A J-1 visa is granted by the Department of State (formerly the U.S. Information Agency) to a foreign citizen who has been selected by a sponsor, such as a college, to participate in an exchange visitor program in the United States.
A J-1 student may stay in the United States until his/her academic program is completed. You may work on campus eighteen months after you graduate if your J-1 sponsor approves. You may bring family members if there is sufficient financial support. However, you should check with a U.S. consular office or the Department of State web site before requesting a J-1 status to see if you must return home immediately after completing your studies as is the requirement if you are funded by your home government, a U.S. government agency, or if your skills are in short supply in your country. The web site is http://www.state.gov/.
You must take 12 credit hours a semester if you are an undergraduate or 9 if you are a graduate student. You must obtain permission from the Office for International, Immigrant, DACAmented, Undocumented, and Refugee Services before dropping below these requirements
You may work twenty hours per week on campus while school is in session with the approval of your sponsor. You need written approval of a sponsor to work off campus.
You must keep your passport valid. To renew your passport, contact your country’s embassy at Project Visa or The Electronic Embassy.
If you are traveling, you must carry a DS-2019 signed by the RIC DSO.
A J-1 exchange visitor may stay for the duration of the J-1 status which is the end date on the DS-2019 form plus an additional thirty-day grace period.