What are the necessary steps to obtain a J1 visa?
Your application must include the following documents:
- Form DS-3035 (with the barcode);
- Copies of every Form DS-2019/IAP 566 that you have received incident to your J-1 status;
- Two self-addressed, stamped legal-size envelopes;
- The application fee ($120 at the time of this writing, plus an additional $930 if you are also required to file Form I-612.) The application fee must be submitted by ...
How long is a J1 visa valid for?
Your J-1 visa’s validity period is entirely dependent on the program that is sponsoring you. However, there are very few cases in which a J-1 visa holder can stay longer than 7 years. Here are some generalized validity periods based on the more popular programs: Teachers, scholars, researchers, professors can stay for a maximum of five years.
How to extend a J1 visa?
- If you are not completely funded by the sponsoring organization, you will need to show financial documentation that shows that you have adequate resources to pay for tuition, fees, and ...
- All Form DS-2019s and IAP-66s issued to you, your passport, and Form I-94.
- Proof of J1 visa health insurance for the duration of the extension. ...
Can I travel outside the US on a J1 visa?
While you are studying at IUPUI you may want to travel outside the United States: But, before you pack your luggage, there are some steps you need to take to protect your J-1 status. Before you leave the country, make sure you have a valid travel signature from an OIA advisor or your program sponsor on your DS-2019.
What is the maximum duration of J-1 visa?
The five year maximum stay for a J-1 research scholar/professor. The five year “clock” begins with the start date on the Form DS-2019 and this status remains available until the end of five years from that date or the date the J-1 program is concluded, whichever is earlier.
How long is the J-1 visa process?
The J-1 visa processing time for your Form DS-2019 is up to four weeks. The company needs that time to review your application, process your forms, and ship the DS-2019 directly to your home address. That means that the first step of the J-1 visa application process might take around a month.
Does J-1 visa expire?
Depending on the occupation your J1 Visa supports, there are different periods of validity: Teachers, scholars, researchers, and professors – 5 years. Medical grad students – 7 years. Professional trainees and government visitors – 18-24 months.
How many times can a J-1 visa be extended?
There are particular extensions available for professors and research scholars on the J-1 visa program. After the initial three-month maximum duration period, eligible individuals can extend their stay for six months to complete their designated research or program.
Is J-1 visa hard to get?
J-1 visas are also quite easy to get approved. The length of stay depends on the type of activity. Those pursuing academic study may get a visa for up to three years, while camp counselors will typically only get a 3-month stay. Extensions are also variable, depending on the category of visa.
How long does J-1 visa take after interview?
Please see “Administrative Processing” for further information. If you were advised at the interview that a waiver of ineligibility is required before the visa can be issued, you can expect your application to take up to 8 months to process from the date of the interview.
How can I stay in US after J-1?
J1 Visa coming to an end? What's next after a J1 Visa?You can only apply for an H1-B visa once a year on a specific date, April 1st. ... This Non-Inmigrant Visa allows you to stay in the USA for 3 years (can be extended up to a maximum of 6 years)Partner and children under 21 can apply for an H-4.
Can J-1 visa apply for green card?
Technically, J-1 visa holders are not eligible for the U.S. green card. In order to obtain a J-1 visa, you need to demonstrate that you have ties to your home country (such as family or assets) and that you fully intend to return once your J-1 stint has ended.
Can I leave the US and come back on a J-1 visa?
Generally, a J-1 visa holder may not travel outside the U.S. for more than 30 days without being considered to have “abandoned their program”. Any exceptions must be approved, in advance, by your J-1 visa sponsor.
Can J-1 visa be converted to H1B?
How to transfer your J1 Visa to an H1B Visa. To transfer your J1 visa to an H1B visa: You must obtain a job offer from a US employer before you can apply. You must go through the H1B visa application process.
What is J-1 visa rules?
In order to be eligible, participants must be between the ages of 15 and 18.5 by the first day of school. They must not have completed more than 11 years of primary and secondary school (excluding kindergarten), and they must not have previously participated in a secondary school exchange program in the US.
What happens if you get fired on a J-1 visa?
Consequences of J-1 Early Termination It automatically translates to you becoming “out of status”, meaning you have lost your legal status to continue staying, studying, working, or engaging in any J-1 activity in the United States.
What is the J-1 Visa Processing Time?
Now that we know what the steps are, we can get a better understanding of what the J-1 visa processing time will be. The DS-2019 can take between 2 and 3 weeks to be processed by the OIS. Making an appointment with the U.S. Consulate or Embassy can have you waiting 2 weeks to over a month depending on how busy the establishment is. If the interview goes favorably, then it will take about 1 week for them to add it to your passport.
