J-1 Exchange Visitor

The J1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa that offers the opportunity to foreign nationals to come ot the United States for a period of time to promote cultural or educational exchange. There are a variety of fields in which J1 visas permit these foreigners to experience American lifestyles and/or education.. These include camp counselors, au pairs, physicians, secondary school students, short-term scholars, professors, teachers, government visitors, international visitors, and college students.

The J1 visa allows visitors to remain in the United States for a period of time dependant on the program they are in. For example, au pairs can remain for a year, while teachers can stay and teach for up to three years.before returning to their native countries.

All J1 visa holders are registered with the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), which monitors the exchange programs.