Visa Types
Exchange Visitors
Anyone wishing to take up prearranged employment, training, or research in the United States under an officially approved program sponsored by an educational or other nonprofit institution requires a J-1 exchange visitor visa. Persons covered by these programs include:
- post-graduate students
- foreign medical graduates seeking to pursue graduate medical education or training
- foreign scholars sponsored by universities as temporary faculty
- some business trainees
In addition, there are several exchange visitor programs for young people, including:
- summer employment programs
- intern programs for university students
- au-pair programs
All exchange visitor programs in the United States are overseen by the Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
Doctors of Medicine
In order to perform services as a member of the medical profession or to receive graduate medical education in the United States, certain alien physicians are required to pass the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) Parts I and II, or an examination determined to be equivalent. More information is available from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates.
The Two-Year Foreign Residence Requirement
A former exchange visitor may not be issued an immigrant, fiancé(e), temporary worker, or intracompany transferee visa until he/she has resided and been physically present in the country of his/her nationality or last residence for at least two years following the termination of exchange visitor status if one or more of the following conditions applies:
- The program was financed in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, by an agency of the United States Government or by the Government of the country of the exchange visitor's nationality or last residence; or
- The exchange visitor was a national or resident of a country which the Secretary of State has designated as clearly requiring the services of persons engaged in the field of specialized knowledge or skills in which the alien was engaged during the exchange visitor program (no skills are currently listed as being required by Slovenia); or
- The exchange visitor was a physician who entered the United States to receive medical education or training (except those who participated in a program involving exclusively teaching research or consultation).
For information on obtaining a waiver of the J Visa Two-Year Foreign Residence Requirement, please follow this link.
Entry & Length of Stay
The holder of a J-1 exchange visitor visa may enter the United States up to 30 days before the designated start date listed on the Form DS-2019. The 30-day limitation does not apply to those returning to continue a program. The holder of a J-1 exchange visitor visa may remain in the United States for up to 30 days after the completion date listed on the Form DS-2019. If you wish to remain longer, you will be required to apply for an adjustment of status or an extension of stay from the office of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services having jurisdiction over your place of residence in the United States.
Spouses, Children, & Partners
Spouses and/or children under the age of 21 who wish to accompany or join the principal visa holder in the United States for the duration of his/her stay must obtain derivative J-2 visas. Spouses and/or children who do not intend to reside in the United States with the principal visa holder, but who intend to visit for vacations only, may be eligible to apply for B-2 visitor visas or to travel visa-free under the Visa Waiver Program.
More information for unmarried partners and common-law spouses.
J-2 versus F-1
There is no requirement that the spouse and/or children of a J-1 visa holder apply for an F-1 student visa if they wish to study in the U.S.; they may study on a J-2 visa. However if they are qualified, they may apply for the F-1 visa. If you have school age children, you should refer to the regulations governing the issuance of F-1 visas.
Working on a J-2 visa
The spouse of an exchange visitor may not work in the United States on a derivative J-2 visa unless permission has been obtained in advance from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. An application for permission to work can only be made after the J-2 visa holder's arrival in the United States and will be considered in light of policies then in effect.
I believe I qualify for a J visa, what do I do next?
The sponsoring organization in the United States will issue to you a Form DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status. The Form DS-2019 by itself is not sufficient for travel to the United States; it must also be accompanied by the appropriate visa.
Documents Required for J:
- Original Form DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status
- Proof of current employment or studies in Slovenia
Do you have a valid J-1 visa?
If you have a valid J-1 visa you may continue to use it provided:
- you are going to participate in the same exchange visitor program for which your visa was originally issued;
- you will arrive in the United States before the expiration date shown on your visa; and
- you will carry with you a valid IAP-66 or DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status, showing the same exchange visitor program number as the one shown on the visa.
If any of these three conditions are not met, then you will require a new J-1 visa.
For more information about exchange visitors programs, please see the following:
Please note that we can give no assurances in advance regarding the issuance of visas. Therefore, please do not make final travel plans or purchase nonrefundable tickets until a visa has been issued.