How American Universities Evaluate Your Academic Credentials

If you're planning on applying to American universities or colleges, make sure you understand how a U.S. college evaluates your academic credentials. The process usually differs a bit from the procedures that U.S. students must follow. Most importantly, the application process takes a bit more time.

Each U.S. college makes is own admissions decisions

In many countries, the education system is nationalized and so, in your country, it is probably the Ministry of Education, or some similar body, that determines if foreign applicants can attend school there. However, in the U.S., there is no national or centralized agency that makes such decisions. The U.S. education system is competitive, and each U.S. college and university sets its own standards for admission, reviews your previous education and academic performance, and determines if you meet their standards.

There are lots of American colleges to choose from

Because U.S. colleges and universities operate in a competitive market, some schools are very particular about whom they will accept. Other colleges in the U.S. will accept just about anyone as long as they can pay their tuition. This allows for a wide variety of schools as well as ample opportunity for anyone to find a school where they can pursue further education.
With such diversity, American colleges and universities are generally classified as highly selective, selective, somewhat selective, or open admission (institutions that can admit students regardless of their previous academic performance). The level of selectivity that a school follows is based on many factors, and since each college and university has its own admission criteria, your academic credentials may meet the standards at some institutions but not at others.

How do U.S. colleges evaluate foreign educations?

Most U.S. schools have their own staff members evaluate your previous education, but there are some that may require you to send your academic records to an outside agency that specializes in providing evaluations of non-U.S. educations. If an outside agency is used, an institution may specify a particular agency, or it may provide you with a list of several agencies and ask you to choose one. These agencies are only responsible for assessing your previous education and providing the school with their evaluation. The final decision about whether or not to admit you is entirely up the U.S.A. university or college.
It's vital that you pay close attention to the instructions on each application you submit and that you follow the instructions carefully. If you're applying to more than one institution, you may have different instructions for each one. Don't assume that all American universities have the same requirements.

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Attending American Universities: Entering and Leaving the U.S. on a Student Visa

So, you obtained your visa and have permission to enter the United States to study at a U.S. college. Are you wondering what happens next?

When heading to American universities, first things first

For starters, you can finally start making your travel plans and packing your bags for school. However, don't plan to arrive in the U.S. more than 30 days prior to the start of your program or you may be turned away at the border. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security precludes new students from entering the country and going to American universities more than 30 days prior to the start of school. (Continuing students may enter the U.S. at any time before their classes start.)
Colleges in the U.S. often do not mind if you wish to arrive earlier, but you'll need to obtain a visitor visa in addition to your student visa, and it will need to clearly note your intention to study in the U.S. later on. However, before you start school, you'll also need to change your visa classification by submitting a Form I-539 (Application for Change of Nonimmigrant Status) and a Form I-20 to the Department of Homeland Security. Doing this will cost you an additional fee and you won't be able to begin school until the change of classification is approved.
Assuming you choose to arrive in the United States on your student visa, make sure that you take all of your paperwork with you, including your visa, your copies of the I-20 that the school sent you, and your passport. Make sure before you leave home that your passport is up to date and valid for at least 6 months AFTER you are scheduled to finish your studies.
It's a good idea to keep a photocopy of your passport in case you lose it. The photocopy will make it easier to replace your passport if you need to do so. You should also have your proof of financial support and permanent residence abroad in case you are asked to show them. Keep this paperwork with you at all times while you're traveling—don't stow it away in your checked luggage!

When traveling to a U.S. college, you have to cross the border

Even if you have a visa in hand, you could still be turned away at the border. The Department of Homeland Security has the authority to permit or deny admission into the U.S. If you don't have the proper documentation or don't comply with procedures, you may be refused admission.
American colleges want you to feel "at home" in your new surroundings, but there are some restrictions. You'll need to fill out a standard Customs Declaration form (CF-6059) to disclose any items you're bringing into the country that must be reported (the form will identify the types of things you need to disclose). You'll also need to provide the address where you'll actually be living in the United States (NOT the address of the school), your passport, and your I-20.
You'll then be issued an Arrival-Departure Record (an I-94) that will have your arrival date recorded in it. Your I-94 keeps track of your comings and goings in and out of the United States. It is a very important document that you should keep with your passport, I-20, proof of permanent residence, and proof of financial resources. Each time you leave the country and come back, you'll likely need to show all of these documents.

