- For a company to hire an exchange visitor, they would have to reach out to a program sponsor to facilitate the process. “They’re going to vet you as a host organization to determine your eligibility to participate as a host,” according to Lisa Murray of the American Immigration Council. She said the council might participate in the vetting process.
- For the exchange visitors who want to participate in an exchange program, they must fill out an application with their educational background. The type of documents visitors are required to provide depends on the J-1 category. For example, a research scholar will have to provide an invitation letter that explicitly states the project in which they would be participating. An intern or trainee would need to provide an employment verification.
- The program sponsor will review all of the documentation.
- If the program sponsor approves the application, the visitor receives a DS 2019 form to present at their visa interview. The form is used by the prospective visitor to apply for a J-1 visa at the U.S. embassy or consulate. The visa is the document needed to be allowed entry into the United States.
- Wait times at the embassy can be “the biggest unknown variable,” according to Murray of the American Immigration Council. But the State Department website shows the wait times for various embassies and consulates.
- An exchange visitor will be financially responsible for costs including program sponsorship and visa application fees, travel expenses, accommodations, sickness/accident group insurance and daily expenses such as food and transportation.
The J-1 visa process
The application, the documentation and the ‘biggest unknown variable’