NONIMMIGRANT VISA SERVICES

J Academic Studies Exchange Visas

The J exchange visitor program is designed to promote the interchange of persons, knowledge and skills in the field of education, art and science. Participants include students of all academic levels. Trainees obtaining on-the-job training with firms, institutions and agencies. Teachers of primary, secondary and specialized schools. Professors coming to teach or do research at institutions of higher learning. Research scholars. Professional trainees in the medical and allied fields and international visitors coming for the purpose of travel, observation, consultation, research or demonstrating specialized knowledge or skills or organize people-to-people programs.

Participants in the J program must present a form DS-2019 prepared by a designated sponsoring organization.

Lebanese citizens and other nationals who wish to apply for student visas should follow the following steps:

• Register for an appointment at any branch of Credit Libanais Bank, where they must pay a $100 (or equivalent in Lebanese currency) non-refundable application fee. Both copies of the bank receipt must be presented at the time of the interview.
• Complete and sign DS-156 (electronic version) and DS-157 application forms, also obtainable from Credit Libanais Bank.
• All exchange visitors and their dependents must also complete and sign form DS-158, obtainable from the Embassy.
• Attach a recent photograph to the application.
• Possess a passport, signed by the applicant and with a validity date at least six months beyond the applicant's intended period of stay in the United States. (Note: If more than one person is included in the passport, each person desiring a visa must make a separate application.)
• Original, signed DS-2019 form.
• SEVIS electronic notification of approval.
• Evidence of funds to cover expenses in the United States, or certification that such funds will be provided by the sponsoring organization in the form of a scholarship or other stipend.
• Exchange visitors must have sufficient scholastic preparation to participate in the designated program, including knowledge of the English language, or the exchange program must be designed to accommodate non-English speaking participants.
• Applicants must establish to the satisfaction of the consular officer that they have binding ties to a residence in a foreign country which they have no intention of abandoning, and that they will depart the United States when they have completed their studies. It is impossible to specify the exact form the evidence should take since applicants' circumstances vary greatly.
• Original transcripts of grades from the three most recent years of study, including baccalaureate or university degree. All transcripts must be translated into English.
• TOEFL results if available.
• All applicants should bring a family extract showing the names of their parents and siblings, or, if married, a family extract showing the names of their spouse and children, with an English translation.
• Please be aware that U.S. regulations state that holders of J nonimmigrant visas will not be admitted to the United States until thirty days or less prior to the beginning of the program date, or start date, as given on the DS-2019. Please consider that date carefully when making travel plans to the United States.
  

Exchange visitors coming under the J program for graduate medical education or training must meet certain additional requirements. They include having passed the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination in medical sciences, demonstrating competency in English, being automatically subject to a two-year foreign residence requirement, and being subject to time limits on the duration of their program. Physicians coming to the United States on exchange visitor programs for the purpose of observation, consultation, teaching, or research in which there is little or no patient care are not subject to the above requirements.

The spouse and minor children of participants in J exchange programs may apply for derivative J visas to accompany or follow to join the principal alien by presenting a copy of the principal's DS-2019. They must demonstrate that they will have sufficient financial resources to cover all expenses while in the United States. In addition, J dependents may apply to the BCIS for authorization to accept employment in the U.S.

Employment while in J exchange visitor status depends upon the terms of the program. Participants in programs that provide for on-the-job training, teaching, research, or other activities that involve paid employment, may accept such employment. Participants in programs that do not involve work may not accept outside employment.

Note: Certain J exchange visitors who participate in programs which are financed in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, by an agency of the U.S. Government or by the exchange visitor's government, or who are nationals or residents of a country which has been designated by the exchange visitor program and designation staff as requiring the skills of the exchange visitor, must return to their country of nationality or last residence after completing their program in the United States, and reside there physically for two years before they may become eligible to apply for an immigrant or temporary work visa.

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