Tourist & Student Visa Plan : International Visitor Program
The International Visitor Program is a people-to-people program under the EVP and is perfect if you are a specialist of distinction, nationally or internationally, recognized as a leader or seen as having great promise and potential in your field of specialization.
International 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 International 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 International Visitor Program visa?
The International Visitor Program is a people-to-people program under the EVP and is perfect if you are a specialist of distinction, nationally or internationally, recognized as a leader or seen as having great promise and potential in your field of specialization. The goal of the International Visitor program is to develop and strengthen professional and personal ties between such foreign nationals and Americans and American institutions.
The International Visitor Program is structurally similar to the Government 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.
As an International Visitor with a J1 visa, you would be engaged in consultation, observation, research, training or demonstration of special skills. You would participate in observation tours, discussions, consultations, professional meetings, conferences, workshops and travel as a way to better understand US culture and society.
It’s important to note that unlike EVP categories, you cannot initiate the application for participating in the International Visitor Program. Individuals and experts of distinction in their field will be selected and invited by the US Department of State to participate in various pre-planned and hosted activities in the United States.
In practice, however, an invitation under the International Visitor Program may arise through your conversations and interactions with professional colleagues, institutions, groups or agencies in the United States. A plan to visit the United States for specific activities may emerge from these interactions. At this point the US Department of State 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 an International Visitor Program J1 visa?
- Be either a recognized national or international expert or a potential expert in an area of special knowledge of skill.
- Be selected by the US Department of State.
- Be invited by that agency to carry out a pre-planned activity that could include consultation, observation, research, training or demonstration of special skills.
How long can you stay in the USA with an International Visitor Program J1 visa?
With a J1 visa under the International 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 12 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 an International Visitor Program J1 visa?
You cannot apply for admission to the International Visitor Program. The invitation must originate from the US Department of State after it has determined that you are a specialist of recognized or potential distinction 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 between you and institutions, individuals, colleagues and others in the United States. It would then lead to an official invitation from the US Department of State, which would designate one of 14 approved sponsor agencies 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 14 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 International 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 an International 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 an institution, group or association 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 International 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 $220. The sponsor may require you to pay this, or pay it themselves and share the confirmation document with you.
- Photograph. A complete description of the format requirements is here.
- Consulate appointment confirmation.
How much does an International Visitor Program J1 visa cost?
The International Visitor is coordinated directly by the appropriate government agency. The three main applicable fees are listed below —
DS-160 Non-Immigrant Visa Application processing fee: This is currently US$ 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 an International 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.