J1 Visa for Teachers & Exchange Visitors

J-1 Visa Program Requirements

The J-1 visa program can provide many professional and education-based visa opportunities for international visitors to the United States. There are currently 14 different programs within the J-1 visa program umbrella. These multifaceted education-based visa programs range from teaching to studying and conducting research. Foreign nations may also demonstrate special skills and can receive on the job training for a few weeks to up to several years under the J-1 visa program. Texas immigration lawyers regularly help foreign nationals obtain entry into the United States through the J-1 Visa program. Check out the requirements and regulations for each category of the J-1 visa program to determine which one is right for you.

J-1 visa program for Au Pairs

• Purpose of Visit: Provide child care to host families and take courses at a U.S. post-secondary accredited academic institution.
• Position in Home Country: Secondary school graduate or equivalent.
• Visitor Eligibility: Between 18-and-26-years-old. Successful in passing a background investigation and a personality profile.
• Duration of U.S. Visit: 12 months. Option to extend 6, 9, or 12 months.
• Repeat Participation: Yes, after 24 months of residency outside the U.S.

J-1 visa program for Camp Counselors

• Purpose of Visit: Serve as counselors in U.S. summer camps.
• Position in Home Country: Bonafide youth workers, students, teachers, or individuals with specialized skills.
• Visitor Eligibility: At least 18 years of age.
• Duration of U.S. Visit: 4 months.
• Repeat Participation: Yes.

J-1 visa program for Government Visitors

• Purpose of Visit: Engage in observation tours, discussions, consultations, professional meetings, conferences, workshops, and travel.
• Position in Home Country: An influential or distinguished person.
• Visitor Eligibility: Selected by a U.S. federal, state, or local government agency.

Education-based visa for interns

• Purpose of Visit: Participate in a structured internship program that is in the student’s field of study.
• Position in Home Country: Enrolled in an academic university or college outside of the U.S. or graduated within 12 months of program start.
• Visitor Eligibility: Currently enrolled in at a foreign post-secondary academic institution outside the U.S. OR graduated no more than 12 months prior to their program start date.
• Duration of U.S. Visit: 3 weeks – 12 months
• Repeat Participation: Yes, if advanced internship at the next degree level.

J-1 visa program for International Visitors (Department of State use)

• Purpose of Visit: Engage in consultation, observation, research, training, or demonstration of special skills. Designed expresses for people-to-people programs that develop and strengthen professional and personal ties between key foreign nationals and Americans and American institutions.
• Position in Home Country: A recognized or potential leader in a field of specialized knowledge or skill.
• Visitor Eligibility: Selected by the United States Department of State.

Education-based visa for Physicians

• Purpose of Visit: Pursue graduate medical education or training at accredited schools of medicine or scientific institutions.
• Position in Home Country: Graduate medical student with adequate prior education and training.
• Visitor Eligibility: Have passed a qualifying medical examination (i.e. National Board of Medical Examiners). Have documented need in the physician’s home country for the skills sought while in the U.S.
• Duration of U.S. Visit: Limited to 7 years unless there is documented exceptional need.
• Repeat Participation: Up to 1 year.

J-1 visa program for Professors or Research Scholars

• Purpose of Visit: For research scholars, one must do research, observe, or consult in connection with a research project. For professors, one must teach or lecture at university, observe, or consult.
• Position in Home Country: Professor, Researcher, Post-doc or Pre-doc, Graduate Students/Similar (Doctors, attorneys, etc.).
• Visitor Eligibility: Temporary, non-tenure-track appointments. Minimum qualifications: bachelor’s degree with appropriate experience in the field in which research is to be conducted. Not physically in the U.S. for all or part of 12-months preceding start date, unless excluded according to 22 CFR 62.20(d)(2)(iiii).
• Duration of U.S. Visit: 3 weeks – 5 years.
• Repeat Participation: Yes, after 24 months of residency outside the U.S.