Smile for the camera, you're enrolled in a U.S. college

Depending on where you enter the country, the customs agents may use a digital scanner to scan your fingerprints. Your digital photograph will also be taken, and both your fingerprints and your photo will be matched with those on your visa to verify your identity.
These procedures, known as biometrics, will eventually be in use at all entry points as part of the Department of Homeland Security's goal of an automated entry/exit procedure under its U.S. Visit program.

While attending American colleges, you can leave the country

With a student visa, you can leave the country for short periods of time to go home, attend conferences, etc., but your absences cannot exceed 5 months. If you leave the country for more than 5 months, your F-1 or M-1 visa becomes invalid, even if it has not expired; you'll need a new visa to re-enter the country. The exception is if you have left the country to pursue studies overseas while still enrolled at a U.S. college. In those cases, you may leave for longer than 5 months and still have a valid visa.
Once you've completed your studies at American universities, you have 60 days to make your preparations and then depart from the U.S. under an F-1 visa. If you have an M-1 visa, you only have 30 days to depart. After that, your visa will no longer be valid. If you haven't yet returned home, you could find yourself in a bit of trouble.
If your visa expires while you are still enrolled in U.S. colleges and you leave the country temporarily, you will need to get a new visa in order to re-enter the U.S. Since you can't renew your visa while you are in the U.S., make sure you've checked its expiration date and plan accordingly. Even though you have permission to stay in the U.S. through the duration of your studies, your visa can still expire before then. If you don't leave the country, it may not present a big problem, but if you do leave and find out at the border that your visa has expired, it could put a big dent in your studies.
Also make sure that your passport is up to date so that everything is in place when it's time to return home. (You may want to renew your passport before you leave the U.S. It will be easier than getting it renewed while abroad.)

You might experience biometric exits during your U.S. college experience

Depending on where you leave, you may experience biometric exit procedures (scanning fingerprints and taking a digital photo) to verify your identity. Your exit from the United States will be confirmed and added to your travel records. Eventually, these procedures will be in place at all U.S. ports of entry.
United States immigration rules and procedures can be pretty complicated. So if you want to attend a U.S.A. university, make sure you check with your local U.S. Consulate for guidance on what you need to do to obtain your student visa.

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To Attend American Universities, Student Visas and Passports Are Necessary

To attend American universities and colleges, students must first get permission to enter the country. To do so, they must meet certain requirements. They must be healthy, law abiding, financially self-sufficient, and prepared to leave once they have completed their studies.

To attend American colleges, international students must apply for a visa

The rules and regulations governing the entrance of international students into the U.S. for study at U.S. colleges are somewhat complicated. To be sure there is enough time to get everything ready, begin your applications to U.S. colleges and your visa application process as early as possible. Because world events may cause changes in some procedures, so you should always check for current requirements.
If you are not a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, you must submit to the U.S. consular authorities a Form I-20 for an F-1 or M-1 student visa, or Form DS-2019 for a J-1 exchange visitor visa. You must also provide a valid passport from your home country.
The F-1 and J-1 are the most commonly used visas by international students attending colleges in the U.S. F-1 visas are for full-time students in an academic or language program. J-1 visas are for people participating in an exchange visitor program (educational or cultural) in the U.S. M-1 visas are for students attending trade or vocational programs at a U.S. college.
The I-20 or DS-2019 forms will be sent from your college after you have been admitted to a full-time academic program at the U.S.A. university and have demonstrated that you have sufficient financial resources to cover all expenses. Before granting the entrance visa, American consular officers may request additional information. They must be convinced that you are a student who plans to return to your home country upon completion of the program.

Don't forget that you need a valid passport to attend a U.S. college

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the amount of time you plan to spend in the U.S. It is a good idea to keep a photocopy of your passport in a safe place. Having the photocopy will make it easier to replace your passport if you happen to lose it. If you do lose your passport, you should contact the police and your embassy immediately.
If you have any questions about matters related to immigration rules, work permits, health insurance, etc., you should check with the international student adviser at the U.S. college you plan to attend. It is your responsibility, however, to maintain your immigration status by obtaining your forms at the correct time, keeping your passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of completion of your program, and maintaining enrollment with a full course load at your U.S.A. university.

