Most scholars, doctors, interns and specialists visit the US on a J1 exchange visitor visa to conduct research, attend training programs or participate in lectures and educational conferences. Generally, such people visit the US to know more about the country’s culture and about 86% of the visitors are younger than 31 years, says an article on the National Immigration Forum.

The J1 visa allows you to remain in the US for an additional 30 days after the program you are attending finishes. This is called the “grace period.” If the J1 visa holder does not return to their home country before this period expires, they might not get a J1 visa in future.

Requirements for J1 Student Visa

The J1 student visa enables you to participate in an educational course through an exchange program. It requires the candidate to submit the following documents:

• Certificate of eligibility for exchange visa visitor, or Form DS-2019.
• A training or internship placement plan, or Form DS-7002.
• A Non-immigrant Visa Electronic Application, or Form DS-160.
• A valid passport.
• One passport size photograph.
• The required educational certificates.
• Financial documents to show that you have sufficient funds to support your stay and study in the US.
• Character and medical certificates from the concerned authorities.

You can check the details regarding other supporting documents for the J1 visa on this website.

Reasons for J1 Student Visa Rejection

Although J1 visa denials are quite uncommon, they do occur. There are various criteria that the US embassy uses to determine whether a candidate is eligible for the visa. Some of the most common factors that lead to denial of the J1 visa include:

• Lack of proper financial documents.
• Failing to pass the security check.
• Failing to provide appropriate evidence of returning to your homeland after the visa expires.
• Lack of professionalism and failing to show educational documents during the student visa interview.
• Misrepresenting facts or lying during the interview.
• Failing to have the required insurance.
• Inadmissibility charges when you visited the US previously.

The application process for the J1 student visa is quite simple and hassle-free. You can easily fill the forms online and schedule an appointment for your visa interview. You can increase the chances of your J1 visa bring approved by providing sufficient evidence that you intend to return your homeland after the student exchange program and proper evidence that you have sufficient funds or sponsors to support your study and stay in the US, says an article on SimpleCitizen, Inc.

In case you visa gets denied, you can seek advice from a visa expert or immigration lawyer to know whether reapplying for the visa would be a good idea. The lawyer can also help you reapply for the visa and create a strong J1 visa application, with all the mandatory and supporting documents.

Every year around 3,00,000 foreign students from 200 countries and territories are given the opportunity to experience US society and culture, and engage with Americans under the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program, according to government statistics.

According to the American Immigration Council, these exchange visitors are often research scholars and professors who travel to the US to participate in programs promoting cultural exchange.

These visitors are issued a J-1 visa, which is a non-immigrant visa, meant specifically for this purpose.

However, there are times when an exchange visitor, admitted to an academic program, would like to stay on in the US to study. They wish to remain in the US as full-time students in the elite universities.

However, the only way they can do so is by converting their J-1 visa to an F-1 student visa first.

Two Ways to Change Visa Status

The applicant will first need to apply with the academic institution where they want to study as full-time students.

If the university accepts them, only then can the student proceed further. Once accepted, the student must obtain an I-20 form from the academic institution.

There are two ways change your visa status, both of which have their own pros and cons, depending on the applicant’s situation.

Travel out of the US

In order to obtain an F-1 visa, you could first travel back to your home country. Once in your home country, apply for the F-1 visa at your local US consulate.

After you obtain the change of status, you can re-enter the US under the new visa classification.

Apply within the US

Exchange students can also extend/change their non-immigrant status from J-1 to F-1 during their stay in the US. For this, they need to submit an I-539 Application to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

However, if you travel out of the US after you get the visa status changed this way, you would need to visit the US consulate to obtain the visa stamp according to the new visa classification.

Situations Where the Visa Cannot be Applied for While in the US

There are two conditions under which an exchange visitor is not eligible to apply for a change of status while remaining in the US:

1. The applicant’s last entry into the US was through the visa waiver program (ESTA)
2. The applicant is (or was) a J visa holder, who is subject to a two-year home residency requirement. According to the two-year home residency requirement, those who enter the US under J-1 status cannot become permanent residents of America or change their status until they return to the country of their last permanent residence for at least two years cumulatively.

In both these cases, the J-1 visa holder may need to travel out of the US first to get their status changed. For any further questions or concerns, I would advise you to consult an immigration attorney.

All the best!