STUDENTS
J VISAS
Those who enter the United States on J
visas are known as "exchange visitors."
This is because J visa holders are students
who come to the Untied States to work or
train with an organization that has been
authorized as an exchange program under
the J visa regulations. This is also known
as the Exchange Visitor Program.
Basically, the J-1 visa is a nonimmigrant
visa that allows a non-U.S. citizen to enter
into the United States for a variety of
interests and for a set period time to conduct
their training.
The Exchange Visitor Program categories
of people that qualify for a J-1 visa include:
Camp counselor;
Short-term scholar;
Teacher;
College or university student;
Secondary school student;
Nonacademic specialist;
Foreign physician;
Professor or research scholar;
Au pair;
International visitor;
Government visitor;
Bona fide trainee; and
Summer student in a travel or work program.
Qualifying & Applying
As a J-1 visa applicant, you are required
to have a foreign residence that you do
not plan to abandon, fall within one of
the categories above, have sufficient finances
to cover your expenses while in the United
States, be fluent in English, and have medical
insurance on you and any family members
that will be accompanying you for accidents
and illnesses covering a minimum of $50,000
per accident or illness.
Before you ever complete your application
for J-1 visa and submit it to an American
Embassy or Consulate, you need to first
apply to, meet the requirements of, and
be accepted for one of the Exchange Visitor
Program categories listed above through
an authorized sponsoring organization. Due
to post-September 11th changes, you are
encouraged submit your application far in
advance of when you hope to leave for the
United States.
Once you are accepted by a designated sponsor,
you must then submit your application to
an American Embassy or Consulate. The Nonimmigrant
Visa Application is Form DS-156. Along with
this application, you will also have to
have a SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor
Information System) generated DS-2019 issued
by a designated sponsor and pay the SEVIS
fee either by mail or on-line at www.fmjfee.com.
In addition, you will have to present a
Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application
(DS-157), a Contact Information and Work
History Form (DS-158), a passport for travel
to the United States, and a photograph.
Length of Stay
The length for which a J-1 visa holder
may stay differs according to the category
in which you fall. For instance, a business
or industrial trainee can stay for 18 months,
but a student in a summer travel or work
program can stay for only 4 months.
As a J visa holders you may apply for extensions
or change of status, and you have a 30 day
grace period after the day your status as
a J-1 visa holder ends to depart the country
or have your status changed.
Spouse and Children
The spouse and children of a J-1 visa holder
may accompany them to the United States
on a J-2 visa. The accompanying spouse and
children are subject to the same foreign
residency requirement that the J-1 visa
holder is subject to. In addition, you must
carry medical insurance on any accompanying
spouse or child/children covering accidents
and illnesses at a minimum of $50,000 per
accident or illness.
Related Topics:
F-1
Visa (Full-time Study at an Academic Institution)
M-1
Visa (Full-time Study which Leads to a Particular
Educational or Vocational Goal)
H-3
Visa (Temporary Worker Coming to Receive
Training or Instruction)
Maintaining
Your Status
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