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Bringing your dependents: USA Student VISA

Bringing your dependents

The Spouse and/or unmarried children (under the age of 21) who wish to accompany or join the student in the USA, need to apply for a dependent visa. The type of dependent visa will depend on the type of student visa the student has been granted. For more information visit: http://www.ustraveldocs.com/in/in-niv-typefandm.asp#supportingdocsdependents

Work rights for your spouse

The spouse of a student cannot work if they have travelled to the USA on a dependent visa. If seeking employment, the appropriate work visa will be required.
For more information visit: http://www.ustraveldocs.com/in/in-niv-typefandm.asp#supportingdocsdependents

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Work rights during studies: USA

International students studying in the USA on F-1 status visa are eligible to work on campus up to 20 hours a week while school is in session, and can work full time during vacations / scheduled breaks. Students are eligible to begin employment immediately upon being admitted to the United States in F-1 status.

Work rights for your spouse

The spouse of a student cannot work if they have travelled to the USA on a dependent visa. If seeking employment, the appropriate work visa will be required.
For more information visit: http://www.ustraveldocs.com/in/in-niv-typefandm.asp#dependents

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Temporary Worker Visas in USA

Generally, a citizen of a foreign country who wishes to enter the United States must first obtain a visa, either a nonimmigrant visa for temporary stay, or an immigrant visa for permanent residence. Temporary worker visas are for persons who want to enter the United States for employment lasting a fixed period of time, and are not considered permanent or indefinite. Each of these visas requires the prospective employer to first file a petition with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). An approved petition is required to apply for a work visa.

Temporary worker visa categories

Visa category	General description – About an individual in this category:
H-1B: Person in Specialty Occupation	To work in a specialty occupation. Requires a higher education degree or its equivalent. Includes fashion models of distinguished merit and ability and government-to-government research and development, or co-production projects administered by the Department of Defense.
H-2A: Temporary Agricultural Worker	For temporary or seasonal agricultural work. Limited to citizens or nationals of designated countries, with limited exceptions, if determined to be in the United States interest.
H-2B: Temporary Non-agricultural Worker	For temporary or seasonal non- agricultural work. Limited to citizens or nationals of designated countries, with limited exceptions, if determined to be in the United States interest.
H-3: Trainee or Special Education visitor	To receive training, other than graduate medical or academic, that is not available in the trainee’s home country or practical training programs in the education of children with mental, physical, or emotional disabilities.
L: Intracompany Transferee	To work at a branch, parent, affiliate, or subsidiary of the current employer in a managerial or executive capacity, or in a position requiring specialized knowledge.  Individual must have been employed by the same employer abroad continuously for 1 year within the three preceding years.
O: Individual with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement	For persons with extraordinary ability or achievement in the sciences, arts, education, business, athletics, or extraordinary recognized achievements in the motion picture and television fields, demonstrated by sustained national or international acclaim, to work in their field of expertise. Includes persons providing essential services in support of the above individual.
P-1: Individual or Team Athlete, or Member of an Entertainment Group	To perform at a specific athletic competition as an athlete or as a member of an entertainment group. Requires an internationally recognized level of sustained performance. Includes persons providing essential services in support of the above individual.
P-2: Artist or Entertainer (Individual or Group)	For performance under a reciprocal exchange program between an organization in the United States and an organization in another country. Includes persons providing essential services in support of the above individual.
P-3: Artist or Entertainer (Individual or Group)	To perform, teach or coach under a program that is culturally unique or a traditional ethnic, folk, cultural, musical, theatrical, or artistic performance or presentation. Includes persons providing essential services in support of the above individual.
Q-1: Participant in an International Cultural Exchange Program	For practical training and employment and for sharing of the history, culture, and traditions of your home country through participation in an international cultural exchange program.

Labor Certification - Some temporary worker visa categories require your prospective employer to obtain a labor certification or other approval from the Department of Labor on your behalf before filing the Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, Form I-129, with USCIS. Your prospective employer should review the Instructions for Form I-129 on the USCIS website to determine whether labor certification is required for you.
Petition Approval - Some temporary worker categories are limited in total number of petitions which can be approved on a yearly basis. Before you can apply for a temporary worker visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate, a Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, Form I-129, must be filed on your behalf by a prospective employer and be approved by USCIS. For more information  about the petition process, eligibility requirements by visa category, and numerical limits, if applicable, see Working in the U.S. and Temporary (Nonimmigrant) Workers on the USCIS website. Once the petition is approved, USCIS will send your prospective employer a Notice of Action, Form I-797.

