J-1

visa for cultural exchanges

The Exchange Visitor Program fosters global understanding through educational and cultural exchanges.  All exchange visitors are expected to return to their home country upon completion of their program in order to share their exchange experiences.  There are many different types of J-1 visas, including the following: 

• Au Pair

• Camp Counselor

• College and University Student

• Government Visitor

• Intern

• International Visitor

• Physician

• Professor and Research Scholar

• Secondary School Student

• Short-Term Scholar

• Specialist

• Summer Work Travel

• Teacher

• Trainee

Certain exchange visitors (J-1) are subject to a two-year home-country physical presence requirement which requires you to return to your home country for at least two years at the end of your exchange visitor program.  It is possible to obtain a waiver of the two-year home-country physical presence requirement through the Department of Homeland Security.