NonimmigrantExchange programForm DS-2019SEVIS feeTwo-year rule may applySponsor-based

J-1 Exchange Visitor

For participants in State Department-designated exchange programs — students, scholars, researchers, physicians, teachers, interns, trainees, au pairs and others.

Last reviewed Oct 1, 2026Sources: Department of State · ICE / SEVP · GovInfoReport an error

At a glance

Key document: Form DS-2019 from a designated program sponsor
Program categories: 15 programs, from au pair to trainee
SEVIS I-901 fee: $220 ($35 for au pair, camp counselor, summer work travel)
Visa application (MRV) fee: $185; none for U.S. government-sponsored programs
Two-year home residency: Applies to some participants under INA 212(e)
Grace period: 30 days after the program end date

Duration of status: final rule postponed by a court. DHS’s July 17, 2026 final rule would admit J-1 exchange visitors only until the DS-2019 end date (maximum 4 years), with extensions filed with USCIS. A federal court postponed the rule nationwide on Sept. 14, 2026, the day before it was due to take effect. J-1 visitors continue to be admitted for duration of status while the litigation continues.

Overview

The J-1 classification is for foreign nationals approved to take part in exchange visitor programs designated by the Department of State. Programs are run by sponsors — universities, government agencies, hospitals, and private organizations — that issue Form DS-2019 and manage the participant’s SEVIS record. The State Department lists 15 programs, including college and university student, research scholar, professor, short-term scholar, physician, teacher, intern, trainee, au pair, camp counselor and summer work travel.

J-1 visitors are currently admitted for duration of status — the length of the program on the DS-2019, plus 30 days to depart. Each category has its own maximum length set by State Department regulations, and the sponsor can extend the program within those limits.

Some J-1 visitors are subject to the two-year home-country physical presence requirement of INA 212(e), which bars H, L and immigrant visas and permanent residence until they spend two years in their home country or obtain a waiver; the State Department adds that it also blocks K visas and changing status inside the United States.

Who qualifies

To qualify, the participant must

Be accepted into a designated exchange visitor program and receive Form DS-2019 from the sponsor
Meet the category’s requirements (e.g., English proficiency, academic or professional background, age limits for au pairs and camp counselors)
Have sufficient funds or sponsor support, and medical insurance as required by the program
Intend to return home after the program and pay the SEVIS I-901 fee unless exempt

Two-year home residency (212(e)) applies if

The program was financed in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, by the U.S. government or the participant’s home government
The participant’s field is on the Exchange Visitor Skills List for their country of nationality or residence
The participant came to receive graduate medical education or training

Duration & extensions

Earliest entry	30 days before the program start date
Period of admission	Duration of status — the DS-2019 program period
Category limits	Set by State Department regulations for each category; sponsors may extend within them
After the program	30 days to prepare for departure
Two-year rule	If subject, two years of physical presence in the home country before an H, L, K or immigrant visa, permanent residence or a change of status
Postponed rule (not in effect)	DS-2019 end date up to 4 years; extensions through USCIS

Fees

Government fees a J-1 applicant typically pays. Sponsors often charge their own program fees.

Fee	Amount	Who pays	Notes
SEVIS I-901 fee — most J categories	$220	Participant or sponsor	J-2 dependents do not pay
SEVIS I-901 fee — au pair, camp counselor, summer work travel	$35	Participant or sponsor	Reduced rate per SEVP’s I-901 FAQ; no fee for federally sponsored programs with codes starting G-1, G-2, G-3 or G-7
Visa application (MRV) fee	$185	Participant	Waived for U.S. government-sponsored programs with serial numbers beginning G-1, G-2, G-3 or G-7
Visa Integrity Fee	$250 (statutory minimum)	Participant	Created by Pub. L. 119-21, sec. 100007 (8 U.S.C. 1806): at least $250, required by statute at visa issuance, not waivable, possibly reimbursable after the visa expires if all conditions are met. The State Department’s fee page did not list it as of Oct. 1, 2026; follow the embassy’s payment instructions.
Form I-612 (212(e) waiver on hardship or persecution)	$1,100	Participant	Every waiver request starts with Form DS-3035; hardship and persecution requests also require Form I-612 filed with USCIS
Form I-765 (J-2 work permit)	$520 paper	J-2 dependent	Category (c)(5)

Amounts from the SEVP I-901 page, the State Department fee page and USCIS Form G-1055 (edition 10/01/26) as of Oct. 1, 2026.

