The J-1 visa is for people who are part of exchange programs that have been approved by the Department of State. They can participate in programs as an au pair, camp counselor, college or university student, government visitor, intern, international visitor, physician, professor, research scholar, secondary school student, short-term scholar, specialist, summer work travel, teacher, or trainee.

Spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21 of J-1 exchange visitors may get a J-2 nonimmigrant visa. A J-2 may enter the United States along with their J-1 spouse or parent or join the J-1 while participating in their exchange program in the United States. They may study or work while in the United States.

Programs & Requirements 

Au Pair Program 

Through the Au Pair program, participants and host families get to meet each other and learn about each other's cultures. Program participants can live with a family for 12 months, but they can also stay for 6, 9, or 12 more. At least six hours of academic credit or equivalent must be earned in formal educational settings at a U.S. post-secondary school. They get room and board, as well as money for taking care of kids

• Proficient in spoken English;

• A secondary school graduate or equivalent; and

• Between 18-and-26-years-old.

• Physically healthy;

• Non-criminal background.

Camp Counselor Program

Students, youth workers, and teachers can use the Camp Counselor Program to share their culture and ideas with people in the United States at summer camps across the country. Those who go to the camps get the same pay and benefits as their American counterparts 

• Sufficiently proficient in the English language;

• A foreign post-secondary student, youth worker, teacher, or individual with specialized skills; and

• At least 18-years-old

College and University Student Program

Foreign students can study in the United States at a post-secondary institution that awards degrees, or they can do an internship that will help them meet the educational goals of their home country's degree program. 

• Sufficient fund;

• Enrollment in full-time study;

• A written agreement between the US and your home country’s government;

• Or between the US and foreign countries’ educational institutions.

Government Visitors 

The Government Visitor program helps high-ranking international visitors build and strengthen professional and personal relationships with their American counterparts in government agencies in the United States.

• Selected by a government agency in the United States;

• Involved in observation tours, talks, consultations, meetings with professionals, conferences, workshops, and travel;

• An influential or distinguished person.

International Visitor 

The International visitor program is intended to support and improve professional and personal ties between significant foreign persons and Americans and American organizations.

• Selected by the United States Department of State;

• Engaged in consultation, observation, research, training or demonstration of special skills;

• Be a leader in a field of specialized knowledge or skill.

Physician 

As part of the Alien Physician program, foreign physicians can get graduate medical education in the United States, or they can get their training at a US medical school that is approved by the government.

• Have adequate prior education and training;

• Have good skills in both oral and written English;

• Have the background, needs, and experiences suitable for the program;

• Passed either Parts I and II of the National Board of Medical Examiners Examination, the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination, Step I and Step II, or the Visa Qualifying Examination (VQE);

• Provide a letter from the foreign government stating the need. This letter would describe the requirement to gain medical skills in the United States. It should also mention that following completion of the program, the foreign individual will return to their native country;

• An agreement or contract from a U.S. accredited medical school.

Professor Program & Research Scholars Program

The Professor Program allows professors from different countries to come to the U.S. to share ideas, research, enrich each other, and build links between research and academic institutions in the U.S. and other countries.

• Not be a candidate for a job with a long term contract;

• Not have done a similar program in the last 24 months;

• Not having taken part in a J-Visa program in the last year unless:

• in a J1 program and transferring to another university.

• The previous program was under 6 months

• Previously, a short-term scholar.

Secondary School Student 

This program allows foreign students to study in the U.S. Students can take part in extracurricular activities that are sponsored by their school, such as after-school sports. Students live with an American host family or at a U.S. boarding school

• Must be at least 15 years old, but not older than 18 years and 6 months;

• Not completed 11 years of elementary and secondary education, except kindergarten;

• Not have previously participated in a secondary school;

• Not have attended school in the United States in either F-1 or J-1 status.

Short-term Scholar Program

The short-term scholar program lets professors and researchers come to the United States to consult and teach. This program is only for 6 months. During this time, people may give lectures and training. 

• Be a professor or research scholar or someone with similar education and or experience.

Specialist Program

The Specialist program creates opportunities for professionals in certain areas to come and expand the exchange of ideas with their American counterparts for up to 1 year

• Be experts in a field of specialized knowledge or skill;

• Not take a permanent or long-term job in the US;

Summer Work Travel

Students from non-US colleges and universities come to the US to share their culture and ideas with Americans through temporary job and travel opportunities.

• Proficiency in English;

• Students enrolled full-time in an authorized classroom-based post-secondary educational institution outside the United States;

• Have completed one semester of post-secondary academic studies;

• Unless from a visa waiver nation, pre-placed in a job.

Teacher Program

This program allows primary or secondary teachers to work in America. Teachers may retake the program if they have lived outside the US for two years and continue to meet the requirements

• Have a degree equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree;

• Have a minimum of two years (24 months) of teaching or related professional experience;

• Meet the qualifications for teaching in primary or secondary schools in their country of nationality;

• Good command of the English language;

Trainee and Intern Program

Training and internship programs are allowed in the following occupations:

• Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing;

• Arts and Culture;

• Construction and Building Trades;

• Education, Social Sciences, Library Science, Counseling, and Social Services;

• Health-Related Occupations;

• Hospitality and Tourism;

• Information Media and Communications;

• Management, Business, Commerce, and Finance;

• Public Administration and Law; and

• The Sciences, Engineering, Architecture, Mathematics, and Industrial Occupations.

People from other countries can come to the U.S. for training programs to learn about U.S. culture and how businesses work in their chosen field

• Has a degree or professional certificate from a foreign university and at least one year of relevant job experience outside the US;

• Has five years of professional experience outside the US in the area of training.

Foreign college and university students or recent graduates might participate in internship programs in the United States to learn more about American culture and business processes.

• Enrolled full-time at a post-secondary institution outside the US;

• Have graduated from such an institution no more than 12 months prior to their program start date.

Sponsorship

The State Department chooses government, academic, and private-sector groups in the United States to run educational and cultural exchange programs. To be able to participate in the Exchange Visitor Program, foreign nationals must be sponsored by one of the sponsors approved by the U.S. government. A sponsor must approve the program and help employ a foreign national. Sponsors only approve programs that meet J1 requirements.