The J-1 visa is used by foreign students, scholars, experts, medical interns and residents, "international visitors," an industrial and business trainees to enter the United States as "exchange visitors," in U.S. government approved Exchange-Visitor Programs, for the purpose of gaining experience, studying, or doing research in their respective fields.

Application Process

The U.S. sponsor must proceed through an Exchange-Visitor Program designated by the USIA. Sponsors may:

• Proceed through already-established programs within their own organizations
  
• Bring J visa holders to the U.S. through another organization's program, provided the eligibility requirements of that organization are met
  
• Establish their own exchange-visitor program by applying to the USIA

The sponsor of an Exchange-Visitor Program may issue a Certificate of Eligibility for each exchange visitor. USIA approval for each exchange visitor is not required. Once the Certificate of Eligibility is issued, the exchange alien must take the certificate to a U.S. consulate to apply for issuance of a J-1 visa.

Sponsors may bring exchange visitors to the United States under programs for students, short-term scholars, business trainees, teachers, professors, research scholars, specialists, foreign medical graduates, summer travel/work for students, au pairs, and other visitors (currently including international visitors government visitors, and camp counselors). Application to be a program sponsor is limited to these types of programs, but an organization may sponsor more than one program type.

Duration of Stay

The permissible period of stay for exchange visitors varies depending the exchange visitor category in which the visitor is admitted.

• Secondary school students may be admitted for a one-year period. College and university students may be admitted for the anticipated length of their academic program. Students in degree programs below the doctoral level may also engage in 18 months of training after completion of their degree programs. Post-doctoral training is permissible for a period of 36 months following conferral of the degree. Non-degree college and university students are admissible for a two year period.
• Business trainees may be admitted to the United States for an 18-month period.
• Primary and secondary school teachers may be admitted for a three-year period.
• College and university professors and research scholars. Admission in one of these categories is usually for a three-year period.

! Foreign medical graduates. Foreign doctors participating in U.S. internships and residencies may be admitted for the length of their program, with a usual maximum of 7 years.

Adjusting out of "J" status.

Some J visas have restrictions, sometimes called 212(e) restrictions, which prevent the alien from adjusting into any other status without first returning to the country which participated in the exchange program. There are very limited circumstances under which these restrictions will be waived.

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