How to Apply

After USCIS approves the Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (Form I-129), you may apply for a visa. There are several steps in the visa application process. The order of these steps and how you complete them may vary at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you apply. Please consult the instructions available on the embassy or consulate website where you will apply.

Complete The Online Visa Application

• Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160 – Learn more about completing the DS-160. You must: 1) complete the online visa application and 2) print the application form confirmation page to bring to your interview.
• Photo –You will upload your photo while completing the online Form DS-160. Your photo must be in the format explained in the Photograph Requirements.

Schedule an Interview

While interviews are generally not required for applicants of certain ages outlined below, consular officers have the discretion to require an interview of any applicant, regardless of age.

If you are age:	Then an interview is:
13 and younger	Generally not required
14-79	Required (some exceptions for renewals)
80 and older	Generally not required

You must schedule an appointment for your visa interview, generally, at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country where you live. You may schedule your interview at any U.S. Embassy or Consulate, but be aware that it may be difficult to qualify for a visa outside of your place of permanent residence.
Wait times for interview appointments vary by location, season, and visa category, so you should apply for your visa early. Review the interview wait time for the location where you will apply:

You will need to provide the receipt number that is printed on your approved Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, Form I-129, or Notice of Action, Form I-797, to schedule an interview.

Prepare for your Interview

• Fees - Pay the non-refundable visa application fee, if you are required to pay it before your interview. When your visa is approved, you may also pay a visa issuance fee, if applicable to your nationality. Fee information is provided below:

Review the instructions available on the website of the embassy or consulate where you will apply to learn more about fee payment.

• L visa applicants included in a L blanket petition: You must also pay the Fraud Prevention and Detection fee and may need to pay the Border Security Act fee. Select All Fees to learn more.
  

Gather Required Documentation

Gather and prepare the following required documents before your visa interview:

• Passport valid for travel to the United States - Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States (unless exempt by country-specific agreements). If more than one person is included in your passport, each person who needs a visa must submit a separate application.
• Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160 confirmation page.
• Application fee payment receipt, if you are required to pay before your interview.
• Photo – You will upload your photo while completing the online Form DS-160. If the photo upload fails, you must bring one printed photo in the format explained in the Photograph Requirements. 
• Receipt Number for your approved petition as it appears on your Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, Form I-129, or Notice of Action, Form I-797, from USCIS.
• L Visa Applicants – If you are included in an L blanket petition, you must bring Form I-129S, Nonimmigrant Petition Based on Blanket L Petition, to your interview.

Legal Rights and Protections

H-1B, H-2A, and H-2B visa applicants should read the Legal Rights and Protections pamphlet to learn about your rights in the United States and protection available to you. Review this important pamphlet before applying for your visa.

Additional Documentation May Be Required

Review the instructions on how to apply for a visa on the website of the embassy or consulate where you will apply. Additional documents may be requested to establish if you are qualified.  
All visa applicants, except H-1B and L, will generally need to show proof of compelling ties to your home country to demonstrate your intent to return after your temporary stay in the United States. Examples of compelling ties include:

• A residence abroad which you do not intend to abandon
• Your family relationships
• Your economic situation
• Your long term plans

Attend your Visa Interview

During your visa interview, a consular officer will determine whether you are qualified to receive a visa, and if so, which visa category is appropriate based on your purpose of travel. You will need to establish that you meet the requirements under U.S. law to receive the category of visa for which you are applying.
Ink-free, digital fingerprint scans will be taken as part of your application process. They are usually taken during your interview, but this varies based on location.
After your visa interview, your application may require further administrative processing. You will be informed by the consular officer if further processing is necessary for your application.
When the visa is approved, you may pay a visa issuance fee if applicable to your nationality, and will be informed how your passport with visa will be returned to you. Review the visa processing time, to learn how soon your passport with visa will generally be ready for pick-up or delivery by the courier.

Additional Information

• The approval of a petition does not guarantee that you will be issued a visa. Do not make final travel plans or buy tickets until you have a visa.
•  Spouse and Children –
  • With the exception of Cultural Exchange Visitor Q-1 visa applicants, your spouse and unmarried, minor children may also apply for the same visa category as you to accompany or join you. You must be able to show that you will be able to financially support your family in the United States. 
  • For information about employment and study, review Temporary Workers information and Employment Authorization on the USCIS website.
• Unless canceled or revoked, a visa is valid until its expiration date.  Therefore, a valid U.S. visa in an expired passport is still valid. If you have a valid visa in your expired passport, do not remove it from your expired passport. You may use your valid visa in your expired passport along with a new valid passport for travel and admission to the United States.

