J-1 Visa in 5 Minutes: The Exchange Visitor Program Explained
Table of Contents
What Is the J-1 Visa?
The US visa for exchange programs. You train, teach or do research for a set time, through a sponsor designated by the US Department of State.
Key Takeaways
- A nonimmigrant visa for people accepted into an exchange visitor program in the US.
- A sponsor designated by the US Department of State is always required.
- The path: sponsor, DS-2019, SEVIS fee, visa interview.
- Visa type
- Nonimmigrant (temporary)
- Sponsors designated by
- US Department of State
- Key form
- DS-2019
- SEVIS fee
- $220
- Visa application fee
- $185, see Visa Fee (MRV)
- Minimum length
- 3 weeks (most programs)
- Arrival
- Up to 30 days before the program starts
- After the program
- 30 days to depart
Who Runs It
The US Department of State oversees the Exchange Visitor Program. Its Office of Private Sector Exchange designates US government, academic, research and private sector organizations as sponsors, helps them run their programs and monitors them. Participation is only possible through one of these sponsors. The sponsor screens and selects participants and supports and monitors them during their stay, see J-1 Sponsor.
Educational and cultural exchange is the purpose of the program. All exchange visitors are expected to return to their home country after the program and share their experience.
Source: J-1 Visa: Common Questions (US Department of State)
Categories
The regulations cover each category in a separate section, setting out who can take part and how long the program may last.
Since 15 September 2026, a J-1 Visa admission lasts at most four years. Staying longer takes an extension of stay with USCIS, see Program Extension.
| Category | Who and what for | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| J-1 Professor | Teaching, lecturing, observing or consulting at colleges and universities, museums, libraries or similar institutions | 5 years |
| J-1 Research Scholar | Research, observing or consulting on a research project at universities, research institutes, corporate research facilities, museums or libraries | 5 years |
| J-1 Short-Term Scholar | Professors, researchers and people with similar education on a short visit to lecture, observe, consult, train or demonstrate special skills | 6 months |
| J-1 Specialist | Experts in a field of specialized knowledge or skill who observe, consult or demonstrate it | 1 year |
| J-1 Intern | Full-time students in higher education abroad, or graduates of the past 12 months, in structured work-based training in their academic field | 12 months |
| J-1 Trainee | People with a degree or professional certificate and one year of related work experience abroad, or five years of work experience abroad, in structured work-based training in their field | 18 months, 12 in some fields |
| College and University Student | Students in a degree, non-degree or student internship program at an accredited US college or university | Set by the regulation for each program |
| Secondary School Student | Secondary school students who study at an accredited US school for a semester or a school year, living with a host family or at a boarding school | Two academic semesters |
| Teacher | Teachers who teach full time at an accredited US primary or secondary school | 3 years, plus 1 or 2 years if the State Department approves |
| Physician | Medical school graduates in graduate medical education or training at accredited US medical schools or scientific institutions | Set by the regulation for each program |
| Government Visitor | Influential or distinguished people selected by a US federal, state or local government agency to consult, observe, train or demonstrate special skills | 18 months |
| International Visitor | Recognized or potential leaders selected by the US Department of State to consult, observe, do research, train or demonstrate special skills | 1 year |
| Au Pair | People who live with a US host family, provide limited child care and take courses at a US college | 1 year, plus 6, 9 or 12 months if the State Department approves |
| Camp Counselor | Youth workers, students, teachers and people with specialized skills, at least 18, who work as counselors at a US summer camp | 4 months |
| Summer Work Travel | Students at a college or university abroad who work seasonal or temporary jobs and travel in the US during the long break between academic years | 4 months, no extensions |
Source: 22 CFR § 62.4: Categories of participant eligibility · 22 CFR § 62.20: Professors and research scholars · 22 CFR § 62.21: Short-term scholars · 22 CFR § 62.22: Trainees and interns · 22 CFR § 62.23: College and university students · 22 CFR § 62.24: Teachers · 22 CFR § 62.25: Secondary school students · 22 CFR § 62.26: Specialists · 22 CFR § 62.27: Alien physicians · 22 CFR § 62.28: International visitors · 22 CFR § 62.29: Government visitors · 22 CFR § 62.30: Camp counselors · 22 CFR § 62.31: Au pairs · 22 CFR § 62.32: Summer work travel · 8 CFR § 214.2(j): Exchange visitors
The Steps
- Sponsor: your application goes to a designated sponsor. Interns and trainees also need a host and a DS-7002 training plan signed before the next step.
- DS-2019: once you are accepted, the sponsor registers you in SEVIS and sends you the DS-2019.
- SEVIS fee: when your registration is active, you pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee.
- Visa: you complete the online DS-160, pay the Visa Fee (MRV) and usually attend an interview at a US embassy or consulate, generally in the country where you live, see Visa Interview.
- Entry: you present your passport, visa and DS-2019 at the port of entry. The decision to admit you rests with a US Customs and Border Protection officer.
Source: Exchange Visitor Visa (US Department of State) · 22 CFR § 62.22: Trainees and interns
Every Topic in One Line
The rest of the J-1 Visa, each topic in one sentence. Follow any link to read the full entry.
- Timeline: the order of steps from your eligibility check to your arrival, and what decides how long it takes, see J-1 Timeline.