Processing time

Earliest entry: 30 days; Before the DS-2019 program start date
Premium processing (I-539 to J-1/J-2): 30 business days; For change of status inside the U.S.; fee $2,075

Consular wait times vary by post. USCIS times for J-2 work permits and waivers vary; check USCIS processing times.

Application steps

1
Get accepted by a sponsor
Apply to a designated exchange program. The sponsor’s responsible officer issues Form DS-2019 and creates the SEVIS record.
2
Pay the SEVIS I-901 fee
Pay $220 ($35 for au pair, camp counselor and summer work travel) unless the sponsor pays or the program is federally sponsored (G-1, G-2, G-3 or G-7), which pays no fee.
3
Apply for the visa
Complete Form DS-160, pay the fee (if applicable), and interview, generally in the country of nationality or residence. J applicants are instructed to set social-media profiles to public.
4
Check the two-year rule
If it is unclear whether 212(e) applies, the State Department’s Waiver Review Division can issue an advisory opinion.
5
Enter and participate
Enter no more than 30 days before the program start. Follow program rules, keep insurance, and report changes to the sponsor.
6
Depart, extend or transfer
Leave within 30 days of the program end, or have the sponsor extend or transfer the program before it ends.

Required documents

For the visa interview

Valid passport
Form DS-160 confirmation page
Form DS-2019 signed by the responsible officer
SEVIS I-901 fee receipt (unless exempt)
MRV fee receipt (unless exempt)
Training/internship placement plan (Form DS-7002) for intern and trainee categories
Evidence of funding and home ties

Dependents & family

The spouse and unmarried children under 21 of a J-1 may receive J-2 status. Unlike F-2 and M-2 dependents, J-2 dependents may apply to USCIS for employment authorization on Form I-765, but their income may not be used to support the J-1. If the J-1 is subject to the two-year rule, J-2 dependents are subject to it as well.

Path to a green card

J-1 is not a dual-intent status. Whether a green card is possible depends first on the two-year home residency requirement.

Step 1

Confirm 212(e) status

If not subject to the two-year rule, a J-1 may pursue H-1B, O-1 or immigrant options like other nonimmigrants.

Step 2

Fulfil or waive the requirement

Waiver bases in INA 212(e): a no-objection statement from the home government (not for medical graduates), an interested U.S. government agency request, a state public health department request (Conrad 30, medical graduates), exceptional hardship to a U.S. citizen or LPR spouse or child, or persecution.

Step 3

Petition for permanent residence

After the requirement is met or waived, an employer, family or self-petition can lead to adjustment of status or an immigrant visa.

The 2024 Skills List removed many countries; J visitors subject to the rule only under the 2009 list are no longer subject to it if their country is not on the new list.

F-1

Academic Student

For degree study without an exchange sponsor.

H-1B

Specialty Occupation Worker

Barred until 212(e) is met or waived, if applicable.

O-1A

Extraordinary Ability

Not barred by 212(e); common for researchers.

H-3

Trainee

Alternative for structured training programs.

EB-2

Advanced Degree / NIW

Common green-card route for scholars after 212(e).

Common questions

Who is subject to the two-year home residency requirement?

J visitors whose program was funded by the U.S. or home government, whose skill appears on the Exchange Visitor Skills List for their country, or who came for graduate medical education or training (INA 212(e)).

Can a J-2 spouse work?

Yes, after USCIS approves Form I-765. The income may not be used to support the J-1 principal.

How much is the SEVIS fee for J-1?

