Exchange Visitor -- U.S. Work/Study: J and Q

• Description
  
  
• Qualifications
  
  
• Other Information
  
  
• Application Items

Description
J: The exchange visitor program J visa is designed to promote the interchange of persons, knowledge, and skills in the fields of education, arts, and sciences. Participants include students at all academic levels; trainees obtaining on-the-job training with firms, institutions, and agencies; teachers of primary, secondary, and specialized schools; professors coming to teach or do research at institutions of higher learning; research scholars; professional trainees in the medical and allied fields; and international visitors coming for the purpose of travel, observation, consultation, research, training, sharing, or demonstrating specialized knowledge or skills, or participating in organized people-to people programs.


Filing a Petition

Other Information
Dependents, J: 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 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.

Spouses and children may not work in the United States on a derivative J visa. If seeking employment, the appropriate work visa will be required.

J-1 Information

Study/Exchange FAQs


Application Items
J visa

Documents Required:
All required documents for any non-immigrant visa plus:

1. Approved DS-2019 from your U.S. program (Is the data on your DS-2019 correct?); and
2. I-901 SEVIS fee receipt.

SEVIS Info

Supporting Documents:
Financial and any other documents you believe will support your application:

1. Finances: credible documentary evidence that you have enough readily available funds to meet all expenses for the duration of the exchange. Suggested documents include proof of your relationship to the sponsor (such as your birth certificate), the sponsor's most recent, original tax forms, and the sponsor's bankbooks and/or fixed deposit certificates.
2. Evidence establishing that the applicant's stay in the United States will be temporary. For examples, go to the B-1/B-2 category.

Dependents:
All required documents for any non-immigrant visa plus:

1. For each dependent: An approved DS-2019 from the principal applicant's U.S. school or program with the dependent's name included;
2. Original marriage (spouse) and/or birth certificates (unmarried children under 21) as applicable; and
3. If not applying at the same time as the principal applicant: A copy of the principal applicant's passport and his/her U.S. visa. If a copy of the passport is submitted, it should be a legible and the photo clearly identifiable.