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Exchange Visitors

Anyone wishing to take up prearranged employment, training or research in the United States under an officially approved program sponsored by an educational or other nonprofit institution requires an exchange visitor (J-1) visa. Persons covered by these programs include post graduate students, foreign medical graduates seeking to pursue graduate medical education or training, foreign scholars sponsored by universities as temporary faculty, and some business trainees. In addition, there are several exchange visitor programs for young people, including the summer work and travel program, intern programs for university students, and au-pair programs. The Fulbright Commission Educational Advisory Service provide a list of Work Exchange Programs for the United States

Au Pair

Those seeking employment in the U.S. as an au pair are required to obtain an exchange visitor J-1 visa through the sponsorship of an officially approved exchange visitor program.  Through the Au Pair program foreign nationals between 18 and 26 years of age participate directly in the home life of a host family by providing limited childcare services for up to 12 months. Childcare is limited to no more than 10 hours per day, and to a maximum of 45 hours per week.  Participants in the Au Pair program must be proficient in spoken English, and are required to complete at least six hours of academic credit or its equivalent at an accredited US post-secondary educational institution.  For more information about the au pairs program and the current sponsor list, please click here.
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Doctors of Medicine

In order to perform services as a member of the medical profession or to receive graduate medical education in the United States, certain alien physicians are required to pass the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) Parts I and II, or an examination determined to be equivalent. More information is available from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates.
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Spouses and Children

Spouses and/or unmarried children under the age of 21 who wish to accompany or join the principal visa holder in the United States for the duration of his/her stay require derivative J-2 visas. Spouses and/or children who do not intend to reside in the United States with the principal visa holder, but visit for vacations only, may be eligible to apply for visitor (B-2) visas.  The spouse of an exchange visitor may not work in the United States on a J-2 visa unless permission has been obtained in advance from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. An application for permission to work can only be made after the J-2 visa holder's arrival in the United States and will be considered in light of policies then in effect.
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Entry & Length of Stay

The holder of an exchange visitor J-1 visa, may enter the United States up to 30 days before the designated start date on the DS-2019. The 30 day limitation does not apply to those returning to continue with the program. He or she may remain for up to 30 days after the completion date on the DS-2019. If you wish to remain longer, you will be required to apply for an adjustment of status or extension of stay from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services having jurisdiction over your place of residence in the United States.
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Additional Application Procedures and Fees

You are required to obtain from your sponsor the form DS-2019, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status. The DS-2019 is not valid for travel unless accompanied by a valid visa.

The inviting American organization or institution which issued the DS-2019 form must provide electronic evidence of the alien's acceptance at that institution before a J visa can be issued. The data contained in the DS-2019 form must be entered into the SEVIS database.

Applicants for J visas that are not continuing their course of study at the same institution with a DS-2019 issued on or after September 1, 2004 will have to pay an additional SEVIS registration and processing fee. This fee must be paid prior to the interview with the consular officer. The fee is charged to help cover the costs of administering the SEVIS program and is non-refundable. It is a one-time fee for each nonimmigrant program in which the exchange visitor participates. It is valid until he/she changes his/her status or loses his/her status. As of October 27, 2008, SEVIS fee for most exchange visitors is $180 and for short-term exchange visitors (Au Pairs, Summer Work/Travel and Camp Counselors) is $35.

Applicants sponsored by the U.S. Government who are participating in programs with a program code that begins with G-1, G-2 or G-3, G-7 do not pay the SEVIS fee. Derivatives (J-2) do not have to pay a separate SEVIS fee even though they will have a unique SEVIS number.

Information on how to pay the SEVIS fee can be found at the DHS SEVIS website: www.fmjfee.com. More information about this fee and the SEVIS program can be found at the DHS SEVP website.
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Residence Requirements

According to Section 212(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), an exchange visitor is subject to the two-year foreign residence requirement (in the home country or country of last legal permanent residence), if the following conditions exist:

  • The program in which the exchange visitor was participating was financed in whole or in part directly or indirectly by the United States government or the government of the exchange visitor's nationality or last residence.
  • The exchange visitor entered the United States to receive graduate medical education or training. 
  • The exchange visitor is a national or resident of a country designated as requiring the services of persons engaged in the field of specialized knowledge or skills in which the exchange visitor was engaged for the duration of their program. Please note that from June 28, 2009, Polish citizens are no longer subject to the two-year home residence requirement based on the Skills List. This also applies to those who were issued J-1 visas with DS-2019s marked “is subject to 212(e)” prior to June 28, 2009.

If the exchange visitor is subject to INA 212(e) requirement, he/she cannot change status to H, L, K, or immigrant lawful permanent resident (LPR) until he/she has returned to his/her home country or country of last legal permanent residence for at least two years or has received a waiver of that requirement. For information on waivers, see Waiver of the J Visa Two-Year Foreign Residence Requirement 212(e).
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