International Scholars

J-1 Scholars – Exchange Visitor Information

The Exchange Visitor (J) non-immigrant visa category is for those individuals approved to participate in work- and study-based exchange visitor programs. The purpose of the program is to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries through educational and cultural exchanges. At the conclusion of their program, participants are expected to return to their home countries.

It is only appropriate for a professor or research scholar to come to the United States as an exchange visitor when the underlying purpose of his or her entry is to stimulate international collaborative teaching and/or research efforts or to promote interchange between research and educational institutions in the United States and other countries.

Many questions may be answered by reading the FAQs.