What is the J-1 Visa?
The J-1 visa for exchange visitors is a nonimmigrant visa that is designed around the use of sanctioned programs that act as sponsors instead of employers. Here is a quick list of some programs you can apply for under the J-1:
What is the Validity Period for My J-1 Visa?
Your J-1 visa’s validity period is entirely dependent on the program that is sponsoring you. However, there are very few cases in which a J-1 visa holder can stay longer than 7 years. Here are some generalized validity periods based on the more popular programs:
What Could Delay My Visa?
To avoid having an unnecessarily long J-1 processing time, there are some things that you should adhere to. For one, you should have an immigration attorney look over the DS-2019 sent by your program in order to ensure that all of the information is complete, correct, and accurate. A failure to do so could result in a petition rejection or even a denial.
What does it mean when a J-1 visa is denied?
If you receive a rejection, that means that there is likely only a simple error or omission that needs to be fixed before refiling the petition. However, if your petition is denied, the USCIS officer did not deem your case worthy of a J-1 visa and you may have to find other means of working in the U.S.
What happens if you overstay your visa?
If you overstay, then you might find yourself “out of status”, which could have serious repercussions on your attempts to get a visa or green card in the future.
How long does it take for a green card to be processed?
Unfortunately, the premium processing service, which would shorten your processing time to just 15 calendar days, is only available for certain visas and green cards that use the I-129 and I-140 forms. Because the J-1 visa requires the DS-2019, it is not eligible for premium processing.
How long do you have to be on a J-1 visa?
Exchange visitors who are teachers, professors, research scholars, or people with specialized skills may be issued J-1 visas for no more than five years, plus 30 days in which to prepare to depart the United States. (See 22 C.F.R. § 62.20 and 22 C.F.R. § 62.24 .)
How long can an intern work in the US?
Interns are eligible for up to 12 months of J-1 status to work with a U.S. employer while in the midst of a degree program in their home country or within one year of graduation. (See 22 C.F.R. § 62.22 (k) .)
How long can a youth worker stay in a summer camp?
Youth workers over the age of 18 coming to serve as counselors in U.S. summer camps may be issued J-1 visas for a maximum of four months. (See 22 C.F.R. § 62.30 .)
How long is practical training?
Practical training is any employment directly related to the subject matter of the student's major field of study. Remaining in the U.S. for the additional 18 months of practical training is at the student's discretion. Postdoctoral training is limited to 36 months minus any previously used practical training time.
How long can you stay in the US for postdoctoral training?
Most students may remain in the U.S. for the duration of their programs plus an additional 18 months of practical training employment. Practical training is any employment directly related to the subject matter of the student's major field of study. Remaining in the U.S. for the additional 18 months of practical training is at the student's discretion. Postdoctoral training is limited to 36 months minus any previously used practical training time. (See 22 C.F.R. § 62.23 .)
How to get a J1 visa?
To obtain a J1 visa, foreign nationals must apply for and be approved to participate in a J1 visa USA exchange visitor program. There are 14 individual J1 programs within the J1 exchange visitor visa category pertaining to various occupations and functions. This article provides a J1 visa overview of all of the qualifying J1 programs.
What are the requirements for a J1 visa?
J1 visa eligibility and requirements vary depending on the exchange visitor program, but some of the general J1 visa requirements may include: 1 English language proficiency 2 Medical insurance
How long is a college degree valid?
College and university student programs are valid for 18 months for Bachelor/Master degree, 36 months for Post-Doctoral degree, and 24 months for non-degree.
Can a J1 exchange travel to the US?
Eligible immediate family members may accompany J1 exchange visitors during their stay in the US by obtaining a J-2 visa.
Do you have to be a J1 resident to get a J1 visa?
Some J1 visa USA programs are subject to a home residency requirement, a 2-year home country physical presence. J1 visa participants of the following J1 exchange visitor programs are required to return to their home country at the end of their exchange visitor program under the home residency requirement.
What is a J-1 visa?
Let’s start with a brief rundown of the J-1 visa. This nonimmigrant category is for program-based immigration rather than employer-based. A government-approved sponsorship program will provide you with a completed DS-2019 form to be filed with the USCIS.
How to request a J-1 visa waiver?
To request a J-1 visa waiver, you will need to file a DS-3035. The form must be completed with relevant information, which includes your SEVIS number, the date you entered the U.S. under J-1 status, and information about your J-2 dependents (if any). You will also need every DS-2019/IAP-66 ever issued to you as well as supporting evidence to prove that you meet the requirements for the waiver. The J-1 visa waiver filing fee is $120.
