Many different visa categories permit nonimmigrants to travel to the United States. Nonimmigrant international students usually enter the United States using one of three visa types: F-1, J-1 or M-1. Each visa category is defined by its purpose for travel to the United States. In this blog series, the J-1 Visa Exchange Visitor Program will help you better understand the J-1 visa.

Both F-1 and J-1 visas may permit international students to study at a college or university in the United States. However, there are key differences between the two programs.

F-1 Visas

An F-1 student’s primary purpose for coming to the United States is to complete a full-time program of study at any grade level at a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified school. For many F-1 students, this program of study is a postsecondary education at an SEVP-certified college or university.

Because studying is an F-1 student’s primary purpose, students with F-1 visas must be enrolled in a full course of study while in the United States and must follow the rules to maintain their F-1 student status.

While studying in the United States, F-1 students have a designated school official (DSO) at their college or university. This DSO can help guide them through the international student life cycle and make sure they maintain their status.

J-1 Visas

The J-1 College and University Student Program is one of the 15 J-1 program categories. J-1 university or college students must pursue a full course of study only at a postsecondary, accredited academic institution in the United States to maintain their J-1 status. The J-1 College and University Student Program offers study in all fields and opportunities to gain important career-related training as a student intern in a program that will fulfill the educational objectives for the student’s degree program in their home country.

J-1 university or college students, like all J-1 visa holders, have a cultural component to their program in addition to their academic work. This component gives J-1 students an opportunity to engage more fully with U.S. citizens and share their cultures with their U.S. host communities.

J-1 university or college students coordinate with the designated program sponsor's Responsible Officer. Program sponsors are organizations designated by the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Private Sector Exchange. These program sponsors monitor the health, safety and welfare of J-1 students throughout their program and ensure they are pursuing a full course of study at a U.S. postsecondary, accredited academic institution and maintaining their status.

More Questions?

To learn more about F-1 students, visit the Students page on Study in the States.

For additional information about J-1 program specifics, check out the J-1 College and University Student Program page on the J-1 Visa Exchange Visitor Program website.