How to Obtain an American Visitor Visa

The American Visitor Visa is more than just another stamp in your passport.

The American Visitor Visa differs from the American Tourist Visa since it allows foreigners to visit the states temporarily for work or educational purposes. It is seen as an educational or training visa allowing foreigners to enhance their skills and knowledge through work or study. The goal is to encourage people from other countries to come to America and participate in educational and cultural programs.

Instructions

1. Decide if the American Visitor Visa, also known as American J1 Visa, is the exact visa for you. According to the American Visa Bureau, this visa "is a temporary non-immigrant visa which allows a foreign employee to be actively engaged in on-the-job training under circumstances equivalent to that of an American employee in the same situation."

2. Visit the American consulate or embassy in your country, or go on its website, which can be located using the U.S. Department of State website. There you can find out about non-immigrant visas and specific requirements for each country.

3. Apply for a foreign exchange program and once accepted, obtain all documentation from your program counselor or sponsor and be ready to present this. You will only be able to satisfy visa requirements if you are accepted as a participant of such a program.

4. Take a color 2-by-2-inch photograph of you facing forward. Only one photograph will be needed.

5. Fill out the DS-160 which is the Non-Immigrant Visa Electronic Application online from the U.S. Department of State. You must pay an application processing fee of $140, as of 2010, and provide receipt of this payment during your interview. If you are traveling on a work or study grant, depending on your program, you may not need to pay the application fee.

6. Obtain a Training/Internship Placement Plan form DS-7002 and the DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status from your program sponsor if you have not been supplied with it already. You will need this for the interview.

7. Schedule an appointment for an interview at an American embassy or consulate in your country. Bring all filled-out forms and applications, receipt of paid application fee, valid passport, and one photograph. You will have a fingerprint scan performed during the interview.

8. Receive your American Visitor Visa during the interview, unless you are told that you are not eligible. The visa will be in your passport. When you are issued the visa by the American embassy or consulate, you must enter America within 30 days before the start of the program. The embassy or consulate will issue further instruction pertaining to the visa that is relevant to your particular situation. Spouses and minor children may join the visa holder if they meet basic requirements for an American visa.

9. Come to America. Your visa will expire when your program expires or when you finish the program. That is, if you are participating in a 12 month program, the visa will be valid for 12 months, unless you leave the program early.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure this is the right visa for you. The American Visitor Visa is available for medical graduates or physicians continuing medical education, au pairs, college/university exchange program students, research scholars, business and industrial program trainees, professors, research assistants, individuals seeking summer work or travel, foreign nationals who are considered potential leaders or experts and organizations authorized by the Department of State to sponsor training of foreign nationals. With this visa, the visa holder may stay in the United States for the duration of their course or program, given that they remain a temporary resident.

• You may be able to apply for an American B1 or B2 visa depending on whether the trip is for business or pleasure, if it isn't for work or study purposes.

• Plan ahead of time. You may have to wait for an interview.

• Have a valid passport before scheduling an interview.

• The visa requires that you remain in America for the duration of the program, are proficient in English, hold a valid passport, have been offered placement in the exchange program, meet all criteria of the exchange program, are able to cover expenses in America and intend to return to your country of origin upon completion of the program.

References

• American Visa Bureau: American Visitor Visa
• Global Visas: US Au Pair Visa for USA, American J1 Visa
• U.S. Department of State: Websites of U.S. Embassies, Consulates and Diplomatic Missions
• U.S. Department of State: Nonimmigrant Visa- Instructions Page
• U.S. Department of State Travel.State.Gov: Exchange Visitors