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J-1 visas are issued for exchange programs such as a high school year, an internship or a traineeship in the USA. The visa enables participation in cultural and professional exchange projects and promotes the international transfer of knowledge.
The J-1 visa is an exchange visa that allows international participants to temporarily stay in the US as part of an official exchange program. This visa is required if you wish to enter the USA as part of a program approved by the US Department of State - e.g. as an exchange student, intern, au pair or research fellow.
In simple terms, the J-1 visa covers the following purposes of stay, among others:
The specific requirements vary depending on the category of the exchange program. The general requirements for the "Internal" and "Trainee" categories are listed below.
DS-2019 Form: A "Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status" issued by an authorized J-1 Visa Sponsor is required.
SEVIS registration: The exchange program must be registered in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
Financial security: Proof of sufficient financial means to cover living expenses during the stay.
Intention to return: Credible proof of the intention to return to the home country after completion of the program.
A J-1 visa can only be issued in conjunction with an official U.S. Department of State approved visa sponsor. This exchange organization provides the necessary DS-2019 form, without this document it is not possible to apply for a visa.
With a J-1 visa, participants are allowed to stay in the United States for the entire duration of their exchange program. In addition, it is permitted to travel or stay in the USA for up to 30 days before the start of the program and 30 days after the official end of the program. Grace Period designated. However, no work is allowed during this period.
Multiple re-entry into the USA with the J-1 visa is only possible if the DS-2019 form is accompanied by a valid travel validation. This confirmation is noted on the original form by the responsible exchange organization and shows that the person holding the visa is in an active and proper program status ("in good standing"). For this purpose, the original DS-2019 must first be sent to the organization and signed there again. The signature is valid for six months.
Important: Anyone planning to leave the USA for a short time during the Grace Period and then re-enter should note that the visa and the DS-2019 are no longer valid after the end of the program. Re-entry would then only be possible via the Visa Waiver Program (e.g. with ESTA) - however, this carries the risk of being turned away at the border. It is therefore not advisable to leave the country during the Grace Period if you plan to return to the USA.
The validity of the J-1 visa depends on the program duration specified in the DS-2019 form and can only be used in combination with a valid DS-2019.
The maximum period of validity depends on the respective category of the J-1 program and varies depending on the purpose of the exchange:
Internal: up to 12 months
Trainee: up to 18 months
Other categories such as Au pair, Research Scholar or Teacher have their own regulations, which can be up to 5 years.
Irrespective of this, a minimum duration of 4 weeks applies to all programs.
Important: The visa validity does not automatically correspond to the permitted length of stay in the USA. The visa only defines the period during which entry into the USA is possible (between the date of issue and the expiration date). The actual length of stay, however, is determined by the period specified in the DS-2019 and documented by the entry on the I-94 entry form upon arrival.
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