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Exchange Visitor Visa: USA

Generally, a citizen of a foreign country who wishes to enter the United States must first obtain a visa, either a nonimmigrant visa for temporary stay, or an immigrant visa for permanent residence. Exchange visitor (J-1) visas are nonimmigrant visas for individuals approved to participate in exchange visitor programs in the United States.
Exchange visitor categories include:

Au pair and EduCare	Short-term Scholar
Camp Counselor	Specialist
Government Visitor	Student, college/university
Intern	Student, secondary
International Visitor (Dept. of State use)	Summer Work Travel
Physician	Teacher
Professor and Research Scholar	Trainee

Exchange Visitor Pilot Programs:

Summer work/travel: Australians

Summer work/travel: New Zealanders

Intern work/travel: Irish

Work/English Study/Travel: South Koreans

Exchange Visitors cannot travel on the Visa Waiver Program or with Visitor Visas - Exchange visitors who are citizens of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) participating countries are not permitted to travel without a visa on the VWP, if their purpose of travel is to participate in an exchange visitor program, as explained below. For more information on the VWP, see Visa Waiver Program. Exchange visitors are not permitted to travel on business/tourist (B-1/B-2) visas if their purpose is to participate in an exchange visitor program. All exchange visitors must travel to the United States with exchange visitor (J-1) visas.
Acceptance in Exchange Visitor Program -  Before you can apply at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate for a J-1 visa, you must first apply for and be accepted into an exchange visitor program through a designated sponsoring organization. Visit the Department of State J-1 Visa Exchange Visitor Program website to learn about program requirements, regulations, and more.

When you are accepted into the exchange visitor program you plan to participate in, you will be enrolled in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Most J-1 Exchange Visitors must pay the SEVIS I-901 Fee. Visit the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) website to learn more about SEVIS and the SEVIS I-901 Fee.

How to Apply

There are several steps to apply for a visa. The order of these steps and how you complete them may vary at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you apply. Please consult the instructions available on the embassy or consulate website where you will apply.

Complete the Online Visa Application

• Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160 – Learn more about completing the DS-160. You must: 1) complete the online visa application and 2) print the application form confirmation page to bring to your interview.
• Photo – You will upload your photo while completing the online Form DS-160. Your photo must be in the format explained in the Photograph Requirements.

Schedule an Interview

While interviews are generally not required for applicants of certain ages outlined above, consular officers have the discretion to require an interview of any applicant, regardless of age.

If you are age:	Then an interview is:
13 and younger	Generally not required
14-79	Required (some exceptions for renewals)
80 and older	Generally not required

You must schedule an appointment for your visa interview, generally, at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country where you live. You may schedule your interview at any U.S. Embassy or Consulate, but be aware that it may be difficult to qualify for a visa outside of your place of permanent residence.
Wait times for interview appointments vary by location, season, and visa category, so you should apply for your visa early. Review the interview wait time for the location where you will apply:

Prepare for Your Interview

• Fees - Pay the non-refundable visa application fee, if you are required to pay it before your interview. When your visa is approved, you may also pay a visa issuance fee, if applicable to your nationality. Fee information is provided below:  

Review the instructions available on the website of the embassy or consulate where you will apply to learn more about fee payment.

• NOTE: U.S. government sponsored exchange visitor (J visa) applicants and their dependents are not required to pay application processing fees if participating in a Department of State, a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), or a Federally funded educational and cultural exchange program which has a program serial number beginning with G-1, G-2, G-3, or G-7 printed on Form DS-2019, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status. U.S. government sponsored exchange visitor (J visa) applicants and their dependents are also not required to pay applicable issuance fees.
  

Gather Required Documentation

Gather and prepare the following required documents before your visa interview:

• Passport valid for travel to the United States - Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States (unless exempt by country-specific agreements). If more than one person is included in your passport, each person who needs a visa must submit a separate application.
• Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160 confirmation page
• Application fee payment receipt, if you are required to pay before your interview
• Photo – You will upload your photo while completing the online Form DS-160. If the photo upload fails, you must bring one printed photo in the format explained in the Photograph Requirements. 
• Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status, Form DS-2019 – A SEVIS-generated Form DS-2019 is provided to you by your program sponsor after the sponsor enters your information in the SEVIS system. All exchange visitors, including their spouses and minor children, must be registered in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Each person receives a separate Form DS-2019.
• Training/Internship Placement Plan, Form DS-7002 – In addition to the Form DS 2019, participants in the J-1 Trainee and Intern categories require Form DS-7002 (based on Box 7 on Form DS-2019). Learn more about the Trainee and Intern programs.

