Non-Immigrant Visas
Exchange Visitor Visas
This visa category (J-1) is designed for applicants planning to participate in programs approved by the US Department of State to teach, study, research, demonstrate special skills or receive training, or to participate in a program to receive graduate medical education.
The sponsoring institution in the United States will issue a DS-2019 form to the applicant, which serves as proof of his/her acceptance in the program.
Residency Rules
Many programs under the J-category are supported partially or wholly by government agencies. If they are, or if the applicants are to receive graduate medical education or training regardless of source of finances, a condition for accepting a J-1 visa prohibits J-1 visa beneficiaries from applying for immigration to the US and for certain work visas (H and L visas) until the applicants have returned to their own country of nationality or last residence for at least two years. This condition may also apply if the area of study or research is included in a skills list agreed to by the US Department of State and the applicant's government. Before accepting a J-1 visa, you should inquire if this condition applies.
Sponsoring institutions are required to enter accepted foreign exchange visitors’ names into SEVIS, the Student and Exchange Visitors Information System. Applicants should verify with their sponsoring institutions that they are entered into SEVIS before they apply for a visa. Upon receiving the DS-2019 form, students are required to pay a SEVIS fee online at http://www.fmjfee.com and bring a printed copy of this receipt to the visa interview.
Dependents of exchange visitors studying in the United States may qualify for J-2 visas. These include the principal applicant’s first spouse (if the applicant has more than one) and all children under the age of 21. Siblings and parents are not considered dependants.
Each applicant 14 to 79 years of age must schedule an appointment for an interview. At the time of the interview, applicants must bring all of the following to the Embassy:
- A passport that is valid for at least six months and has at least one blank visa page.
- Photocopy of the bio-data page of valid passport.
- All previous passports.
- Receipt from any SAMBA bank for each applicant.
(Please note that this fee is non-refundable.) - Fully completed and signed application forms.
- Original DS-2019 form.
- Photocopy of DS-2019 form.
- Proof of payment of SEVIS fee.
- One photograph.
- Proof of financial ability. (Either bank statements or proof of a scholarship)
- Transcripts for all educational institutions attended since beginning high school.
**PLEASE NOTE**
Please note that for J-1 visa holders, the program information on the visa must always match that on the DS-2019 form.