J-1 Visa
Roadmap

What Is the J-1 Visa?

The J-1 category is available to foreign nationals coming to the U.S. as "exchange visitors" to gain hands-on experience by participating in an authorized work or study program. Overseen by the U.S. Department of State (DOS), the Exchange Visitor Program was created in the early 1960s to facilitate a mutual educational and cultural exchange between the people of the United States and people from countries around the world.

The program currently offers opportunities in 15 exchange categories, including professors and research scholars, alien physicians, camp counselors, government visitors, secondary or post-secondary students, and au pairs. This roadmap focuses on two frequently used categories: interns and trainees.

Interns vs. Trainees

Eligible Occupational Categories

Internship and training programs are available in the following occupational categories:

• The sciences, engineering, architecture, mathematics, and industrial occupations
• Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
• Information media and communications
• Management, business, commerce, and finance
• Health-related occupations
• Hospitality and tourism
• Arts and culture
• Construction and building trades
• Education, social sciences, library science, counseling, and social services
• Public administration and law

SEVIS Tracking

All J-1 exchange visitor records are tracked and monitored through the web-based Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), which is managed by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). SEVIS maintains records on all sponsors, hosts, exchange visitors, and their dependents.

The Sponsor Organization

The DOS designates private and public entities to act as program sponsors in certain occupational categories. These sponsor organizations administer and facilitate internship and training programs by screening and selecting qualified and eligible participants and host organizations. The sponsor supports and monitors participants and hosts throughout the entire program.

The sponsor organization is responsible for:

• Ensuring that no U.S. workers are displaced and all assigned tasks are consistent with program goals and the participant's skill level.
• Periodic evaluations by the host, recordkeeping, and ensuring the host's adherence to various labor laws.
• Performing site visits at host companies.
• Collecting and reviewing the completed DS-7002 Training/Internship Placement Plan, which describes in detail the program, its objectives, evaluation measures, and planned cultural exchange opportunities.
• Issuance of the DS-2019, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor. The form is generated by SEVIS and issued by the sponsor organization to the applicant.

The Host Organization

The organization or company where the foreign exchange visitor will be assuming an internship or trainee role must meet the following basic requirements:

• Having sufficient resources and trained personnel to provide full-time (at least 32 hours per week) training and continuous on-site supervision and mentoring.
• Providing a meaningful bona fide training program as evidenced by a completed and signed DS-7002 Training/Internship Placement Plan.
• Keeping the sponsor informed of any issues or changes and performing periodic evaluations.
• Providing exchange visitors with opportunities to experience U.S. business practices and culture on- and offsite and facilitating mutual cultural exchange.
• Many sponsor organizations also require a host to have been in business for a minimum period of time and to employ a minimum number of full-time employees on-site.

The Foreign Exchange Visitor

The basic eligibility requirements for J-1 interns and trainees are as follows:

Two-Stage Application Process

Documentation Required by the Sponsor Organization

• Copy of valid passport.
• Resume with employment and educational history.
• Educational transcripts and standardized test scores.
• Certificates and diplomas from previously attended post-secondary academic institutions.
• Proof of current full-time enrollment in a post-secondary degree program abroad (for interns).
• Employment verification letters (for trainees).
• Certified English translations for all foreign language documents.
• Any other documentation requested by the sponsor organization.

Documentation and information commonly requested from the host organization include IRS Employer Identification Number, business formation papers, current number of employees and their nationalities, annual revenue, and workers' compensation policy carrier and number.

Documentation Required at the U.S. Consulate Abroad

• Form DS-2019, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor.
• Signed DS-7002 Training/Internship Placement Plan.
• A passport valid for at least six months beyond the intended period of stay in the U.S.
• A printout of the barcode page of Form DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application.
• Proof of payment of the machine-readable visa (MRV) fee and the I-901 SEVIS fee.
• Any other documentation requested by the U.S. consulate abroad.

Change of Status Option

Sponsor Organization Fees

J-1 interns and trainees should be prepared to pay for the following services:

• Program administration (fees may vary based on program type and length; some sponsors provide discounts for participants who have already found a host organization and have a completed DS-7002 training plan).
• Host site visits (required for new hosts with fewer than 25 employees or less than three million dollars in annual revenue).
• Sickness and accident insurance.
• Travel validation (each trip outside the U.S. during the program must be approved by the sponsor on Form DS-2019).
• Dependent fee (each accompanying dependent must be issued a separate Form DS-2019).

Additional fees may be payable for expedited services, program extensions, or replacement of a lost Form DS-2019. These costs do not include attorney's fees or government filing fees for family members.

Entry and Duration of Stay

Initial entry may be permitted as soon as 30 days before the program start date. Admission is granted for the duration of the internship or trainee program. Upon completion of the program, the J-1 visitor is given a 30-day grace period to prepare for departure from the U.S.

Training programs in the field of hospitality and tourism are usually limited to a maximum of 12 months. The sponsoring organization may grant an extension on Form DS-2019 up to the maximum allowed program duration.

Family Members

The J-1 exchange visitor's spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21 are eligible to apply for J-2 status to accompany or join the J-1 exchange visitor in the U.S. Children and spouses in J-2 status may attend school or apply for a work permit by filing Form I-765 with USCIS.

Two-Year Home-Residency Requirement (INA 212(e))

Depending on the individual's home country, source of funding, and field of specialized knowledge, a J-1 participant—and any J-2 dependents—may be subject to a two-year residency requirement. The idea behind this requirement is that exchange visitors should apply their newly gained experience in their home country first.

In practice, this means that affected exchange visitors are barred from the following actions until they have returned to their home country and resided there for a total of two years:

• Changing status from J-1 to H, K, L, and most other nonimmigrant categories while in the U.S.
• Adjusting status from J-1 to permanent resident status while in the U.S.
• Applying for an H, K, or L visa or an immigrant visa at a U.S. consulate abroad.

Waiver of the Two-Year Home-Residency Requirement

Interns or trainees may apply for a waiver of the two-year home residency requirement based on one of the following reasons:

• A request by an interested U.S. federal government agency.
• A statement by the home country's government expressing that it has no objections to the exchange visitor not returning home.
• Possible persecution in the exchange visitor's home country.
• Exceptional hardship to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse or child.

Repeat Participation

J-1 trainees and interns may participate in additional internships or training programs as long as they meet all other eligibility requirements plus the following conditions:

Repeat Participation for Interns

• A new internship must address more advanced skills, for example after enrolling in or graduating from a higher degree level.
• To be eligible for a training program, a former J-1 intern must have spent two years outside the U.S. between the completion of the internship and the start of the trainee program.

Repeat Participation for Trainees

• The new training program must address more advanced skills or be in a different field.
• The trainee must have spent two years outside the U.S. between the completion of the previous training and the start of the new program.

Legal and Policy Sources

• 8 C.F.R. § 214.2(j)
• 22 C.F.R. § 62.22
• Vol. 9, Foreign Affairs Manual § 402.5
• Vol. 9, Foreign Affairs Manual § 302.13-2
• USCIS.gov, Exchange Visitors; Policy Manual, Vol. 2, Part D, Exchange Visitors (J)
• Travel.State.gov, Exchange Visitor Visa
• BridgeUSA
• Travel.State.gov, Exchange Visitor Skills List