College and Student J-1 Visa

How to take a study break in the USA with a College and Student J-1 Visa

Eric had just finished school in Jakarta when a friend told him of the United States Exchange Visitor Program or EVP. It was designed, he was told, to encourage people from other cultures to visit the USA, with someone else footing most of the bill, and experience an exciting country while studying and working there.

“You mean I won’t need a visa?” Eric asked.

“You’ll need a J1 non-immigrant visa to USA,” his friend replied. “Probably the College and Student J-1 Visa.”

The College and Student exchange program is one of 15 EVP categories under which a J1 visa is issued. This program is specially designed for those who are currently studying or have recently graduated.

“How do I get one?” asked Eric.

“Well, first you’ll need a sponsor,” said the friend. To Eric, it was beginning to sound more and more complicated. Perhaps it was time he got some US Immigration advice.

You can apply for the College and Student J-1 Visa if you’re a student or have recently graduated, or if you are seeking an internship to satisfy a degree requirement in your home country.

The College and Student J-1 Visa might sound a lot like the F1 Student visa under which many students enter the USA. One key difference with the J1 visa is that you must be part of an exchange program and be funded substantially by sources other than personal or family funds. For example, you may have a scholarship from the United States or your country, some international organization of which the United States is a member, or an institutional sponsor or any other source. It just should not be your money or your family’s.

Application is a two-step process — first find a sponsor who is willing to accept you into their visitor exchange program; second, apply for the visa with that sponsor’s help every step of the way.

The College and Student J-1 Visa lets you stay for a period from a few weeks or several years, depending on the nature of your study or work requirements. Students joining a graduate course, for example, would be allowed to stay the duration of the course.

Finding a sponsor will probably be the most time-consuming and intensive part of your visa application. Fortunately, a complete list of approved sponsor organizations who manage exchange programs under the EVP is available online to get you started.

You can get more information on how to apply for the College and Student J-1 Visa, including how to find the best sponsors, from the detailed, user-friendly visa guides you can access when you buy one of our Visa Plans.

To consult an expert lawyer who specializes in US 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 about the College and Student J-1 Visa or would like clarifications about the J-1 Visa, please send us an email and we’ll do our best to get back to you within 24 hours with an answer.