$220 for most categories, $35 for au pair, camp counselor and summer work travel participants, and nothing for federally sponsored programs whose codes start with G-1, G-2, G-3 or G-7.

Did the J-1 duration-of-status change take effect?

No. The DHS final rule was postponed nationwide by a Sept. 14, 2026 court order, so J-1 visitors continue to be admitted for duration of status for now.

Is a J-1 visa affected by the 2026 travel restrictions?

Yes. Proclamation 10998 suspends J visas for nationals of the 38 restricted countries listed in it, subject to exceptions and waivers.

Official sources

Recent changes

Sep 18, 2026
Online-presence vetting expanded. The State Department added I, TN and TD applicants (effective Oct. 1, 2026) to its online-presence vetting, which already covered F, M and J (and F-2, M-2, J-2) applicants. Applicants in covered classes are instructed to set social-media profiles to “public.” Source ↗
Sep 14, 2026
Fixed-admission rule postponed nationwide. In Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration v. DHS (No. 1:26-cv-13799), the court granted relief under 5 U.S.C. § 705 postponing the effective date of DHS’s final rule ending duration of status for F, J and I nonimmigrants, one day before it was due to take effect. Duration of status remains in place while the case continues. Source ↗
Jul 30, 2026
Proposed J-1 termination and extension rule. Proposed rule (RIN 1400-AF23) would clarify when sponsors must terminate a program, expand the Department’s termination authority, modernize extension and reinstatement procedures and define “unauthorized employment.” Not yet final. Source ↗
Jul 17, 2026
Final rule replaces duration of status with fixed admission periods. Published final rule (RIN 1653-AA95) admitting F and J nonimmigrants for their program length up to 4 years, shortening the F-1 post-completion departure period from 60 to 30 days, and requiring extensions of stay through USCIS. Announced effective date: Sept. 15, 2026 (since postponed by court order). Source ↗
Jul 15, 2026
Apply in country of nationality or residence. Nonimmigrant visa applicants should schedule interviews at the U.S. embassy or consulate in their country of nationality or residence; fees paid for applications made elsewhere are not refunded or transferred. Source ↗
Mar 1, 2026
Premium processing fees adjusted for inflation. DHS final rule (published Jan. 12, 2026) raised premium processing fees effective March 1, 2026, including $1,780 for OPT/STEM OPT Form I-765 requests and $2,075 for Form I-539 requests to change to F, J or M status. Source ↗
Jan 1, 2026
Expanded travel restrictions take effect. Proclamation 10998 fully suspends entry for nationals of 19 countries and holders of Palestinian Authority travel documents, and suspends B-1/B-2, F, M and J visas (plus immigrant visas) for nationals of 19 more countries. Visas issued before Jan. 1, 2026 were not revoked. Source ↗
Oct 1, 2025
Interview waivers narrowed. Nearly all nonimmigrant visa applicants, including those under 14 and over 79, now require an in-person interview. Waivers remain mainly for diplomatic/official classes and certain B-1/B-2, BCC and H-2A renewals within 12 months of a prior full-validity visa’s expiration. Source ↗
Aug 28, 2025
Proposed rule to end duration of status. DHS proposed replacing duration-of-status admission for F, J and I nonimmigrants with fixed admission periods. Source ↗
Jun 9, 2025
Travel restrictions on 19 countries take effect. Proclamation 10949 suspended entry for nationals of 12 countries and suspended B, F, M and J visas (plus immigrant visas) for nationals of 7 more, effective 12:01 a.m. EDT June 9, 2025. Source ↗
Dec 9, 2024
Revised Exchange Visitor Skills List. A new Skills List replaced the 2009 list. J visitors who were subject to the two-year rule only because of the old list are no longer subject to it if their country is not on the 2024 list. Source ↗

This page is general reference material compiled from the official sources above and is not legal advice. Eligibility depends on individual facts; rules and fees change, so confirm with the agency before you file. VisaTypes.com is not affiliated with USCIS, the Department of State or any government agency. Spotted an error? Tell us.