Non-Immigrant Visas

Exchange Visitor Visas

Anyone wishing to take up prearranged employment, training or research in the United States under an officially approved program sponsored by an educational or other nonprofit institution requires an exchange visitor (J-1) visa. Persons covered by these programs include post graduate students, foreign medical graduates seeking to pursue graduate medical education or training, foreign scholars sponsored by universities as temporary faculty, and some business trainees. In addition, there are several exchange visitor programs for young people, including summer employment programs, intern programs for university students, and au pair programs.

Furthermore, the exchange visitor applicant must be registered in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). The exchange visitor submits the form with a completed DS-156 visa application to the Embassy for consideration. More information about SEVIS and exchange visitor visas can be found on the Exchange Visitor Visas page of the U.S. Department of State.

Entry & Length of Stay

The holder of an exchange visitor J-1 visa, may enter the United States up to 30 days before the designated start date on the DS-2019. The 30 day limitation does not apply to those returning to continue with the program. He or she may remain for up to 30 days after the completion date on the DS-2019.

If you wish to remain longer, you will be required to apply for an adjustment of status or extension of stay from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services having jurisdiction over your place of residence in the United States.

Spouses, Children & Partners

Spouses and/or children under the age of 21 who wish to accompany or join the principal visa holder in the United States for the duration of his/her stay require derivative J-2 visas. Spouses and/or children applying for a J-2 visa have to present their marriage/birth certificates to demonstrate family ties.

Spouses and/or children who do not intend to reside in the United States with the principal visa holder, but visit for vacations only, may be eligible to apply for visitor visas, or if qualified, travel visa free under the Visa Waiver Program.

J-2 Verses F-1

There is no requirement that the spouse and/or children of a J-1 visa holder apply for a student (F-1) visa if they wish to study in the U.S.; they may study on a J-2 visa. However if they are qualified, they may apply for the F-1 visa. If you have school age children, you should refer to the regulations governing the issuance of F-1 visas.

Working on a J-2 Visa

The spouse of an exchange visitor may not work in the United States on a derivative J-2 visa unless permission has been obtained in advance from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. An application for permission to work can only be made after the J-2 visa holder's arrival in the United States and will be considered in light of policies then in effect.

Important Notice: A former exchange visitor may not be issued an immigrant, fiancé(e), temporary worker or intracompany transferee visa until he/she has resided and been physically present in the country of his/her nationality or last residence for at least two years following the termination of exchange visitor status if one or more of the following conditions applies:

• The program was financed in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, by an agency of the United States government or by the country of exchange visitor's nationality or last residence; or
• The exchange visitor was a national or resident of a country which the Secretary of State has designated as clearly requiring the services of persons engaged in the field of specialized knowledge or skills in which the alien was engaged during the exchange visitor program (no skills are listed as being required by the United Kingdom); or
• The exchange visitor was a physician who entered the United States to receive medical education or training (except those who participated in a program involving exclusively teaching research or consultation).

I believe I qualify for a J visa, what do I do next?

You are required to obtain from your sponsor the form DS-2019, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status. The DS-2019 is not valid for travel unless accompanied by a valid visa.

Please Note: No assurances regarding the issuance of visas can be given in advance. Therefore final travel plans or the purchase of nonrefundable tickets should not be made until a visa has been issued. 

Au Pairs

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) defines an au pair as anyone going to live with a family residing in the United States to provide services, such as baby-sitting, helping with housework or cooking or language instruction in exchange for room and board and, sometimes, a salary.

If you wish to spend time in the United States as an au pair, you MUST have a J visa and a form DS-2019 from a sponsoring organization that has been approved by the U.S. Department of State. This applies even if you are staying with your family or friends of your family.

You may NOT under any circumstances be an au pair in the United States if you enter as a tourist. Each year, many young people are denied entry to the United States and sent home on the next plane, at their own expense, when USCIS officers discover their intention to be au pairs without having the proper visa. Should this happen to you, you may be barred from entering United States territory for five years.

The U.S. government has authorized 11 organizations to bring au pairs into the United States. The Department of State provides a list of these organizations on its web site.

For more information on au pair programs, please go to the Au Pair page of the Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Summer Work/Travel Program

Under the Summer Work/Travel program, foreign post-secondary students have an opportunity to become directly involved in the daily life of the people of the United States through travel and temporary work for a period up to four months during their summer vacation.

The Department of State designates U.S. organizations to administer exchange visitor programs. These organizations are referred to as sponsors.  A list of the designated sponsors in the category of Summer Work/Travel can be found in the Catalog of Designated Sponsors.

If you are interested in the program, please contact Albizia-Student Work, Apex, AYUSA International, Bron-Y-Aur, CCUSA, Czech Us, ICCP Hungary, Camp Leaders (Hungary)/Camp Leaders in America, USA Work, Youth for Understanding, or any other designated sponsor listed in the Catalog mentioned above.

For more information, please visit the Summer Work/Travel page of the Department of State.

Last updated: 06/04/2008