The Exchange Visitor Program is an initiative by the U.S. Department of State to foster cultural exchange between Americans and individuals from around the world. Each program offers participants a unique, immersive experience in an academic, professional, or cultural domain.
The J-1 exchange visitor visa is a nonimmigrant visa for foreign nationals participating in this initiative and may be your ideal visitor visa option.
This guide will provide helpful tools for finding a program sponsor and give detailed information about the U.S. J-1 visa application process. It will also provide important information about maintaining, extending, and changing J-1 status and what happens when your visa expires.
The U.S. Exchange Visitor Program allows participants to share their own culture while learning about American culture. It also provides an opportunity for participants to sharpen language, professional, and interpersonal skills that will serve them in future careers.
The exchange visitor program consists of 15 categories. Each category has specific J-1 visa requirements and regulations for participation.
You may be eligible to participate in an exchange program if you fall under one of these categories:
The J-1 exchange visitor visa and F-1 student visa both allow high school and college or university students to study in the United States. Usually, international students, including study abroad students, qualify for F-1 student visas.
Here are some of the fundamental differences between the F-1 and J-1 visas for students:
J-1 Visas |
F-1 Visas |
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Learn more about the J-1 student visa & how to apply.
The first step to obtaining a J-1 exchange visitor visa is determining which exchange program category is right for you. The U.S. State Department’s Program Requirement Comparison Chart is a helpful tool for determining your placement and eligibility.
Once you’ve identified the correct program category, begin looking for a sponsor. Sponsors are organizations that administer specific exchange programs and select and monitor participants.
Individuals who wish to participate in an exchange program must reach out to sponsors directly to learn about the program they offer and its application requirements. The website of the Exchange Visitor Program provides two helpful search tools for finding J-1 visa sponsors by country and by program category.
Here are a few examples of popular exchange visitor programs:
NOTE: A sponsor is absolutely required for a J-1 exchange visitor visa. You will not be able to apply for a J-1 visa without one.
The application requirements for a J-1 exchange visitor visa vary by category. On the website of the Exchange Visitor Program, you can find detailed lists of J-1 visa requirements for each program.
However, two requirements apply to all exchange program participants:
All J-1 visa applicants must demonstrate proficiency in the English language. Most participants can do so by taking a standardized test of English proficiency for non-native speakers, such as IELTS, TOEIC, or TOEFL.
Applicants must also have medical insurance that meets these minimum established benefit levels:
Your primary medical insurance policy may not provide adequate coverage for accidents and illnesses that might occur while studying abroad in the United States. You may need to purchase travel medical insurance to meet the J-1 visa insurance requirements.
WorldTrips offers two travel medical insurance plans that meet J-1 visa insurance standards: Atlas Travel and StudentSecure. See how these plans meet J-1 visa insurance requirements below.
J-1 Visa Insurance Requirements |
Atlas Travel |
StudentSecure |
Medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness |
Up to $2,000,000 in maximum coverage for those under age 65 |
Coverage options begin at $100,000 per accident/illness and go up to $500,000 |
Repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000 |
Coverage is included in the overall maximum limit and begins at $50,000 |
Plans cover repatriation of remains from $25,000 to $50,000 |
Medical evacuation expenses in the amount of $50,000 |
$1,000,000 lifetime maximum for emergency medical evacuation to the nearest appropriate facility. Cost for air or ground transportation ticket home are also provided for eligible injuries/illnesses. |
Plans offer coverage from $50,000 up to $500,000 for emergency medical evacuation to the nearest appropriate facility. Costs for air or ground transportation ticket home are also provided for eligible injuries/illnesses. |
A maximum deductible of $500 per accident or illness |
Deductible options start at $0 |
Deductible options range from $25 to $50 |
Learn More About Atlas Travel |
Learn More About Student Secure |
Learn more about J-1 visa insurance and discover the benefits of choosing WorldTrips.
Once you have found a J-1 program sponsor and you have enrolled in an exchange visitor program, you must pay two fees before beginning the J-1 visa application process.
After you have paid the required fees, your sponsor will register you for SEVIS and will issue you a Form DS-2019.
The Form DS-2019, also called the “Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status,” is the primary document used in the administration of the exchange visitor program. It identifies the exchange visitor, their sponsor, a program description including start and end date, program category, and an estimated cost of the exchange program.
Keep this form safe, as it is necessary during the J-1 visa application process and for all administrative procedures that take place during your program.
