A J1 visa is a visa for an exchange visitor program in the US.
To qualify for a J1 visa, the first thing you need to do is apply for an exchange program (study or work) through an assigned sponsor in the US. Only after you are accepted into a program, you can apply for a J1 visa.
J1 Visa Requirements
J1 visa has several categories you can choose from depending on what exchange program you belong to. Here are the requirements for each category of J1 visa:
Au Pair
To get a visa for Au Pairs, you must meet the following requirements:
- Be between 18-26 years old
- Proficient in spoken English
- Be a secondary school graduate
- Placed with a host family for 12 months with the option to extend for 6, 9, or 12 months
- Undergo a training program on working with children before starting work
Camp Counselor
For the camp counselor category, you must:
- Have enough knowledge of the English language to interact with campers
- Be at least 18 years old
- Receive pay and the same benefits as American counterparts during camp work
Government Visitor
You can apply for this category of the J1 visa if:
- You are selected by a US federal agency or local government
- Engage in activities to strengthen your relationship with America, such as observation tours, discussions, consultations, professional meetings, and workshops
Intern
To qualify for a visa in the intern category, you must:
- Be currently enrolled at a university or certificate-granting post-secondary academic institution outside the US, or have graduated in the last 12 months
- The internship is offered in specific fields such as:
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
- Arts and culture
- Construction and Building Trades
- Education, Social Sciences, Library Science, Counseling and Social Services
- Health-Related Occupations
- Hospitality and Tourism
- Information Media and Communications
- Management, Business, Commerce, and Finance
- Public Administration and Law
- The Sciences, Engineering, Architecture, Mathematics, and Industrial Occupations
International Visitor
To qualify for this visa, you must:
- Be selected by the United States Department of State
- Take part in consultations, observation, research, training, or demonstration of special skills
- Be recognized as an individual in a special field
Physician
For this visa, you must:
- Have completed your education and have adequate medical training
- Provide a statement from your country explaining the necessity of your participation and confirming you will not overstay
- Submit an agreement or contract from a US accredited medical school, hospital, or scientific institution
- Complete one of the following:
- Part I or II of the National Board of Medical Examiners Examination
- The Foreign Medical Graduate Exam
- Step I and Step II of the Visa Qualifying Medical Examiners (VQE)
Professor and Research Scholar
To obtain this visa, you must:
- Not be a candidate for a tenure track position
- Not have participated in the professorship program in the last 24 months
- Not have been part of a J-visa program in the last 12 months, unless exceptions apply
Short-term Scholar
To qualify for this visa, you must:
- Be a professor or research scholar, or have a similar background and experience
- Contribute to special research projects or teach a semester at a college or university
- Stay up to six months with no possibility for extension or change of category
Specialist
To obtain this visa, you must:
- Be an expert in your field
- Not seek full-time employment in the United States
- Stay up to one year under this category
Student, college/university
To qualify for this visa, you must:
- Be sponsored and have your stay funded either by your home country, the US, or both governments
- The typical stay duration is up to two years, though it can vary based on the program
Student, secondary
To qualify for this visa, you must:
- Be at least 15 years old and not older than 18 years and six months before the program starts
- Have less than 11 years of primary school education, excluding kindergarten
- Not have participated in a previous similar program under an F-1 or J1 visa
Summer Work Travel
To obtain this visa, you must:
- Be a student enrolled in a university and pursuing a degree
- Have completed at least one semester of your program
- Have a job secured before entering the US, unless from a visa waiver country
Teacher
To qualify for this visa, you must:
- Have qualifications to work in a primary or secondary school
- Hold a degree equivalent to a US bachelor’s degree in education or the subject you intend to teach
- Be employed in a teaching position in your country at the time of application, or have at least 24 months of work experience as a teacher
Trainee
To qualify for this visa, you must:
- Have a degree or professional certificate from a university or similar institution
- Have at least one year of work experience in a related occupation before applying, or five years of experience in the occupational field for training
Supporting Documents for a J1 Visa Application
When you apply for a J1 visa, you need to prepare the following documents:
- Passport. Your passport must be valid for at least six months after you depart from the country unless there are specific exemptions depending on where you are from.
- Photograph. You must submit your photograph when you complete the visa application form online. If your photo is not uploading, then bring a physical copy but, please make sure to follow the instructions on how to take your visa photo.
- Nonimmigrant visa application form. You have to fill in form DS-160 online and bring the confirmation page with you to the embassy/consulate.
- Visa fee receipt. If you are required to pay the visa fee before your interview, bring your receipt.
- Form DS- 2019. After you are accepted into your exchange program, your sponsor registers you into SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System). Afterward, you will receive this DS form, and you may be required to pay a form fee- you have to check with your program sponsor since they might cover the expenses.
