J-1 Visa for Exchange Program Participants

Qualifications:
 A J-1 visa is issued to applicants who have been accepted to participate in exchange visitor programs designated by the United States Information Agency("USIA"). This may include students, scholars, trainees, teachers, professors, specialists, foreign medical graduates, international visitors, government visitors, camp counselors, au pairs, and participants in summer travel/work programs.

A dependent child or spouse of a J-1 visa holder is considered a J-2 nonimmigrant when accompanying the J-1 visa holder into the U.S.

Requirements:
 An applicant for a J-1 Visa need only to have been accepted into a designated exchange program evidenced by Form IAP-66 issued by the program sponsor. With this form the visa applicant may apply for the visa. 

Duration of Visa:
 The validity of the J-1 visa depends on the exchange program that the applicant participates in. Generally the J-1 visa is issued for the duration of the exchange program. The maximum allowable periods of stay for each category are: 

• College and University Students: Duration of course of study for those in a degree program; limit of 24 month for those in a non-degree program. Eighteen months of academic training are also allowed (36 months for those in post-doctoral programs).
• Professors and Research Scholars: Three years.
• Trainees: Eighteen months, 24 months for those coming for flight training. 
• Short-term scholars: Four months. 
• Specialists: One year.
• Foreign medical graduates: length of program, up to a maximum of seven years.
• International visitors: One year.
• Government visitors: Eighteen months.
• Teachers: Three years.
• Secondary school students: One year. 
• Camp counselor: Four months.
• Au pairs: One year. 

Extensions of stay are allowable only up to the maximum allowable period of stay for each category.