J-1 Exchange Visitor
Description
The J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa allows persons to enter the United States and participate in an approved exchange program. These programs can include the following types of exchange activities:
Student
Professors and Research Scholars
Short Term Scholars
Trainees
Specialists
Foreign Medical Graduates
International and Governmental Visitors
Teachers
Camp Counselors\Au Pair
ADVANTAGES
Processing Time
J-1 Visa applications are decided by the consular officers abroad in less than thirty days.
Duration
J-1 Visa duration varies with the specific program and can range from six months to seven yeaers.
Permission to work in the U.S.
Depending upon the type of program, some exchange visitors are allowed to work in the U.S. in furtherance of their program. All J-2, dependent spouses, are permitted to apply for work authorization, providing it is not utilized to support the J-1 visitor.
REQUIREMENTS
Approved Program
The J-1 applicant must be coming to the U.S in order to participate in a program whose sponsor has been approved by the U.S. Information Agency.
Program Qualifications
The J-1 Visa applicant must demonstrate that he/she is qualified to participate in the specific J-1 program. Each qualified program maintains separate criteria for qualification.
Nonimmigrant Intent
Each J-1 applicant must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the consular officer that he or she intends to return to the country of residence upon conclusion of the authorization J-1 visitorstay.
LIMITATIONS
Trainees
• Must be participating in a structured training program
• The stay is limited to eighteem months
• The exchange visitor must not be recruited to fill a position resulting in ddisplacement od a full- time or part-time U.S. employee
• Employment is limited to on-the-job training rather than gainful employment
• The sponsor must disclose fees and costa, estimated living expenses, and a summary of training objectives
College Students
• The J-1 studentmust be engaged in fulltime course of study
• The J-1student must demonstrate adequate financial resources to conduct and participate in the educational program
Professors and Research Scholar
• Must be in a temporary appointment
• Must work only at the authorization institution(s)
Short-Term Scholar
• Stay is limited to six months with no extensions
Medical Graduates
• School should be accreditd by the Secretary of Education
• Physician is a gradduate of an accredited medical school and the sponsoring medical school assumes responsibility for the medical training
• Physician makes a commitment to return to his country of residence for a period of two years immediately following the conclusion of the specific medical skills in that country
• The physician's home country certifies that there ia a need for the specific medical skills in hat country
• The stay in limitedto a maximum period of 7 years
Teachers
• Applicants must be qualified to teach primary or secondary school in their home country
• Applicants must possess at least three years of experience
• Applicants must have good moral character
• Applicants must be coming to teach full-time
• Thhe stay is limited to the length of the program, not exceeding three years
Secondary School Students
• Students must be coming to participate in a full course of study
• The study period must be at least one, but no more than two academic semesters
• Employment is not permitted oher than occasional babysitting or yard work
Au Pairs
• The applicants must be between the ages of eighteen and twenty-six years old
• The applicants must be from a country that maintains current diplomatic relations with the U.S.
• The applicants must be a high school graduade
• The applicants must be proficient in English
• The applicant can provide no more than forty-five hours of child care per week, or ten hours of child care in any given day
• The stay is limited to one year
• The applicant is required to enroll in a secondary school for at least six semester hours