Texas J1 Visa Lawyers

The Exchange Visitor Program is carried out under the provisions of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended. The purpose of the Act is to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries by means of educational and cultural exchanges. International educational and cultural exchanges are one of the most effective means of developing lasting and meaningful relationships. They provide an extremely valuable opportunity to experience the United States and our way of life. Foreign nationals come to the United States to participate in a wide variety of educational and cultural exchange programs. At the conclusion of their program Exchange Visitor program participants are expected to return to the home countries to utilize the experience and skills they have acquired while in the United States.

Individuals may come to the U.S. for training from the programs approved by U.S. Dept. of State in the following areas:

•· Au Pairs;

•· Camp Counselors;

•· College and University Students;

•· Government Visitors;

•· International Visitors;

•· Physicians;

•· Professors and Research Scholars;

•· Secondary School Students;

•· Short-term Scholars;

•· Specialists;

•· Summer Work Travel;

•· Teachers; and

•· Trainees and Flight Training.

1. ELIGIBILITY:

Applicants eligible for J-1 visa are:

•· Students at all academic levels;

•· Trainees obtaining on-the-job training with firms, institutions, and agencies;

•· Teachers of primary, secondary, and specialized schools;

•· Professors coming to teach or do research at institutions of higher learning

•· Research scholars

•· Professional trainees in the medical and allied fields;

•· International visitors coming for the purpose of travel, observation, consultation, research, training, sharing, or demonstrating specialized, knowledge, or skills, or participating in organized people-to-people programs.

2. PRIVILEGES ON J-1 VISA:

On J-1 visa, you may:

•· Enter the U.S. and participate in exchange visitor program approved by the U.S. Department of State;

•· Travel in and out of the U.S. or remain in the U.S. continuously till the completion of your exchange visitor program;

•· Apply for dependent visas for your spouse as well as unmarried dependant children under 21;

•· Work legally in the U.S. if work is part of your approved program or if you receive permission to work from the official program sponsor;

•· Apply for and receive work permits for accompanying relatives.

3. LIMITATIONS ON J-1 VISA:

On J-1 visa, you must:

•· Restrict yourself to studying, working or otherwise participating in the special exchange program for which your visa has been approved;

•· First be accepted as a participant in the program approved by the DOS before you apply for J-1 visa;

•· Return to your home country for at least two years before you are permitted to get a Green Card or change to another nonimmigrant visa status. This is true if you are an exchange visitor participating in a certain type of program.

Visa processing can be difficult and confusing. If you would like the assistance of an experienced immigration attorney, please contact the firm by e-mail or call our offices. Bertolino LLP maintains offices in Austin, Houston and San Antonio. To reach an immigration law attorney in the Austin office, call 512.476.5757. For the San Antonio office, call 210.223.5553. For the Houston office, call 713.225.7474.