The Exchange Visitor (J) non-immigrant visa category is for individuals approved to participate in work-and study-based exchange visitor programs. Participants are integral to the success of the program.
All applicants must meet eligibility criteria and be sponsored either by a private sector or government program.
Upon their expiration of J1 Visa and departure from the United States, many J-1 visa holders are required to complete a mandatory two-year home-country physical presence prior to re-entry into the United States under dual intent visas, such as H1-B
Different categories exist within the J-1 program, each defining the purpose or type of exchange. While most J-1 categories are explicitly named in the federal regulations governing the J-1 program, others have been inferred from the regulatory language.
Private sector programs:
- Alien Physician
- Au Pairand EduCare
- Summer camp
- Intern
- Student, Secondary School
- Work/Travel
- Teacher
- Trainee
- Flight Training(J-1 privileges terminated effective June 1, 2010)
Government and academic programs:
- Government Visitor
- International Visitor
- Professorand Research Scholar
- Short-Term Scholar
- Specialist
- Student, College/University