Tourist & Student Visa Plan : Government Visitor Program
The EVP is among the most diverse visas for going to the United States and is designed to enable non-Americans to travel within the United States and study or work there as a sponsored exchange visitor while immersing themselves in the local culture.
Government Visitor Program J1 visa
The J1 is a non-immigrant visa issued to a person participating in a United States Exchange Visitor Program, or EVP. The Government Visitor is one of the 15 categories of the EVP.
The EVP is among the most diverse visas for going to the United States and is designed to enable non-Americans to travel within the United States and study or work there as a sponsored exchange visitor while immersing themselves in the local culture. The visionary EVP was created to foster greater understanding between the United States and other countries through short-term educational and cultural exchanges.
Over 550,000 persons representing 200 countries and territories visited the United States under the aegis of the J1 Exchange Visitor Program every year before the Covid-19 pandemic. Currently California hosts the largest number of exchange visitors, followed by New York and Florida. Physicianationally, China, Great Britain and Germany are the top three countries from where J1 visa holders come.
What is the J1 Government Visitor Program visa?
The Government Visitor Program is a great way for distinguished international visitors to visit the United States, meet their American counterparts in federal, state or local government agencies to develop and strengthen professional and personal relationships. Some examples of the kind of persons who would be sponsored for the Government Visitor Program are editors, business and professional persons, captains of industry, government officials and labor leaders.
The Government Visitor Program is structurally similar to the International Visitor Program, though it varies in the profile of participants it welcomes. While the selection of a Government Visitor can be done by a Federal, State or local agency, the International Visitor is the exclusive domain of the Department of State.
It’s important to note that unlike EVP categories, you cannot initiate the application for participating in the Government Visitor Program. The program is for the exclusive use of American federal, state or local government agencies. At their discretion and choice, they will select foreign nationals who are recognized as influential or distinguished, and invite them to participate in observation tours, discussions, consultation, professional meetings, conferences, workshops or travel.
Think of this as a people-to-people program designed to enable visitors invited by the US government to experience and understand American culture and society and to help enhance American understanding of foreign cultures. The goal is to strengthen professional and personal ties between noteworthy or distinguished foreign nationals and Americans and American institutions.
In practice, the idea of inviting an influential or distinguished visitor through the Government Visitor Program may arise through prior conversations and interactions between US federal, state or local officials and their counterparts or individuals of influence and distinction in other countries. A plan to visit the United States for a specific activity may emerge from this. At this point the US federal, state or local agency may decide to issue an invitation and designate a sponsoring agency to handle the visitor’s J1 visa and other processes.
Who is eligible for a Government Visitor Program J1 visa?
To be eligible for a Government Visitor Program J1 visa, you should —
- Be a distinguished or influential person in the government or in a business or professional area.
- Be selected by a US federal, state or local government agency.
- Be invited by that agency in an activity that could include consultation, observation, training or demonstration of special skills
How long can you stay in the United States with a Government Visitor Program J1 visa?
With a J1 visa under the Government Visitor Program, you can stay in the US as long as you need to complete the activity you were invited for, with a maximum limit of 18 months. There is no possibility of an extension.
However, you are allowed a 30-day grace period after the end of the program to settle your affairs and prepare to return. You cannot take on employment during this period, and overstaying can have serious repercussions for any future trip to the US. During the grace period, you will not be under the J1 visa any longer but under the jurisdiction of the Immigration and Naturalization Services. If you cross the US border to Canada or Mexico, you may not be allowed re-entry.
How do you apply for a Government Visitor Program J1 visa?
You cannot apply for admission to the Government Visitor Program. The invitation must originate from a US federal, state or local agency that has decided that you are a distinguished person or a person of influence in your field and can contribute to the improvement of understanding and relationship between the United States and your country.
Such a decision could emerge out of discussions and consultations held between officials in your country and their American counterparts or colleagues. It would then lead to an official invitation from a US federal, state or local agency as well as a sponsor being named to handle the details of your visit.
1. Work with the designated program sponsor: Once you have received your invitation and a designated sponsor has been identified, you will work closely with the sponsor. There are 256 designated sponsor agencies, all linked to the government, and you can view the list here. However, unlike in other EVP programs, you cannot apply directly to the sponsor.
The sponsor is responsible for the screening and selection of the person who has been invited by a US federal, state or local agency. The sponsor will also ensure that you will have health insurance for the duration of the exchange program.
Before your program begins, the sponsor must furnish information on the length and location of your program, a summary of the main activities and components of your program, and a written statement clearly stating the stipend, if any, that you will be paid.
2. Get a DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status: Once your sponsor ascertains that you are eligible and accepts you, you will be issued a document called the DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status, attesting that you are eligible and have been selected to participate in the Government Visitor. Form DS-2019 is a key document in your J1 visa application.
3. Enter your name in the SEVIS database. Your sponsoring agency will usually enter your details in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) database. There is a $220 charge for this.
4. Apply for a DS-160 J1 non-immigrant visa: Once you have your DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility you need to apply for a nonimmigrant J1 visa using the application form DS-160. There is currently a charge of $160 for this and you will receive an online receipt which you must carry to your interview. The application process can be completed online here.
5. Book an interview appointment with the US consulate.
What documents are required for a Government Visitor Program J1 visa interview?
The following is a minimum list of documents that you must carry to the interview.
- Passport: Valid for at least 6 months after the end date of your program.
- Letter of Offer: Have a contract or letter of invitation from a United States federal, state or local agency that is inviting you. The letter should mention the activities you will be carrying out, their location and duration, the total duration of your stay and your stipend in this period.
- Form DS-2019 (Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status). This will be issued by your sponsoring institution once they have ascertained your eligibility to take part in the Government Visitor Program.
- Receipt for Form DS-160 non-immigrant visa application. Once you apply for the DS-160 online and pay the visa fees of $160, you will receive a receipt which you must carry to the interview.
- SEVIS fee payment confirmation. This is normally $220. The sponsor may require you to pay this or pay it themselves and share the confirmation document with you.
- Photograph. A complete description of the format requirements is here.
- Consulate appointment confirmation.
You will be informed if you are required to furnish any other documents.
How much does a Government Visitor Program J1 visa cost?
The Government Visitor is coordinated directly by the appropriate government agency. The three main applicable fees are listed below —
DS-160 Non-Immigrant Visa Application processing fee: This is currently US$ 160 but may be subject to change. Check with the local US Embassy or Consulate for up-to-date fees.
SEVIS database. The cost of having your name entered in the SEVIS database is usually around $220.
Visa Issuance fee: In some countries, an additional Visa Issuance fee may be charged when the visa is issued and could be around $220. Check with the local US Embassy or Consulate for up-to-date fees.
The most challenging part of applying for a Government Visitor is the first step of finding an institution that will accept you into their teaching program.
Need more help?
If you still feel that you would like to have professional help in making your application or would like to consult a lawyer who specializes in immigration and visa matters, click here to see some of your options, including how to access our exclusive list of professional immigration lawyers.
If you have questions or would like clarifications, please send us an email and we’ll do our best to get back to you within 24 hours with an answer.