J-1 visa program for Short-Term Scholars

• Purpose of Visit: Lecture, observe, consult, train, or demonstrate special skill(s).
• Purpose of Visit: Lecture, observe, consult, train, or demonstrate special skill(s).
• Visitor Eligibility: A short-term U.S. visit to lecture, observe, consult, train, or to demonstrate special skills at research institutions, museums, libraries, post-secondary educational institutions.
• Duration of U.S. Visit: 1 day – 6 months.
• Repeat Participation: Yes, and there is no waiting period.

J-1 visa program for Specialists

• Purpose of Visit: Observe, consult, or demonstrate special skills.
• Position in Home Country: Recognized as an expert in a field of specialized knowledge or skill.
• Visitor Eligibility: (1) Is an expert in a field of specialized knowledge/skill; (2)Travel to the U.S. to observe, consult, or demonstrate their special knowledge or skills; AND (3) Does not fill a permanent/long term position in the U.S.
• Duration of U.S. Visit: 3 weeks – 12 months.
• Repeat Participation: Yes, and there is no waiting period.

Education-based visa for Students (College or University)

• Purpose of Visit: Participate in a degree or non-degree program at an accredited post-secondary academic institution, or in a student internship program.
• Position in Home Country: College or University degree or non-degree applicant. For internships that satisfy degree requirements, EVPs must be enrolled in a university or college outside of the U.S.
• Visitor Eligibility: Admitted into a course of study in the U.S. The student must not be funded primarily by personal or family funds.
• Duration of U.S. Visit: Duration of course of study. Or 24 Months for non-degree students. Or 12 months for student interns.
• Repeat Participation: Yes.

Education-based visa for Students (Secondary)

• Purpose of Visit: Study in the U.S. at an accredited public or private secondary school for an academic semester or an academic year, while living with American host families.
• Position in Home Country: Secondary school students who have not completed more than 11 years of primary and secondary study. Between the ages of 15 years old and 18 years and six months old.
• Visitor Eligibility: All exchange students to be enrolled and participating in a full course of study at an accredited academic institution.
• Duration of U.S. Visit: No less than one academic semester and no more than two academic semesters. (Or quarter equivalent).
• Repeat Participation: No.

J-1 visa program for Summer Work and Travel

• Purpose of Visit: Provide foreign students with opportunities to experience U.S. culture while working in unskilled seasonal or temporary jobs.
• Position in Home Country: Enrolled in a university or college outside of the U.S. (including final year students).
• Visitor Eligibility: Full-time student at accredited post-secondary, classroom-based, academic institutions outside of the U.S. & has completed at least one semester.
• Duration of U.S. Visit: 4 months. (12 months for AUS/NZ pilot program).
• Repeat Participation: Yes.

J-1 visa program for Teachers

• Purpose of Visit: Teach full-time in an accredited primary or secondary (K-12) public or private school, including pre-kindergarten.
• Position in Home Country: Current teacher, or has had at least two years of full-time teaching experience within the past 8 years and has or will have completed an advanced degree (beyond the B.A. equivalent) in the past 12 months.
• Visitor Eligibility: Minimum 2 years of teaching experience, a B.A. equivalent, and satisfies the teaching eligibility standards of the U.S. state in which the teacher is placed.
• Duration of U.S. Visit: Up to 3 years, with one or two-year extensions permitted with application to sponsor.
• Repeat Participation: Yes, after 24 months of residency outside the U.S.

Education-based visa for Trainees

• Purpose of Visit: Participate in a structured training program that is in the trainee’s professional field.
• Position in Home Country: Has a post-secondary degree or certificate from outside of the U.S. and 1 year of work experience; or 5 years of work experience.
• Visitor Eligibility: Has degree or professional certificate from a foreign post-secondary institution AND at least 1-year prior related experience outside the U.S. OR have 5 years of experience in the field in which they are training.
• Duration of U.S. Visit: 3 weeks – 18 months; Hospitality: max 12 months.
• Repeat Participation: Yes, after 24 months of residency outside the U.S.