- Documents: what you, your host and the sponsor need, see Documents; for interns and trainees the training plan is the DS-7002.
- Host and position: you train at a US Host Company, in a position you find yourself (Self-Placed) or through a third party (Placement (Finding a Host)). Some duties are excluded, see Program Exclusions.
- Small hosts: a new host with fewer than 25 employees or less than $3 million in annual revenue gets a Site Visit.
- English: your English must be sufficient for your program, and the sponsor checks it, see English Requirement.
- Costs: besides the sponsor, you pay the SEVIS Fee and the Visa Fee (MRV), plus living costs, see J-1 Costs.
- Health insurance: required for the whole program, with minimum benefits, see Health Insurance.
- Pay and housing: no set wage, but you must be able to cover your whole stay, see Pay & Housing.
- Working hours: internships and traineeships are full-time, at least 32 hours a week, see Working Hours.
- Taxes: wages are taxable, see J-1 Taxes.
- During the program: written Evaluations of your progress; the SEVIS record follows you.
- Travel: how an expired visa stamp affects travel abroad, see Visa Expiry & Travel.
- Longer or different: Program Extension up to your category maximum, or a Sponsor Transfer within the same category.
- After the program: 30 days to leave, see Grace Period; a Second Internship only under clear conditions.
- Family: spouse and unmarried children under 21 on the J-2 Visa.
- Bars and home residence: the Two-Year Rule, and for professors and research scholars the 12-Month Bar and the 24-Month Bar.
Key Numbers
| What | Rule |
|---|---|
| SEVIS Fee (I-901) | $220 |
| Visa application fee | $185 per applicant |
| Minimum program length | 3 weeks. Does not apply to short-term scholars or when the sponsor is a federal government agency. |
| Maximum length | Intern 12 months, trainee 18 months (less in some fields), professor and research scholar 5 years, short-term scholar 6 months |
| Arrival | At most 30 days before the program start date on the DS-2019 |
| Departure | Within 30 days after the program end date |
Source: ICE: I-901 SEVIS fee · Exchange Visitor Visa (US Department of State) · 22 CFR § 62.8: General program requirements · 22 CFR § 62.22: Trainees and interns · 22 CFR § 62.20: Professors and research scholars · 22 CFR § 62.21: Short-term scholars · J-1 Visa: Common Questions (US Department of State) · 8 CFR § 214.2(j): Exchange visitors
FAQs
Can I join an exchange program on a tourist visa or ESTA?
No. Exchange visitors must be issued a J visa. You may not take part in an exchange on a visitor (B1/B2) visa or through the Visa Waiver Program.
Source: Exchange Visitor Visa (US Department of State)
Can I work on a J-1 Visa?
Only in the activity listed on your DS-2019 and allowed by the regulations for your category. Anything else must be provided for in those regulations and approved by your sponsor's Responsible or Alternate Responsible Officer.
Source: J-1 Visa: Common Questions (US Department of State)
Can my family come with me?
Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can get J-2 visas if your category and your sponsor's program allow it. Each of them receives their own DS-2019, see J-2 Visa.
Source: J-1 Visa: About the J-2 Visa
Do I have to go home after the program?
All exchange visitors are expected to return home after their program. Depending on how the program is funded, your field and your home country, the Two-Year Rule may also require two years in your home country before certain US visas or a green card.
Source: J-1 Visa: Common Questions (US Department of State) · Exchange Visitor Visa (US Department of State)
The Bottom Line
The J-1 Visa is the visa of the US Exchange Visitor Program. It always goes through a sponsor designated by the State Department, and the sequence is: sponsor, DS-2019, SEVIS fee, visa interview.
Related Terms
- J-1 SponsorAn organization designated by the US Department of State to run J-1 exchange programs. Every J-1 participant needs one.more
- DS-2019The Certificate of Eligibility your J-1 sponsor issues. You need it to apply for your visa.more
- SEVIS FeeThe I-901 fee for the US exchange visitor database. For J-1 applicants it is $220.more
- Visa InterviewThe appointment at a US embassy or consulate where you apply for your J-1 Visa with your DS-2019.more
- J-1 InternA US exchange visitor category that lets students and recent graduates train at a US company for up to 12 months.more
- J-1 TraineeA US exchange visitor category for people with a degree and work experience abroad, with training at a US company for up to 18 months.more
Sources
- J-1 Visa: Common Questions (US Department of State)
- 22 CFR § 62.4: Categories of participant eligibility
- 22 CFR § 62.20: Professors and research scholars
- 22 CFR § 62.21: Short-term scholars
- 22 CFR § 62.22: Trainees and interns
- 22 CFR § 62.23: College and university students
- 22 CFR § 62.24: Teachers
- 22 CFR § 62.25: Secondary school students
- 22 CFR § 62.26: Specialists
- 22 CFR § 62.27: Alien physicians
- 22 CFR § 62.28: International visitors
- 22 CFR § 62.29: Government visitors
- 22 CFR § 62.30: Camp counselors
- 22 CFR § 62.31: Au pairs
- 22 CFR § 62.32: Summer work travel
- 8 CFR § 214.2(j): Exchange visitors
- Exchange Visitor Visa (US Department of State)
- ICE: I-901 SEVIS fee
- 22 CFR § 62.8: General program requirements
- J-1 Visa: About the J-2 Visa