J1 Visas - Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Yes! Any intern or trainee/ researcher position in the US required a J1 visa - even if it is unpaid.*

It’s important to note that Summer Work and Travel positions MUST be paid at least the minimum wage in the State in which the job takes place (unpaid work is not allowed on the Work and Travel Programme).

No!

The ESTA/ visa waiver is designed purely for the purposes of tourism and travel. Any work related activities for a US company undertaken on an ESTA is illegal and may result in your deportation and a potential ban on ESTA travel/ entry to the USA in the future

IN almost all cases the answer will be yes. Once you have been approved for the programme and received your legal documentation, you’ll need to schedule an interview at your local US Embassy or consulate. The fee for this interview is currently $185 US dollars and is separate from the programme and SEVIS fees

Unfortuantely No.

In order to be eligible for Summer Work and Travbel you must curently be attending full time university elvel studies (and provide proof of this).

For J1 Intern, you must also be in full time university study or recently graduated and planning on starting your programme in the United States within 12 months of graduating.

You can however apply for Camp Exchange - please see here for more details

SEVIS, which stands for Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, is a U.S. government database used to track non-immigrant international students and exchange visitors. Managed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), this system is essential for maintaining a record of these individuals throughout their stay in the United States. Key documents like the DS-2019 for exchange visitors (J visas) are issued through SEVIS, and both students and their dependents are monitored through the system. 

Currently the only programme where this is required as part of the application process is the Camp Exchange Programme.

We do not accept applications however on any programme from applicants with a criminal record.

When you apply for a J1 visa, you are doing so based on the information provided in your application. This includes the information for your proposed US Host Company.

Changes to US Host Comapnmies are only authorised in “extenuating circumstances” and must be authorised by your Legal Sponsor in the USA prior to you making any move.

If you change US Hosts without gaining authorisation, your programme will be terminated and you will need to leave the US immediately.

For Summer Work and Travel and Camp Exchange, you should not travel outside the USA during your programme.

For other programmes, you are allowed to do this (with some restrictions on the amount of time you are allowed to be outside the USA), but must get authorisation from your legal sponsor in advance.

Northern hemisphere students are restricted to Work and Travel during the summer holidays as this is when the main university holiday takes place.

In almost all cases the answer will be no unless the office is completely self contained and separate from the home. It must have a separate entrance and facilities and should not require access to the home for any work related reason. This is to ensure the safety of participants in the USA

Workers' compensation is an insurance program that provides medical and wage benefits to employees injured on the job. It is required for most J-1 visa holders because the J-1 visa program's regulations mandate that both the employer and the exchange visitor have adequate insurance coverage for work-related injuries or illnesses to protect them financially.

In almost all cases, J1 participants on our programmes are NOT subject to the 2 year rule. There is however, a specific rule on repeating J1 Intern and J1 Trainee Visa programmes - please see here for information.

Certain J-1 participants are subject to a two-year home-country residency requirement. This typically applies if your program is government-funded (by your country or the U.S.), is on your country's "Skills List," or is for graduate medical training. If this rule applies, you must return to your home country for a cumulative two years after your program. Until this requirement is fulfilled, you will be ineligible for certain employment-based or family-based U.S. visas, though travel to the U.S. on other visa types is generally still permitted.

What to Do if You Lose Your Passport on a J-1 Visa in the USA

Losing your passport while on your J-1 visa in the United States requires immediate action. Follow this essential two-part process to replace your document and protect your J-1 status.

Step 1: Contact Your Home Country's Embassy

Your first step is to report the lost passport to your home country's embassy or consulate.

• They will guide you on their specific process for issuing a replacement passport.

• You can find a list of all embassies in Washington, D.C. at Embassy.org.

Step 2: Contact Your J-1 Program Sponsor

You must also contact your J-1 sponsor immediately.

• Inform them that you lost your passport.

• You will need to request a new copy of your Form DS-2019 from your sponsor.

• You will likely need to present this new DS-2019 to your embassy to complete the process for your new passport.