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Applying for a Visa
Applicants for exchange visitor visas should generally apply
at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate with jurisdiction over their
place of permanent residence. Although visa applicants may
apply at any U.S. consular office abroad, it may be more difficult
to qualify for the visa outside the country of permanent residence.
Required Documentation
Each applicant for an exchange visitor visa must pay a nonrefundable
US$100 application fee and submit:
1) Application forms as specified by the Consulate. Blank
forms are available without charge at all U.S. consular offices
or on-line at http://www.unitedstatesvisas.gov
or http://travel.state.gov/visaforms.html;
2) A passport valid for travel to the United States and with
a validity date at least six months beyond the applicant's
intended period of stay in the United States. If more than
one person is included in the passport, each person desiring
a visa must make an application;
3) Proof of payment of fees; and
4) A completed Form DS-2019.
Other Documentation
Applicants must demonstrate to the consular officer that they
have binding ties to a residence in a foreign country which
they have no intention of abandoning, and that they are coming
to the United States for a temporary period. It is impossible
to specify the exact form the evidence should take since applicants'
circumstances vary greatly.
More information about obtaining student visas may be found
on the following Department of State web sites:
http://www.unitedstatesvisas.gov
http://www.travel.state.gov/visa_services.html#niv
http://travel.state.gov/visa;foreignstuden.html
What Do I Need to Obtain an Exchange
Visitor "J" Visa?
The "J" exchange visitor program is designed to
promote the interchange of persons, knowledge, and skills
in the fields of education, arts, and sciences. Participants
include students at all academic levels; trainees obtaining
on-the-job training with firms, institutions, and agencies;
teachers of primary, secondary, and specialized schools; professors
coming to teach or do research at institutions of higher learning;
research scholars; professional trainees in the medical and
allied fields; and international visitors 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.
Background Requirements
Financial Resources
Participants in the "J" exchange visitor program
must have sufficient funds to cover all expenses, or funds
must be provided by the sponsoring organization in the form
of a scholarship or other stipend.
Scholastic Preparation
"J" exchange visitors must have sufficient scholastic
preparation to participate in the designated program, including
knowledge of the English language, or the exchange program
must be designed to accommodate non-English speaking participants.
Medical Education and Training
Exchange visitors coming under the "J" program
for graduate medical education or training must meet certain
special requirements. They include having passed the Foreign
Medical Graduate Examination in Medical Sciences, demonstrating
competency in English, being automatically subject to the
two-year foreign residence requirement (later), and being
subject to time limits on the duration of their program. Physicians
coming to the United States on exchange visitor programs for
the purpose of observation, consultation, teaching, or research
in which there is little or no patient care are not subject
to the above requirements.
Forms/Petitions
Participants in the "J" program must present a Form
DS-2019 prepared by a designated sponsoring organization.
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