Spouses and dependents of individuals who qualify for a J-1 visa may be able to attain a J-2 visa.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The order of the steps you must take to obtain a J-1 exchange visitor visa is subject to vary by U.S. consulate or embassy. The application process outlined below reflects a typical order of steps. You should check with your local institution before beginning the application process to determine the precise order of steps your consulate or embassy requires.
Fill out the Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application (Form DS-160) to begin the U.S. J-1 application process. To complete the Form DS-160, you will need to upload a photo that meets specific photo requirements.
Print out the confirmation page to bring to your interview at the embassy or consulate after completed the online visa application.
J-1 visa applicants must complete an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate in their home country. Those under age 14 or over age 80 may be exempt from an interview.
Wait times for a visa interview appointment vary. Check with your local embassy or consulate for location-specific information and schedule an appointment as soon as possible. You may also use the State Department’s Visa Appointment Wait Time Estimation Tool.
All J-1 visa applicants must pay a $160 visa issuance fee either before or at their interview appointment. If you are required to pay before your interview, you will need to bring the receipt of payment to your appointment.
You must pay at your appointment if you are not required to pay beforehand. Be sure to bring an appropriate form of payment in the correct amount. You will find this information on the embassy or consulate website.
J-1 visa applicants participating in an exchange program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), or other federally funded exchange program do not need to pay a visa issuance fee.
You will also need to bring several documents to your interview. Required documents include:
The consular officer at your visa appointment may also request additional documentation to determine whether you receive a J-1 visa.
Additional documents may include:
You must also read the Legal Rights and Protections pamphlet before your visa interview to learn about your rights in the United States.
At your interview, a consular officer will determine your eligibility for an exchange visitor visa based on your submission of the necessary documents and forms. They will then ask you to provide an ink-free, digital fingerprint.
Your application may also require additional administrative processing, which will be determined by your consular officer.
After receiving approval, you must pay a visa issuance fee (if you did not pay before your interview) and arrange for the return of your passport along with the visa.
Exchange program participants with active J-1 visa status must comply with the following rules. Failure to meet any of these rules could result in a temporary loss of status. It may also lead to a nonrefundable fee of $367.
Serious infractions could also result in non-reinstatable loss of J-1 visa status. Here are a few such offenses:
Although J-1 visa holders can perform work, if that is the activity listed on their Form DS-2019, they cannot perform any other kind of paid activity. Doing so could result in the permanent loss of J-1 visa status.
You can, however, seek work from an employer other than the J-1 program sponsor if the type of work is permissible under the regulations of the exchange program category. You must also obtain approval from your program sponsor’s responsible officer.
Your J-1 visa is initially valid for the duration of your specific exchange program. You may request to reinstate or extend your J-1 visa status in some cases by asking your sponsor’s responsible officer.
However, you may only extend your J-1 status to your program’s maximum regulatory duration, as established by the U.S. State Department.
Here are the maximum allowed durations for each program category:
Your J-1 visa does not allow you to change your program or sponsor. It is only valid for the program and sponsor listed on your Form DS-2019. If you want to participate in a different exchange program, you must return to your home country and apply for a new J-1 visa.
Your J-1 visa expires at the end of your exchange program. However, you don’t have to return to your home country immediately due to the 30-day “grace period.”
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has established this period for exchange program participants to settle their affairs and prepare to return to their home country. Participants may also use this grace period to travel within the United States.
This Grace Period is also applied to the beginning of your program, allowing you to enter the United States up to 30 days before the start of your program.
NOTE: During the "Grace Period," your J-1 visa is technically expired. If you travel beyond U.S. borders during this period, you may not be allowed to reenter.
After the 30-day grace period has elapsed, exchange program participants are subject to the Two-Year Home-Country Physical Presence Requirement. This is a condition of the J-1 exchange visitor visa that requires most participants to maintain residency in their home country for a cumulative total of two years after the exchange program ends.
You are subject to the two-year home-country physical presence requirement if one of these applies to you:
*Certain individuals may be entitled to apply for a waiver.
The two-year home-country residency requirement does not prohibit you from traveling to the United States with a visitor (B) visa or under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). However, until you have completed two years of residency in your home country, you may be prohibited from applying for certain U.S. visa statuses in the future.
Throughout your J-1 visa application process, your local embassy is your best source for accurate information specific to your home country. Don’t hesitate to reach out with questions to ensure a smooth application process. Also, know the process can be lengthy, so make sure you start well in advance from the start date of your program.