South Carolina Immigration Lawyer & Attorney : Carlock, Copeland, Semler & Stair : Serving Columbia, Charleston, Greenville, Myrtle Beach

The J-1 visa is an exchange-visitor visa for persons coming to the U.S. as a student, scholar, trainee, teacher, professor, research assistant, or medical graduate to participate in a training, research or study program approved by the Department of State.  Given that there are no limits on the number of J visas issued annually AND the fact that, unlike an H2-B visa, you're not tied down to a rigid time frame, the J visa is generally a win-win for both applicants and sponsors.  However, before applying for a J visa there are important considerations of which potential applicants and sponsors should be aware.

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Unless you qualify for a green card as a family member of a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident or you have a particularly generous employer who is willing to sponsor you off the bat, you're probably going to have to get a temporary non-immigrant visa in order to live and/or work in the U.S.  Non-immigrant visas are given to people coming into the U.S. temporarily in order to complete a temporary goal or purpose.  Because there are so many temporary visas, each with its own advantages and requirements, each visa has been given a letter designation.  In addition, because you may want to bring your spouse, children, or associates with you, after each letter there is a number.  The number designates whether the visa holder is the primary visa holder or a derivative of a primary visa holder. For example, if you qualify as a teacher on an exchange program, you will probably get a J-1 visa.  If you're children will be accompanying you as derivatives of your visa, they will get J-2 visas.  Each temporary non-immigrant visa in the "visa alphabet" comes with its own qualification requirements, rules as to length of stay and who may accompany you, and its own application process.

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