Eligibility

There are different categories of the J-1 visa that are based on the exchange visitor’s previous academic and professional experience. As the J-1 visa sponsor, IA&A reviews the exchange visitor’s experience and will determine which category of the J-1 visa is the best fit for the exchange visitor and their proposed program in the United States.

Regardless of J-1 visa category, all exchange visitors must possess sufficient proficiency in the English language to successfully participate in their program and function on a day-to-day basis.

The J-1 intern visa gives foreign university students and recent graduates the opportunity to gain exposure to American culture while receiving hands-on experience in their field of study. The maximum period of stay on the J-1 intern visa is 12 months.

An exchange visitor may be eligible for the J-1 intern visa if they are currently enrolled full-time at a post-secondary academic institution outside the United States, or if they have graduated from such an institution no more than 12 months prior to the date that the internship begins. The degree received from the institution must be in a field related to the desired J-1.