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General
Visa Information Non-Immigrant
Visas How To Apply
Visa Type Tourism/Business
Student
Medical Patient
Domestic Employee
(Maid) Crew Members Exchange
Visitors Temporary
Worker Other Get Your Photo
Complete
and Submit Application Schedule an
Appointment Schedule
an Expedited Appointment Gather Your
Supporting Documents Application
Checklist Go to Your
Interview What Happens
Next When You
Arrive in the U.S. Immigrant Visas
Check Visa
Wait Times

VISAS TO THE U.S.

Step 1: Determine the Appropriate Type of
Visa

Exchange Visitor

General Information

The "J" Exchange Visitor Program promotes the exchange of
persons, knowledge, and skills in the fields of education, arts, and
sciences. Participants in this program 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 going to the U.S. for the purpose of travel, observation,
consultation, research, training, sharing, or demonstrating
specialized knowledge or skills, or participating in organized
people-to-people programs.

Special Requirements

Scholastic Preparation

"J" exchange visitors must have sufficient scholastic preparation
and knowledge of the English language to enable them to undertake a
full course of study in the institution of learning or other place
of study at which they have been accepted. If an applicant's
knowledge of English is inadequate to enable him/her to pursue a
full course of study, he/she must submit documentation that special
arrangements have been made for English language tutoring by the
receiving institution.

Medical Education and Training

Exchange visitors participating in the "J" program for graduate
medical education or training must meet certain special
requirements. These requirements include: having passed the Foreign
Medical Graduate Examination in Medical Sciences, demonstrating
English competency, being willing to fulfill the two-year foreign
residence requirement (upon completion of studies), and agreeing to
the time limitations based on the duration of their program.
Physicians going 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.

If you are planning to study in the U.S. under the J visa
category, you must pay an initial fee to register with the Student
and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).  Please visit
the SEVIS
fee webpage for information on paying the fee online, through
Western Union, or normal mail.  All J visa applicants must
present their I-901 SEVIS fee receipt at the time of their visa
interview.

Go to Step 2: Get Your Photo

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