What to do if you are seeking a change of category related to your J-1 visa extension?
If you are seeking a change of category related to your J-1 visa extension then you must clearly demonstrate that it is closely related to your original exchange objectives and necessary as the result of extraordinary circumstances.
What is the grace period for J-1?
J-1 Traveling Grace Period. There is a travel grace period which may be important for you to understand. As indicated on DS-2019, there is a grace period that USCIS allows for individuals completing the United States to depart the country.
When to extend DS 2019?
Minor rules include the requirements to: Extend your program before the end date stated on your DS-2019 if you need to stay longer than the earlier issued date. Process your program transfer before the end date on your DS-2019. Get the required approval before accepting an honorarium or any other type of payment.
Does the J-1 visa have an extension?
The program sponsor has a specific officer who is able to determine the applicant’s eligibility through documentation. If the J-1 visa extension has been accepted, the applicant must obtain a new DS-2019 form with a new expiration date. This date will be recorded with SEVIS. If the J-1 visa holder has children or a spouse on J-2 status, the extension will cover them as well.
What is a J-1 program?
A J-1 program organization is any private or public entity approved by the DOS to act as an exchange program sponsor. There are many of them offering different categories of programs, so you will need to choose the one that relates to your intended program.
What is a J-1 exchange visitor?
The J-1 exchange visitor program involves three parties: the participant (you), the sponsoring organization, and the United States government. It may also involve a fourth: your home country’s government. Being a temporary visa, the application process requires every applicant to complete a DS-160 nonimmigrant visa application.
Who pays SEVIS I-901?
The SEVIS I-901 fee is paid to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Some sponsoring organizations include it as part of their program fees while others keep it as a separate payment. You will be informed by your sponsor if you are to pay it separately. If your sponsor has made the payment on your behalf, they will need to provide you with a receipt for the payment as it will be asked for during your interview.
Do J-1 visas require fees?
The only exception is if your program is going to be funded by the U.S. government, your country’s government, or an organization. As part of your application process, you may be asked to provide proof that you have the capacity to pay the fees and your general financial needs throughout your stay.
What is the first step in the J-1 visa process?
The first key step in the J-1 visa application process is getting your Form DS-2019. You’ll need this document before you can schedule an interview and get final approval for your J-1 visa.
How long does it take to get a visa after an interview?
However, the U.S. State Department advises that you wait at least 180 days after your interview (or after you submit additional documents) before asking the embassy about your visa unless you have an emergency like a death or serious illness in your immediate family.
What to do after J-1 interview?
After the J-1 visa interview, the process is out of your hands: you simply have to wait for an embassy official to approve your visa application.
Do you need to complete additional applications for J-1 visa?
However, some J-1 visa holders will need to complete additional applications for a few special processes:
What is the form I-94?
Form I-94 indicating J-1 nonimmigrant status and Form DS-2019 with the responsible officer’s endorsement.
Does USCIS issue EADs to J-1 exchange visitors?
USCIS does not issue EADs to J-1 exchange visitors.
Can dependents of J-1 exchange visitors work?
Dependents of a J-1 exchange visitor are classified as J-2 nonimmigrants and are only authorized to work if we have issued an EAD to them. A J-2 nonimmigrant’s foreign passport and Form I-94 are not evidence of identity and employment authorization for Form I-9 purposes.
How long is a J-1 visa valid?
These include your passport, which must be valid for at least six months beyond your J-1 program end date, valid DS-2019 form, and valid I-94. If you have any J-2 dependent, ensure theirs too are always updated.
What is a J-1 visa?
The J-1 visa classification is designed for foreign nationals who wish to participate in an approved exchange visitor program in the U.S. The program is overseen by the United States Department of States (DOS).
What Are the Next Steps After J-1 Early Termination?
While it is best to guard against early termination diligently, there are some actions that can help salvage the situation if your status is terminated:
What is required to complete immigration process?
Proof of adequate health insurance is required to complete your immigration process with the DOS. Also, when requesting for other services, such as requesting an extension during your program, you will always need to provide it. “Willful failure to maintain insurance coverage,” according to the DOS, will lead to termination.
How many times can you transfer J-1s?
As a J-1 holder, there is no limit to the number of times you may transfer from one sponsoring organization to another. If, for instance, you realize that your current host company cannot provide the agreed training or there is an unforeseen issue, you can simply request for a transfer.
Why is my visa being terminated?
This is because some past crimes are can automatically make you inadmissible to the U.S. If, after your visa has been granted, you are found to have engaged in any of the following crimes, your visa may be terminated and you will be removed from the U.S. Marriage fraud. Involvement in moral turpitude.
