VisaPalJ-1 exchange visitor visa
Researchers, professors, students, interns, trainees, teachers, au pairs, physicians and others joining a sponsor's exchange program.
Last verified: 2026-09-25
Requirements
- Form DS-2019 from a State Department–designated program sponsor
- SEVIS I-901 fee: $220 for most; $35 for au pairs, camp counselors and Summer Work Travel
- Meet your category's limits (for example, interns 12 months, trainees 18 months, researchers 5 years)
- Health insurance for you and any J-2 family, as your sponsor requires
- State Dept vets online presence and asks F, M and J applicants to set social media to public
How long you can stay
Right now J-1s are admitted for the program dates on the DS-2019 plus 30 days to leave. Program length limits depend on your category. A rule to switch to a fixed date (max 4 years) was postponed by a court on Sep 14, 2026.
Timeline
Your sponsor issues the DS-2019, then you pay the SEVIS fee, file the DS-160 and interview. Seoul's F/M/J interview wait was under half a month (Sep 17, 2026). Sponsor processing time varies. Check current times.
Government fees
| Fee | Amount | Who usually pays |
|---|---|---|
| SEVIS I-901 fee $35 for au pair, camp counselor and Summer Work Travel; no fee for government visitor programs. | $220 | Applicant |
| Visa application fee (MRV) No fee for official U.S. government-sponsored exchanges (program numbers starting G-1, G-2, G-3 or G-7). | $185 | Applicant |
| J-2 work permit (Form I-765), only if needed Paper filing $520; online filing $470. | $520 | Applicant |
| Two-year rule waiver review (State Dept), only if needed | $120 | Applicant |
| Change to J-1 inside the U.S. (Form I-539), only if needed Paper filing $470; online filing $420. Premium processing ($2,075) is available for changes to J-1/J-2. | $470 | Applicant |
Korean citizens pay no J-1 visa issuance fee. Pub. L. 119-21 also requires a visa integrity fee of at least $250 when a visa is issued. It wasn't listed as collected on Sep 25, 2026.
Typical attorney fees
For a two-year rule waiver, one public price page lists $2,500 for a no-objection waiver. It lists $5,500 for hardship, persecution or government-agency waivers. Government fees are extra.
Spouse & children
Spouses and children under 21 get J-2. A J-2 can work only after USCIS approves an EAD, and the income can't be needed to support the J-1.
Work
J-1s may work only as part of their program, paid by the sponsor or host. Changes go through your sponsor with an updated DS-2019. Unauthorized work can end your program.
Path to a green card
If the two-year rule applies, you generally can't get a green card or H or L status yet. First you'd spend two years in your home country or get a waiver. Options people in similar situations often explore: a waiver, then O-1 or EB-2 NIW. Confirm with a licensed attorney.
Note for Korean applicants
South Korea isn't on the Exchange Visitor Skills List published Dec 9, 2024. So that list alone doesn't trigger the two-year home residency rule for Koreans. It can still apply if the U.S. or Korean government funded your program, or if you came for graduate medical training. For Korean citizens, a J-1 visa has no issuance fee and can be valid for up to 60 months.
Key documents
- Form DS-2019 from your sponsor
- SEVIS I-901 payment confirmation
- DS-160 confirmation page and passport
- Proof of funding and health insurance
- Records of who funded your program (for the two-year rule)
Common pitfalls
- Not checking whether the two-year rule applies before planning H-1B or a green card
- Professors and research scholars can't return in those categories for 2 years after their program
- A J-2 working before the EAD is approved
- Staying past the DS-2019 end date plus 30 days without a sponsor extension
- Working outside your program, which can end it
Rules in flux
DHS published a final rule on Jul 17, 2026 to end 'duration of status' (D/S) for F and J. Instead, you'd get a fixed stay up to your program length, capped at 4 years. It would also cut the F-1 grace period after study or OPT from 60 to 30 days. It limits school transfers and changes of major or degree level, too. On Sep 14, 2026, a federal court in Massachusetts postponed the rule and barred DHS from implementing it. USCIS says it follows the previous rules for now.
On Jul 30, 2026, the State Department proposed changes to J-1 program rules. They clarify when a sponsor must end a program and let State end one in limited cases. They rewrite the extension and reinstatement steps and define 'unauthorized employment'. They also remove the separate au pair extension rule. Comments are open until Sep 28, 2026. Not in effect.
Pub. L. 119-21, signed Jul 4, 2025, requires a fee of at least $250 when a nonimmigrant visa is issued. It can't be waived and rises with inflation each year. The law allows a refund later in some cases if you follow all visa rules. USCIS said in Jul 2025 the fee needs cross-agency setup and would come in a future notice. On Sep 25, 2026, the State Department fee page did not list it.
The State Department reviews the online presence of applicants in several visa types and tells them to set all social media profiles to "public". This already applies to F, M, J, H-1B, H-4, K, Q, R and some others. From Oct 1, 2026 it also covers I, TN and TD.
Official sources
- 22 CFR Part 62 — Exchange Visitor Program — eCFR
- 8 CFR 214.2 as in effect on Sep 14, 2026 (rules USCIS applies while the F/J fixed-admission rule is postponed) — eCFR
- 8 CFR 214.13 — SEVIS fee for certain F, J, and M nonimmigrants — eCFR
- 22 CFR 22.1 — Schedule of fees for consular services — eCFR
- Public Notice of Revised Exchange Visitor Skills List (Dec 9, 2024) — Federal Register
- Fee Schedule (Form G-1055), edition 09/09/26 — USCIS
- How Do I Request Premium Processing? — USCIS
- U.S. Visa: Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country — South Korea — U.S. Department of State
- Global Visa Wait Times (updated 17-SEP-2026) — U.S. Department of State
- Announcement of Expanded Screening and Vetting for Visa Applicants (Jun 18, 2025) — U.S. Department of State
- Important Visa Information — U.S. Embassy & Consulate in the Republic of Korea — U.S. Embassy Seoul
- J-1 Visa Exchange Visitor Program — U.S. Department of State
- Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for Nonimmigrant Academic Students, Exchange Visitors, and Representatives of Foreign Information Media (final rule, Jul 17, 2026) — Federal Register
- Public Law 119-21 (HR-1), sec. 100007 Visa integrity fee — U.S. Government Publishing Office
General information, not legal advice. Rules change often. Check the official source and talk to a licensed immigration attorney before you act.