’s website for complete instructions.
For J-2 visas, applications must be submitted for each dependent, and can be submitted either during the application for the J-1 visa or later. J-2 visas also require health insurance.
There are a few reasons why your visa application may be denied. Some of the most common are: