The J visa is for participants in the US Department of State’s Exchange Visitor Program. More than 200 countries are represented and there are over 300,000 J visa’s issued by the US every year.
There are many categories of J visa programs. These include:
College and University Students
Professors and Research scholars
Short Term Scholars
Physicians
Teachers
Trainees
Specialists
Au Pairs
Summer Work/Travel Programs
Secondary School Students
Interns
Camp Counselors
The J visa is a non-immigrant visa. J visa holders are in the US for a defined period of time, and then return to their home country.
How do you get a J visa?
The US Department of State has approved sponsors for the J visa programs. The include the government, academic institutions and schools, research institutes, and cultural exchange programs. You will need a sponsor to qualify for a J visa. Sponsors have their own screening and selection requirements.
Once you have a sponsor, they will issue you a DS-2019. You will need your DS-2019 to apply for your J visa. If your spouse or child is coming with you to the US, they will need a J2 visa, while the exchange participant receives a J1 visa.