- Form DS- 7002. If you’re a participant in the J1 trainee and intern categories, you will also need this form.
- J1 visa health insurance. You must have health insurance coverage and it is the sponsor’s responsibility to ensure that you have purchased one.
Please keep in mind that other documents may sometimes be required, you should contact your local visa office to see a detailed list of the required documents.
How To Apply for a J1 Visa?
To apply for a J1 visa, you have to follow the steps listed below:
Step 1: Fill In the Visa Application Form
You must complete the application form online and print the application form confirmation page – you can find the form here. Bring the confirmation page with you when you go to attend your visa interview.
During your online application, you must also upload your visa photo. If the upload fails, bring a copy of your photo with you.
Step 2: Set Up an Interview With the Embassy/Consulate
Schedule an appointment with your local embassy or consulate to attend your visa interview. You can find the nearest visa office here. The waiting time to set a date for the interview varies depending on factors such as the influx of applicants, the available staff, the season, and the location.
Step 3: Pay the Application Fee
A J1 visa application costs $185. There are cases where you may need to pay the visa fee before attending your interview. In such cases, you must bring your receipt to the visa office. However, check with your sponsor for the program before you pay the fee, as sometimes the program will cover your visa expenses.
Step 4: Prepare Your Required Documents
Before attending the visa interview, prepare all necessary documents. All documents must be in English and, if required, have an apostille stamp.
Step 5: Attend Your Visa Interview
You must attend the interview at a consulate or embassy, where a consular officer will determine whether you are qualified to receive a J1 visa. At this stage of the application process, you may need to submit your fingerprints, although this may vary depending on the country.
After the interview, you may need to pay an issuance fee. However, this fee does not apply to all nationalities, especially if your program covers all costs.
Step 6: Enter the United States
Once you have received your J1 visa, you can travel to the United States. Keep in mind, however, that a visa does not guarantee entry into the country. At the airport, officers from the Department of Homeland Security may decide whether to allow you entry.
At border patrol, you will be asked to present your passport, visa, and your DS-2019 form. If you are granted entry, you will receive an admission stamp or a paper form I-94.
How Long Can I Stay With a J1 Visa?
You can stay with a J1 visa for up to two or three years. However, the length at which you are allowed to stay in the US under J1 visa changes depending on what program you applied for.
For example, if you are a university student, your visa is valid as long as your study program lasts, but with a short-term scholar, you can only stay for six months. Usually, all J1 visa holders are given a 30 day grace period after their visa expires to arrange their travel back home.
J1 Visa Extension
You can get your J1 visa extended by requesting an extension of your program. Your sponsor officer, who is responsible for you, can extend your program to the maximum regulatory period, a period that changes from program to program. You will receive a new Form DS-2019 stating the extension period.
To get an extension beyond the maximum allowed period, your officer must send a request/petition to the Department of State on your behalf justifying the request. For this type of extension, you (or your sponsor) must pay a non-refundable fee of $367.
What Is the Two-Year Home Residency Requirement?
A J1 visa is issued with several conditions attached, one of which is that after your program is over and your visa expires, you have to return to your home country and live for two years. You are subject to this condition if you are a part of a:
- Government-funded Exchange Program.
- Specialized Knowledge or Skill.
- Graduate Medical Education/Training.
During this time, you cannot apply for the following visas:
How to Apply for a Waiver Request of the Two-Year Residency?
You can apply for a waiver of the two-year residency requirement by sending a request to waive the condition to the Department of State, Waiver Review Division. You can apply for a waiver only if you have strong reasons why you cannot fulfill this requirement, which include the following:
- You have a no-objection statement from your country.
- You have a request for work by an interested US federal government agency.
- You may be persecuted if you go back to your country.
- Your US citizen spouse and children may suffer exceptional hardship if you go back.
- You have a request to stay from the Conrad State 30 Program.
Can I Bring My Dependents on a J1 Visa?
Yes, but you can only bring your children and your spouse. Your family members have to apply separately for a J2 visa to join you after you go to the US.
Can I Change My Category under a J1 Visa?
Yes, you can change your category provided that you have strong reasons for changing your category and that you will still stay close to your original objective for the exchange program.
The officer that is responsible for you must send an electronic request to change your category to the Department of State on your behalf, and the Department will request a fee of $367 to approve the request.
Can I Change My Exchange Program?
You can change your program provided that you remain in the same category. You must also have a new sponsor who will send a request for transfer to the Department of State and pay a fee of $367. Your old officer must release you from your previous program to be eligible for transfer.
If the transfer is approved, you will get a new DS-2019 form showcasing the change.