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.
A citizen of a foreign country, who wishes to enter the United States, generally must first obtain a visa, either a nonimmigrant visa for temporary stay, or an immigrant visa for permanent residence. The type of visa you must have is defined by immigration law, and relates to the purpose of your travel.
The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) provides the exchange visitor (J) nonimmigrant visa category for persons who are approved to participate in exchange visitor programs in the United States. This means that before you can apply at an American Embassy or Consulate for a J visa you must apply, meet the requirements, and be accepted for one of the Exchange Visitor Program categories through a designated sponsoring organization. If you are accepted as a participant in an exchange program, the sponsor will provide you with information and documents necessary to apply for the J visa to enter the United States.
Changes introduced shortly after September 11, 2001 involve extensive and ongoing review of visa issuing practices as they relate to our national security. Visa applications are now subject to a greater degree of scrutiny than in the past. Applicants affected by these procedures are informed of the need for additional screening at the time they submit their applications. So it is important to apply for your visa well in advance of your travel departure date.
A visa allows a foreign citizen to travel to the United States port-of entry, and request permission from the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, U.S. immigration inspector to enter the United States. A visa does not guarantee entry into the United States.
Information provided by U.S. Department of State
B VISAS: Visitor Visas for Business or Pleasure
The "visitor" visa is a nonimmigrant visa for persons desiring to enter the United States temporarily for business (B-1) and for pleasure or medical treatment (B-2).
H VISAS: Temporary Workers
The Immigration and Nationality Act provides several categories of nonimmigrant visas for a person who wishes to work temporarily in the United States. There are annual numerical limits on some classifications which are shown in parentheses.
J VISAS: Exchange Visitors
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.
C VISAS: Transit Visas
The "C" visa is intended for those individuals whose travel takes them through the U.S., without intending to actually enter the U.S.
I VISAS: Foreign Media, Press and Radio
A citizen of a foreign country, who wishes to enter the United States, generally must first obtain a visa, either a nonimmigrant visa for temporary stay, or an immigrant visa for permanent residence. The type of visa you must have is defined by immigration law, and relates to the purpose of your travel. The "media (I)" visa is a nonimmigrant visa for persons desiring to enter the United States temporarily who are representatives of the foreign media traveling to the United States, engaging in their profession, having the home office in a foreign country. Some procedures and fees under immigration law, relate to policies of the travelers home country, and in turn, the U.S. follows a similar practice, which we call “reciprocity”. Procedures ...
E VISAS: Treaty Traders and Treaty Investors
The Immigration and Nationality Act provides nonimmigrant visa status for a national of a country with which the United States maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation who is coming to the United States to carry on substantial trade, including trade in services or technology, principally between the United States and the treaty country, or to develop and direct the operations of an enterprise in which the national has invested, or is in the process of investing a substantial amount of capital.
A VISAS: Foreign Government or Diplomatic Visas
Diplomatic visas are used by diplomats and other government officials for travel to the United States.
G VISAS: Employees of International Organizations and NATO
A citizen of a foreign country, who wishes to enter the United States, generally must first obtain a visa, either a nonimmigrant visa for temporary stay, or an immigrant visa for permanent residence. The type of visa you must have is defined by immigration law, and relates to the purpose of your travel.
A visa allows a foreign citizen to travel to a United States port-of-entry, and request permission of the U.S. immigration inspector to enter the U.S. A visa does not guarantee entry into the U.S.
County Board Poised to Urge Reform of H-1B Requiring Employers to Seek US Talent First
One of the nation's largest county government bodies is expected to vote on September 18, 2007, to open the H-1b visa-hiring program to US citizens and legal residents - in opposition to 13 governors who last week urged Congress to expand the program, without ever requiring employers to seek local talent for top-dollar, white-collar jobs.
Multilingual Internet Marketing - The Final Frontier
Klingons are Targeted as the Global Internet Marketing Space becomes Overcrowded
Strategic Feedback Announces 2009 Dealers of the Year for Parts & Service Customer Satisfaction
Strategic Feedback has named Dexter Implement Co., located in Dexter, MO, the No. 1 Service Dealer and Looney Implement Co., based in Hughes, AR, the No. 1 Parts Dealer of the Year for 2009.
Chicago Afrobeat Project Adds Dates to 2009 Summer Tour
Winner of the "Best African Artist" award in the 2009 Chicago Music Awards, Chicago Afrobeat Project has added new dates for its 2009 Summer Tour which crosses the U.S. from the West Coast to the Southeast. Confirmed dates include stops in Oregon, Washington, California, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Wisconsin, Ohio, Illinois, Arkansas North Carolina, Tennessee, and Nebraska.
eFind.co.il Develops Ultimate Online Business Card
Israeli business index eFind.co.il introduces an innovative development in the field of online marketing, the ultimate business card which provides a business with complete visual identity
Leading Project Management Firm Adds Healthcare Specialist to Executive Team
Integrated Project Management Company, Inc. an onsite project management provider, is expanding its healthcare industry presence by hiring Linda Ohringer to its executive team as Healthcare Solutions Specialist.