The J-1 visa category is designed to foster cultural, intellectual, scholastic, and vocational exchange between the United States and participating countries.  International visitors in J-1 status are permitted to come to the U.S. for a period of time in order to participate in exchange programs, and to study, train, conduct research, and gain experience in their respective fields.  The various J-1 exchange programs promote the sharing of knowledge and skills in education, arts and sciences.

The J-1 visa category is nonimmigrant, meaning that it does not confer the right to reside in the U.S. on a permanent basis.  The permitted period of stay is flexible and often times longer than other types of visa categories.  Nonetheless, it is a requirement that the J-1 visitor leave the U.S. at a certain point that is determined at the beginning of the exchange period.  Oftentimes the exchange programs have a two-year “home residency requirement” whereby the exchange visitor must leave the U.S. at the end of the period of stay and physically reside in his or her home country for at least two years before being able to return to the U.S.  Some J-1 programs do not have a home resident requirement, but the vast majority does. 

The J-1 category appears to be similar to the F-1 (student) category, but surface similarities can be deceiving.    For instance, J-1 exchange programs are flexible and can be administered by both private or public entities while F-1 programs can only be approved for accredited institutions of higher learning.  The emphasis on J-1 programs is on training.  F-1 participants, on the other hand, are in the U.S. to receive education. Unlike F-1 category, there is no restriction as to the type of training which may be available under J-1 exchange programs.

Here is one bit of advice I want you to take from this article:  If you have any desire to live and work in the U.S. permanently, you should consider the J-1 category as a last resort.  Its restrictions can be onerous if you decide later on that you want to immigrate here.  However, if you have no intention of living in the U.S. but wish to engage in an exchange program which might enhance your training, knowledge, experience, and skills, then the J-1 category might be perfect for you.

Who may qualify for the J-1 visa?

The J-1 category is one of the most open and accessible visa categories available.  You are eligible if you are:    

• A student (regardless of your academic level)
• A trainee who wishes to obtain on-the-job training with a firm, institution, or agency in the U.S. 
• A teacher or educator for a primary, secondary, or specialized school
• A professor who wishes to teach or do research at an institution of higher learning in the U.S.
• A research scholar conducting research on a specific field 
• A professional trainee or intern in the medical and health fields 
• An international visitor 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

The last item is a “catch-all” class because it permits a sponsoring organization to create special exchange program for J-1 purposes so long as the Department of State certifies the program.  This is the beauty of the J-1 category, it does not restrict sponsors to existing or established exchanges programs because new ones may be designed to fulfill the sponsor’s goals. 

 What makes the J-1 a good choice?

• No long queues.  Unlike some other visa categories, there are no annual numerical limitations for J-1 visas.  That means you will not have to compete for a limited number of spaces each year, or wait until a new fiscal year to begin before working or training with your sponsor.  
• Multiple use privileges.  You will be permitted to travel in and out of the U.S. multiple times under J-1 classification or remain here continuously until your J-1 status expires. 
• Spouses and children welcome.  Your spouse and children will be able to travel with you under the J-2 classification for family members.
• Dependants permitted to work.  While in J-2 status, your spouse is permitted to apply for employment authorization in order to work in the U.S. (as long as the spouse’s income is not necessary to support you).
• Employment privileges.  Depending on the exchange program, you may be permitted to work while in J-1 status.
• No “prevailing wage” requirement.   J-1 sponsors are not required to pay a J-1 participant a prevailing wage, or any wage at all.  Some exchange programs are designed purely for training purposes.  This is good for exchange program sponsors, but maybe not so good for you, because you must establish that you are financially able to support yourself while in the U.S. in J-1 status.

Although the J-1 category offers a great deal of flexibility, it is not a general admission visa because it does have certain restrictions which may limit its usefulness.  For instance:

