J-1 Visas

• Description of J-1 Exchange Visitor Program
• Family Members of J-1 Exchange Visitors (J-2)
• Foreign Residency Requirement
• Waivers of Foreign Residence Requirement

Description of the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program

The "J" exchange visitor program is designed to promote the interchange of persons, knowledge, and skills in the fields of education, arts, and sciences.  J-1 Visas require a sponsor that is accredited through the Exchange Visitor Program designated by the U.S. State Department.  J-1 visa status is available for:

• Secondary school and college students, including students working towards a graduate degree;
• Business trainees;
• Trainees in flight aviation programs;
• Primary and secondary school teachers;
• College professors;
• Research scholars;
• Medical residents or interns receiving medical training within the U.S.;
• Specialists;
• International visitors for the purpose of travel, observation, consultation, research, training, sharing, or demonstrating specialized knowledge or skills, or participating in organized people-to-people programs;
• Au pair programs (foreign youth placed with U.S. families to provide child care); and,
• Camp counselors.

Family Members of J-1 Exchange Visitors (J-2)

The spouse and children under 21 years old of participants in "J" exchange programs may apply for permission to be in the United States, and may receive "J-2" status.  They must demonstrate that they will have sufficient financial resources to cover all expenses while in the United States. Family members may apply for authorization to accept employment in the United States, but only if it is not for support of the J-1.  Employment is authorized for the length of the J-1's stay or 4 years, whichever is shorter.

Family members are subject to the foreign residency requirement to the same extent as the J-1 spouse or parent.

A family member in J-2 status may change to another nonimmigrant category (such as F-1, H-1B, J-1 or other), unless he/she is subject to the two-year foreign residency requirement. 

 

Foreign Residency Requirement

Certain J-1 "Exchange Visitors" are required to return to their home country for two years after completion of the J-1 program.  This two year requirement is imposed if:

• the J-1 program is financed by the U.S. government or the individual's home government;

• the home country has a shortage of people with skills that the individual has (you can check whether your country lists your occupation on the State Department's Skills List); or,

• the alien receives medical training as an intern or resident.

Countries listed on the State Department's Skills List include:

Albania Algeria* Argentina Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Benin Bolivia Botswana Brazil Burkina Faso   (Upper Volta) Burma (Myanmar) Burundi Cameroon Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad Chile China* Colombia Costa Rica Cote d'Ivoire   (Ivory Coast) Croatia Dominican Republic Ecuador El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Ethiopia* Gabon

Gambia Ghana Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana* Haiti Honduras* Hungary India Indonesia* Jamaica Jordan Kazakstan Kenya* Korea Kuwait* Laos* Lebanon* Lesotho Liberia Macedonia* Madagascar* Malawi Malaysia* Mali Malta Mauritania Mauritius Morocco Myanmar*(Burma) Nepal Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Oman Pakistan

Panama* Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru* Philippines Poland Qatar Romania* Rwanda Saudi Arabia Senegal Sierra Leone Singapore Somalia Sri Lanka   (including Maldives) Sudan Swaziland Tanzania Thailand* Togo Tonga* Trinidad & Tobago Tunisia Turkey Uganda* United Arab Emirates Upper Volta   (see Burkina Faso) Uruguay Venezuela Western Samoa* Yemen* Zaire Zambia Zimbabwe

* Countries marked with an asterisk have included all fields of specialization on the Skills List. 

If your country is not marked with an asterisk, only some skills of specialization are included on the Skills List.

Waivers of Foreign Residence Requirement

If you are subject to the foreign residency requirement, you may be eligible to obtain a J-1 waiver in some instances.  Read more information about options for a J-1 Waiver and answers to frequently asked questions about the J-1 Waiver.