Who this is for
- Participants accepted into a program run by a State Department–designated J-1 sponsor.
- Students, professors, research scholars, short-term scholars, specialists and teachers.
- Interns, trainees, camp counselors, au pairs and summer work travel participants who meet program rules.
- Foreign medical graduates in approved graduate medical education or training.
- People with enough funding, English skills and insurance as required by their program.
- Spouses and unmarried children under 21, who may apply for J-2 status.
Forms involved
| Form | Official name | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| DS-2019 | Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status | Issued by the program sponsor and used for the visa, entry and maintaining status. |
| I-901 | SEVIS I-901 Fee payment | Paid online by most J-1 participants before the visa interview, unless the program is exempt. |
| DS-160 | Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application | Completed online by the participant and each J-2 family member. |
| DS-7002 | Training/Internship Placement Plan | Required for interns and trainees to describe the training program. |
| I-765 | Application for Employment Authorization | Used by J-2 spouses or children who want permission to work. |
| DS-3035 | J-1 Visa Waiver Recommendation Application | Starts a request to waive the two-year home-country physical presence requirement. |
Step by step
- Find a program and sponsorApply to an exchange program run by a designated sponsor, such as a university, research institute or placement organization.
- Receive Form DS-2019Once accepted, the sponsor enters you in SEVIS and issues the DS-2019 showing your program category and dates.
- Pay the SEVIS fee and complete the DS-160Pay the I-901 fee if it applies, fill out the DS-160 and schedule a visa interview.
- Attend the visa interviewBring your passport, DS-2019, funding proof and any training plan. The officer checks your program, ties abroad and whether the two-year rule applies.
- Enter and check in with your sponsorJ-1 participants can generally enter up to 30 days before the program start date and must contact their sponsor to validate their program.
- Follow program rules and depart on timeStay in your approved activity, keep required health insurance and leave within the grace period after the program ends, unless you transfer or change status.
Documents usually requested
- Valid passport
- Form DS-2019 signed by the sponsor
- SEVIS I-901 fee receipt, if required
- DS-160 confirmation page and visa fee receipt
- Form DS-7002 training plan for interns and trainees
- Proof of funding, such as a scholarship, stipend or bank statements
- Acceptance or invitation letter from the host institution
- Proof of health insurance meeting J-1 rules
- Academic records, CV and proof of English skills
How long it takes
Timing depends on the sponsor issuing the DS-2019, interview wait times at the embassy or consulate, and any extra security screening. Waiver requests for the two-year rule go through the State Department and USCIS and can take a long time; see egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/.
Government filing fees
Most J-1 participants pay the SEVIS I-901 fee and the visa application fee, and sponsors may charge program fees. J-2 work permits (Form I-765) and the waiver application (Form I-612) carry USCIS fees, which change; check uscis.gov/g-1055.
Working and traveling while you wait
J-1 participants can generally work only as part of their approved program and with sponsor authorization. J-2 spouses and children may apply to USCIS for a work permit, and travel abroad usually requires a travel validation from the sponsor on the DS-2019.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Not checking whether the two-year home-country requirement applies before planning a green card or H-1B.
- Working outside the approved program or without sponsor authorization.
- Letting the required health insurance lapse.
- Forgetting to check in with the sponsor after arrival.
- Assuming the J-2 spouse can work without first getting a USCIS work permit.
How MyUSVisa helps
- Answer a guided questionnaire in your language and upload your documents once — we read, sort and assemble them into a clear case file and timeline.
- Your organized case is offered to licensed U.S. immigration attorneys who handle this type of case. Interested attorneys send you offers, and you compare and choose — or don't.
- Once you choose, you and your attorney work in one place: messages, documents, deadlines and automatic USCIS status updates, on the web and in the mobile app.
Frequently asked questions
What is the J-1 two-year home residency rule?
It is a requirement under section 212(e) that some J-1 participants live in their home country for two years after their program before getting certain U.S. statuses. It generally applies if the program was government-funded, the field is on the Exchange Visitor Skills List for your country, or you came for graduate medical training. Until it is met or waived, you usually cannot get H or L status, a K visa or a green card.
Can the two-year rule be waived?
Yes, in many cases a waiver is possible. The main bases are a no-objection statement from your home government, a request from an interested U.S. government agency, a fear of persecution, exceptional hardship to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse or child, or the Conrad 30 program for certain doctors. The State Department reviews the request and USCIS makes the final decision.
Can my spouse work on a J-2 visa?
Yes, a J-2 spouse or child can generally apply for a work permit with Form I-765. They can start working only after USCIS approves it, and the income cannot be needed to support the J-1 participant.
Can I change from J-1 to another visa while in the U.S.?
Sometimes, but it depends on your situation. If you are subject to the two-year rule, you generally cannot change to most other statuses inside the U.S. until it is met or waived. An attorney can review your DS-2019 and visa to confirm.
How do I know if the two-year rule applies to me?
Check your DS-2019 and visa stamp, where the officer may note it, but those notes are not always final. You can ask the State Department for an advisory opinion on whether the rule applies to you.
Official sources
Last reviewed: October 2026
This guide is general information, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney–client relationship. Immigration rules, forms and fees change often — always check the official sources above. MyUSVisa is not a law firm and is not affiliated with USCIS or any government agency; legal advice comes only from the licensed attorney you choose.