Legal Rights and Protections

You must read the Legal Rights and Protections pamphlet to learn about your rights in the United States and protection available to you. Review this important pamphlet before applying for your visa.

Additional Documentation May Be Required

Review the instructions for how to apply for a visa on the website of the embassy or consulate where you will apply. Additional documents may be requested to establish if you are qualified. For example, additional requested documents may include evidence of:

• The purpose of your travel;
• Your intent to depart the United States after your travel;
• Your ability to pay all travel costs; and/or
• Other documents the consular officer may request.

Evidence of your employment and/or your family ties may be sufficient to show the purpose of your travel and your intent to return to your home country. If you cannot cover all the costs for your travel, you may show evidence that another person will cover some or all costs for your travel.

Attend Your Visa Interview

During your visa interview, a consular officer will determine whether you are qualified to receive a visa, and if so, which visa category is appropriate based on your purpose of travel. You will need to establish that you meet the requirements under U.S. law to receive the category of visa for which you are applying.
Ink-free, digital fingerprint scans will be taken as part of your application process. They are usually taken during your interview, but this varies based on location.
After your visa interview, your application may require further administrative processing. You will be informed by the consular officer if further processing is necessary for your application.
When the visa is approved, you will be informed how your passport with visa will be returned to you. Review the visa processing time, to learn how soon your passport with visa will generally be ready for pick-up or delivery by the courier.

Two-year Home-Country Physical Presence Requirement

When you agree to participate in an Exchange Visitor Program and your program falls under the conditions explained below, you will be subject to the two-year home-country physical presence (foreign residence) requirement. This means you will be required to return to your home country for two years at the end of your exchange visitor program. This requirement under immigration law is based on Section 212(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Two-year Home-country Physical Presence Requirement Conditions - An exchange visitor is subject to the two-year home-country physical presence requirement if the following conditions exist:

• Government funded exchange program - The program in which the exchange visitor was participating was financed in whole or in part directly or indirectly by the U.S. government or the government of the exchange visitor's nationality or last residence;
• Graduate medical education or training - The exchange visitor entered the United States to receive graduate medical education or training;
• Specialized knowledge or skill: Skills List - The exchange visitor is a national or permanent resident of a country which has deemed the field of specialized knowledge or skill necessary to the development of the country, as shown on the Exchange Visitor Skills List. Review the Exchange Visitor Skills List 2009.

Restrictions - When you, as an exchange visitor are subject to the two-year home-country physical presence requirement, you must return to your home country for a cumulative total period of at least two years before you can do any of the following:

• Change status while in the United Staes to the nonimmigrant categories of temporary worker (H) or intracompany transferee (L);
• Adjust status while in the United States to immigrant visa/lawful permanent resident status (LPR);
• Receive an immigrant visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate; or
• Receive a temporary worker (H), intracompany transferee (L), or fiancé (K) visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Waiver of Two Year Home-Country Physical Presence Requirement - If you are not able to fulfill the home country presence requirement, you may be able to apply for a waiver. Select Waiver of the Exchange Visitor Two-Year Home-Country Physical Presence Requirement to learn more about this requirement and how to request a waiver.

Additional Information

• We cannot guarantee that you will be issued a visa. Do not make final travel plans or buy tickets until you have a visa.
• For information about employment, review Exchange Visitors and Employment Authorization on the USCIS website.
• Spouse and children
  • Your spouse and unmarried, minor children may be able to apply for J-2 visas to accompany or join you at a later date to reside with you during your J program, if permitted on your exchange program category. While SEVIS fee payment is not required, your sponsor must issue them separate DS-2019 Forms, which are required when they apply for their visas, along with a copy of the primary visa holder’s J-1 visa and proof of relationship.
  • Your minor children are permitted to attend school while in the United States on J-2 visas and are not required to obtain student (F) visas. 
• Unless canceled or revoked, a visa is valid until its expiration date. Therefore, a valid U.S. visa in an expired passport is still valid. If you have a valid visa in your expired passport, do not remove it from your expired passport. You may use your valid visa in your expired passport along with a new valid passport for travel and admission to the United States

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