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 Exchange Visitor Program will help you better understand the J-1 visa.

Every year the U.S. Department of State’s Exchange Visitor Program brings more than 300,000 international citizens to the United States on 15 different exchange programs to study, teach, conduct research, share specialized skills, and receive on-the-job training. The Exchange Visitor Program is a cultural exchange with a focus on education, research, and skills development.

Exchange participants hone their professional skills, strengthen their English language ability, and experience the American culture, while teaching us about their cultures. These experiences ultimately help exchange participants and Americans evolve into citizen ambassadors that become leaders in their home countries and bring people together to breakdown stereotypes, dispel myths and foster intercultural learning and understanding in their communities. 

During their time in the United States, exchange participants engage in activities like attending sporting events; tours of city halls, museums, and national landmarks; and dinners with American families. In addition, exchange participants volunteer with events like Exchange Day and the annual New York City Marathon. See how exchange participants experienced firsthand the American values of volunteerism, civic engagement, social inclusion, and disability rights at the New York City Marathon.

To read firsthand accounts of the experiences of exchange participants, visit the Exchange Visitor Program blog.