• Work restrictions.  You may only study, work, or participate in the special exchange program for which your J-1 status was approved, and no other. 
• You must be qualified.  Although J-1 exchange programs are very flexible, you must nonetheless establish that you are qualified by either training, scholastic preparation, or otherwise to participate in the program. Additional testing is administered for exchange programs involving medical education or training, including English proficiency examinations. 
• Exchange program must be approved beforehand.   While it is possible for a sponsor to design a special exchange program for J-1 purposes, that program must first be approved by the Department of State, and you qualify for and be accepted as a participant before you are eligible to apply for J-1 status.  The same is true for existing exchange programs (you must first be accepted).
• Home Residency Requirement.  This restriction can be particularly onerous for those who participate in J-1 programs.  In order to be eligible for permanent residence in the U.S., or even another non-immigrant visa category, a J-1 visitor holder must return to his or her home country and physically reside there for at least two years after the conclusion of the exchange program.  This restriction applies to most, but not all J-1 exchange programs.  It is important to note that the restriction indicated on your passport may NOT be controlling, because customs officials as a matter of routine place the restriction stamp regardless if it applies or not.  Some exchange programs do not have the home residency requirement.  If that is the case, then you may not be subject to home residency requirement at all, regardless of what is indicated on your passport.  The best thing to do if you are uncertain is the review the terms of the exchange program, not your passport. 
• Finite time limit.   Participation in J-1 exchange programs are supposed to be definite in time and duration.   Your J-1 status is dependent on your participation in an exchange program.    Thus, your stay in the U.S. cannot be indefinite.  Also, extensions of J-1 status are very difficult to obtain. 
• Presents a problem for those applying for permanent residence.  Due to the home residency requirement of many J-1 exchange programs, it is very difficult for a person in J-1 status to adjust status to lawful permanent resident.  However, the home residency requirement may be waived under certain conditions.
• Fulltime study not permitted.  If you intend to enter the U.S. to enroll in a full time course of academic study, the J-1 category is not for you.  While you are permitted to take part time courses while in J-1 status, you should not become a full time student.  Your dependents in J-2 status, on the other hand, may be full-time students.
• Health Insurance Requirement.  You must maintain an approved health insurance plan which covers the duration of your stay in the U.S. while in J-1 status.  For some individuals, the cost of obtaining health insurance is prohibitively high.

Can the Home Residency Requirement be waived?

Yes, the home residency requirement, also known as the “Two-Year Rule,” may be waived under certain circumstances.  Some exchange programs are not subject to the home residency requirement in the first place.  For those programs which are, there are procedures or applying for a waiver.  The Department of State makes the decision to grant a waiver.  It has the final say, regardless of the annotation on your passport.

The Home Residency Requirement may be waived on the following grounds:

• No Objection Letter.  If you home country’s government issues a “No Objection Letter”  to the U.S. State Department which indicates that your government does not object to a waiver being granted, you may qualify for a waiver.  Keep in mind, however, that the State Department may refuse to grant a waiver despite your government’s position.  Also, such a waiver is generally not available to medical residents or interns who received medical training in the U.S.   If you are interested in a home residency waiver, you must begin the process of obtaining a “No Objection Letter” as soon as possible, because some countries may take several months to process your request and produce a letter.
• Interested Government Agency Request (“IGA”). An IGA may request that the State Department waive the home residency requirement on your behalf.  The IGA should be from the U.S. government, not your home government.   Often times, the IGA is the same agency which sponsored you for the exchange program and has a strong interest in your continuing your work with it.  The IGA must explain in writing why granting you a waiver is in the public interest of the U.S. and it would be detrimental to the agency if you returned to your home country for two years.
• Home Country Persecution.  You may qualify for a waiver if you can establish that you will suffer persecution if you return to your home country.  The threat of persecution must be based on your race, religion, or political opinion.  The process itself is akin to a mini-asylum petition, as many of the legal principles used in asylum cases may be applied in a waiver petition based upon home country persecution.
• Family Hardship.  If you have a spouse and/or child who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and you can establish that returning to your home country for two years would cause exceptional hardship on your spouse and/or children, you may qualify for a waiver.
• Designated State Health Agency Request.  There are many areas in the U.S. which do not have enough doctors and other medical professionals.   The federal government has designated certain parts of the country to be shortage areas.  If you agree to work full-time at a medical facility located in a designated shortage area for at least three years, you may qualify for a waiver.  Generally, you must sign an employment contract to work in the area for the minimum period of time.   

Success in all types of waiver requests depends on your ability to produce sufficient evidence to justify the granting a waiver.  The public policy goals of the J-1 exchange program and your personal needs must be balanced.  For the most part, the public policy considerations will prevail.  However, the better documented your application, the more likely it would be approved.

If you wish to learn more about the different options available to you under the J-1 category, contact me for a consultation.