J1 Exchange Visitor

      The Exchange Visitor Program is carried out under the provisions of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended. The purpose of the Act is to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries by means of educational and cultural exchanges. International exchanges are an effective means of developing lasting and meaningful relationships. 

      The Exchange Visitor Program is administered by the Office of Exchange Coordination and Designation in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State. At the conclusion of their program Exchange Visitor program participants are expected to return to the home countries to utilize the experience and skills they have acquired while in the United States. 

      In carrying out the responsibilities of the Exchange Visitor Program, the Department designates public and private entities to act as exchange sponsors. Designated sponsoring organizations facilitate the entry of foreign nationals into the United States as exchange visitors to complete the objectives of one of the exchange visitor program categories, which are: 

      • Au pair 
      • Camp Counselor 
      • Student, college/university 
      • Student, secondary 
      • Government Visitor 
      • International Visitor (reserved for U.S. Department of State use) 
      • Alien physician 
      • Professor 
      • Research Scholar 
      • Short-term Scholar 
      • Specialist 
      • Summer work/travel 
      • Teacher 
      • Trainee

Each category of exchange has specific requirements and regulations. 

      The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) provides the exchange visitor (J) nonimmigrant visa category for persons who are approved to participate in exchange visitor programs in the United States. This means that before an applicant can apply at an American Embassy or Consulate for a J visa, he or she must apply, meet the requirements, and be accepted for one of the Exchange Visitor Program categories through a designated sponsoring organization. If the applicant is accepted as a participant in an exchange program, the sponsor will provide the applicant with information and documents necessary to apply for the J visa to enter the United States.

Qualifying for an Exchange Visitor Visa 

      The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) is very specific with regard to the requirements, which must be met by applicants to qualify for the exchange visitor (J) visa. The consular officer will determine whether the applicant qualifies for the visa. Applicants must demonstrate that they properly meet the requirements to be issued an exchange visitor visa, including the following: 
      That they plan to remain in the U.S. for a temporary, specific, limited period; 
      Evidence of funds to cover expenses in the United States; 
      Evidence of compelling social and economic ties abroad; and other binding ties which will insure their return abroad at the end of the visit. 
      The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) is designed to help the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State better monitor school and exchange programs and F, M and J category visitors. Exchange visitor and student information is maintained in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). SEVIS is an Internet-based system that maintains accurate and current information on non-immigrant students (F and M visa), exchange visitors (J visa), and their dependents (F-2, M-2, and J-2). SEVIS enables schools and program sponsors to transmit mandatory information and event notifications via the Internet, to the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State (DOS) throughout a student or exchange visitor's stay in the United States. 
      All exchange visitor applicants must have a SEVIS generated DS 2019 issued by a Department of State designated sponsor, which they submit when they are applying for their exchange visitor visa at an U.S. Embassy or Consulate. The consular officer will need to verify each DS 2019 record electronically through the SEVIS system in order to process the applicant's exchange visitor visa application to conclusion. Unless otherwise exempt, participants whose SEVIS DS-2019 was issued on or after September 1, 2004 must pay a SEVIS I-901 Fee to the Department of Homeland Security for each individual program. The fee may be paid either through a special web site, via Western Union, or by mail.