J-1 Visa/Status – Exchange Visitors

The J-1 non-immigrant visa classification is for exchange visitors who come to the United States to participate in an exchange visitor program administered by the U.S. Department of State. There are different programs within the J-1 category, including trainees, college or university students, secondary school students, professors and research scholars, short-term scholars, specialists, foreign medical graduates, international and government visitors, teachers, camp counselors, au pairs, and summer work / travel students.

Requirements:

Because J-1 visa classification incorporates a number of different categories of visitors, the specific requirements may differ. However the requirements common to all programs are as follows:

• The exchange visitor must maintain a foreign residence and must not have an intention of abandoning such residence.

• Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (Form DS-2019) obtained from the program sponsor.  A sponsor must first obtain from the Department of State designation as an Exchange-Visitor Program and be assigned a program number.  

Two Years Foreign Residence Requirement:

Some exchange visitors are subject to a two year foreign residence requirement once their stay in the U.S. pursuant to their exchange visit is completed.  Those subject to this requirement are not allowed to obtain permanent residency or non-immigrant visas or status in H or L categories until they either spend two years in their home country or country of their last residence or obtain a waiver of this requirement.  Those individuals in fields that appear on the Skills List for their country maintained by the Department of State and those individuals who received U.S. or home country Government funding are typically subject to the two year foreign residence requirement. In addition, exchange visitors receiving graduate medical education or training are subject to the foreign residence requirement.  Waivers of the two years foreign residence requirement may be available and is discussed more fully below.

Duration of Stay:

The duration of stay granted to J-1 visa holders varies depending on the exchange visitor categories.