‎J-1 Trainee Visa

The J1 visa is required for Public School High School, Internship, Trainee, Au Pair, Work Experience USA and Camp Counselors USA programs.

A valid passport is the document required to enter a foreign country and must contain an entry visa for some countries. In the case of the J1 visa, it is necessary for some exchange modalities in the United States.

The request for the J1 visa by the Brazilian exchange student is made at the American embassy or its consulates in Brazil. However, if you are an Intercultural customer, do not worry. Our visa advisor, like all his market expertise, applies to you. You just need to gather the documentation. Check it out below.

Who needs the J1 visa

The exchange visitor visa category (J) is given to persons approved to participate in exchange visitor programs in the US.

This means that before you can apply for a J visa at the Embassy or Consulates, you need to apply, fulfill the requirements and be accepted into one of the categories of Exchange Visitor Programs through a designated sponsoring organization.

This sponsor can be an organization designated by the US Department of State, in the case of work exchanges: Work and Travel (Work Experience USA), Internship, Trainee, Au Pair and for Camp Counselors USA.

Alternatively, the sponsor may be an educational institution, in the case of students in American public schools (High School program), graduate students, foreign medical graduates seeking graduate and specialization in medicine, foreign academics sponsored by universities as temporary professors and some trainee professionals. (Source: US Embassy in Brazil).

How to get the J1 visa

After your approval in the desired program, the sponsoring organization will give you the declaration of acceptance of the vacancy, which can be a letter of offer (job offer) or a letter of offer (letter of offer), depending on the program.

Attention, because the organization needs to be authorized by the US government to issue residence permits for students.

The sponsoring institution must also register you in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System - SEVIS and provide you with the DS-2019 form, proof of your registration in the System.

In addition, the length of stay of the participant in the United States varies according to the conditions of the program in which he will participate.

However, as the process requires many details and, eventually, there may be changes in the requirements of each country, it is recommended to confirm the information with the US government, in addition to hiring the Intercultural Visa Advisory service.

J visa

The exchange visitor visa category J is given to persons approved to participate in exchange visitor programs in the US under US immigration law.

This means that before you can apply for a US type J visa at the Embassy or Consulate, you must apply, fulfill the requirements and be accepted into one of the categories of Exchange Visitor Programs through a designated sponsoring organization.

If you are accepted as a participant in the program, the sponsor will provide you with the information and documentation necessary to apply for a J visa to enter the US.

J1 visa

Those seeking a job placement as an Au Pair need to apply for a J1 exchange visa. The application must be made through the sponsorship of an exchange program approved and supervised by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

The J1 visa offers numerous opportunities for international applicants who want to travel and gain experience in the United States. The multifaceted programs allow foreigners to come to the United States for a variety of reasons, such as:

To teach;

Studying;

Conduct research;

Demonstrate special skills;

Receive on-the-job training for periods ranging from a few weeks to several years.

How does the J1 visa work?

To apply for the J1 visa, people must already have a pre-arranged role, training or research within an officially approved program, and sponsored by an educational institution or other non-profit institution.

How long does J1 last?

2 years

As a rule, 2 years, after this period, you must return to your country. However, J1 visa holders can extend their stay on US soil. If this is your intention to stay longer, either to continue studying or to be able to work in the country, you can apply for an exemption from the 2-year rule.

What is the difference between J1 and F1 visas?

During recess periods, students who have F1 status can work full-time. The students who can

Those with J1 status can also work full-time, however they will need permission from their Alternate Parent.

J-1 Visa Requirements

J-1 visa applicants must submit multiple documents to meet visa requirements. Applicants must participate in a program managed by a designated sponsoring organization. Designated sponsors include organizations such as universities, private companies, or government agencies that administer individual J-1 exchange programs. Each of these programs has its own set of specific criteria that applicants must meet. All J-1 visa participants must be proficient in English enough to meet the particular requirements of their program. Applicants are also required to have medical insurance and must pay all appropriate program fees. These fees may include those required by the individual program sponsor, Department of Homeland Security fee, processing fees, as well as applicable visa insurance fees. The amount of the fee varies depending on the specific programs the candidate will participate in.

The first step to be eligible for a J1 visa is to apply for and be accepted into one of the thousands of Student and Exchange Visitor Programs (SEVP) made available and sponsored each year by various institutions across the United States.

Once you have been accepted for an exchange program in the country, you can start applying for a J1 visa. For this, you must have the DS-2019 form issued by the exchange program.

The US government mandates that the J1 visa may be issued to anyone who intends to perform a prearranged role, training or research within an officially approved program sponsored by an educational or other non-profit institution.”

Can I work on the J1 visa?

People who hold the J1 visa will be able to participate in internship programs for universities, summer jobs and Au Pair.

How long can I stay in the US on a J1 visa?

As a rule, 2 years, after this period, you must return to your country.

However, J1 visa holders can extend their stay on US soil.

If this is your intention to stay longer, either to continue studying or to be able to work in the country, you can apply for an exemption from the 2-year rule.

US immigration evaluates each case and decides whether you can stay in the country.

The J1 visa contains the following statement: “The holder is or is not subject to section 212(e)”. Which means whether or not you are on the 2-year rule.

If on your visa, the information is that the rule applies to Brazil, you need to return here and stay for the 2 years provided.

In these two years, you cannot live or work there.

However, during this period, you can return to the United States for leisure, using a B1/B2 visa, which is the tourist visa.

If your J1 visa states that the rule does not apply, this means that you can apply for a stay in the country.

Can I bring my dependents?

If you are married and going to the United States to take part in one of the programs mentioned above, you can have the company of your spouse.

For this, he/she must obtain the J2 visa, which is the visa for accompanying persons holding the J1 visa.

What can I do with the J2 visa?

The J2 visa holder can study or work in the United States, with specific authorization from the US government for such purposes.

Upon arrival in the United States, before starting to look for work, you should contact the international department of the university to which your husband/wife is affiliated.