| .: Join
Our List |
|
|
 |
|
 |
J-1
Visa |
|
|
Description
J-1 visa is for foreign nationals wishing to participate in educational
exchange programs designated by the U.S. Information Agency ("USIA").
The "J" exchange visitor program is designed to promote the interchange
of persons, knowledge, and skills in the fields of education, arts, and
sciences. Participants include students at all academic levels; trainees
obtaining on-the-job training with firms, institutions, and agencies; teachers
of primary, secondary, and specialized schools; professors coming to teach
or do research at institutions of higher learning; research scholars; professional
trainees in the medical and allied fields; and international visitors coming
for the purpose of travel, observation, consultation, research, training,
sharing, or demonstrating specialized knowledge or skills, or participating
in organized people-to-people programs.
Requirements
The main requirements for the J-1 visa are that :
- The exchange
visitor must have sufficient scholastic preparation to
participate in the program
- The exchange visitor has sufficient
funds available
to meet all expenses,
or the funds are provided by the sponsoring
organization; and
- Acceptance indicated by form IAP-66 issued
by the designated
sponsoring organization.
If the exchange visitor is coming to participate
in graduate medical education or training,
they must have passed the Foreign
Medical Graduate Examination
in Medical Sciences and demonstrated
competency in English, and are automatically
subject to the
two-year foreign residence
requirement and to time limits
on the duration of their program.
Physicians
coming to the U.S.A. on exchange visitor
programs for the purpose of observation,
consultation, teaching,
or research in which there is little
or no patient care are not subject to the
above requirements.
Family members
The spouse and minor, dependent children of the J-1 holder may be entitled
to J-2 dependent visas valid for the same amount of time as the J-1 holder
The spouse and minor, dependent children of the J-1 holder may apply to
the INS for employment authorization.
Employment
Employment for J-1 holders depends upon the terms of the exchange program.
Participants in programs which provide for on-the-job training, teaching,
research, or other activities that involve paid employment may accept such
employment. Participants in programs which do not involve work may not
accept outside employment
Foreign Residency Requirement
Some J-1's who participate in programs which were financed in whole or
in part, directly or indirectly, by an agency of the U.S. Government or
by the exchange visitor's government, or who are nationals or residents
of a country which have been designated by USIA as requiring the skills
of the exchange visitor, must return to their country of nationality or
last residence after completing their program in the U.S.A., and reside
there physically for two years before they may become eligible to apply
for an immigrant or temporary worker visa.
Duration of Visa
J-1 visa is generally valid for the duration of the study program, as indicated
on the form IAP-66. This is also indicated by "D/S", meaning "duration
of status", on the I-94 card, which is issued on entry into the U.S.A.
|
|
