How to Apply for an Exchange Visitor Visa to the United States

Fill Out the Online J Visa Application

1. You will have to complete Form DS-160, which is the online application for a non-immigrant visa. 
2. Take a printout of the application form confirmation page and carry it to the interview.

1. When filling out the online Form DS-160, you will have to upload your photo. The format of your photo must match the guidelines listed in the photograph requirements below:

1. The photograph must be coloured.
2. It should be sized in such a way that from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, the head occupies between 1 and 1 3/8 inches, or 50% and 69% of the total height of the image.
3. The photograph should not be older than the last 6 months.
4. It must have an off-white or plain white background.
5. The face should be visible fully in front of the camera.
6. You should not wear any uniforms in your photo, with the exception of religious attire that is worn on a daily basis.
7. Your eyes should be open, and you must have a neutral facial expression.
8. You must avoid wearing a hat or other head covering that covers your hair or hairline unless it is worn every day for religious reasons. Your entire face has to be visible, with no shadows created by the head covering.
9. It is not appropriate to have headphones, wireless hands-free devices, or related objects in your photo.
10. You should not wear eyeglasses except in extremely rare cases where they must be worn for medical reasons. In these situations, a medical statement that has been signed by a healthcare provider is required. However, note that in such cases, the eye(s) must not be covered by the eyeglass frames. Glasses must not have glare that covers part of the eye. The eye(s) must not be obscured by shadows or refraction caused by eyeglasses.
11. In case you generally wear a hearing aid or similar items, they can be visible in your photo.

Schedule an Interview

1. Except in a few restricted cases listed below, interviews are typically necessary for those applying for visas. The applicant will need to interview with consular officers.
2. Usually, interviews are not necessary for applicants aged 13 years and younger as well as 80 years and above. Applicants between the ages of 14 and 79 years will have to clear an interview with some renewal exceptions.
3. For your visa interview, you need to schedule an appointment at the US embassy or consulate in India. You are free to set up your interview at a different U.S. Embassy or Consulate. However, keep in mind that obtaining a visa outside of your home country could be more challenging.
4. Applying for your visa early is advised because the waiting periods for interview appointments differ depending on the location, time of year, and type of visa.

Wait Time for the Interview

1. The estimated wait time to appear for a non-immigrant visa interview appointment can be checked by visiting the U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
2. To find out if your case qualifies for a waiver of the in-person interview, please visit the website of the relevant Embassy or Consulate.

Prepare for Your J‑1 Visa Interview

1. If you have to pay the non-refundable visa application fee prior to your interview, do so.
2. If your nationality requires it, you might also have to pay a visa issuance fee after the approval of your visa.

Documents Required for J‑1 Exchange Visitor Visa

The documents required during the visa interview are listed below:

1. A valid passport: Your passport must have a validity of at least six months after the duration of your stay in the US unless otherwise exempted by agreements specific to your country. All the people who require a visa, including your family members mentioned in your passport, must apply separately.
2. Form DS-160 confirmation page
3. Payment receipt for the application fee (if the fee was paid before the interview)
4. Photo: When filling out the online Form DS-160, you will need to upload your photo. You must carry one printed photo in the format specified in the photograph requirements if the photo is not uploaded successfully.
5. Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status, Form DS-2019
6. Internship/Training Placement Plan, Form DS-7002

Additional Supporting Documents for J‑1 Visa

To evaluate your eligibility for an exchange visitor visa, you may be asked to present the following additional documents by the consular officer:

1. Proof supporting the purpose of your travel
2. Your intention to leave the country after your trip
3. Your ability to cover all associated expenses

To demonstrate the reason for travelling and your intention to go back, you will need proof of your employment and/or family connections. If you are unable to pay for your trip entirely, you can submit proof that someone else will pay for part of it or the whole amount.

Visa Interview

1. You will be interviewed by a consular official to determine your eligibility for an exchange visitor visa. To obtain a visa, you must prove that you fulfil the requirements set forth by US law.
2. The application procedure requires digital fingerprint scans which will be taken during the interview. However, this may differ based on your location.

1. The consular officer might decide that additional administrative processing is necessary for your application. If this is necessary, you will be notified by the consular officer. 
2. In some cases, the applicants may have to pay a visa issuance fee (if required).

Two-year Home-Country Physical Presence Requirement

If you consent to take part in an Exchange Visitor Program and your program meets the requirements listed below, you will be obliged to fulfil the two-year home-country physical presence (foreign residence) requirement. This implies that when your exchange visitor program ends, you will have to spend a period of two years in your home country. Section 212(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act serves as the foundation for this requirement under immigration law.

Conditions for the Two-year Home-Country Physical Presence Requirement: An exchange visitor may be required to meet the following requirements for two years in their home country:

1. Government funded exchange program: The U.S. government, the government of the exchange visitor's country of nationality, or their previous residence pays all or part of the program's costs.
2. Graduate medical education or training: The exchange visitor came to the US to pursue training or graduate medical education.
3. Specific expertise or skill: According to the Exchange Visitor Skills List, the exchange visitor is a citizen or lawful permanent resident of a nation who has determined that the visitor's area of expertise is essential to the country's progress.

Limitations: During the two-year home-country physical presence requirement, you cannot do any of the following things until you stay in your home country for at least two years: 

1. Obtain an immigrant visa by visiting a U.S. Embassy or Consulate
2. Change status to intracompany transferee (L) or temporary worker (H) while residing in the US
3. Modify status to an immigrant visa or lawful permanent resident status (LPR) while residing in the US
4. Obtain an intracompany transferee (L), fiancé (K) visa, or a temporary worker (H) by visiting a U.S. Embassy or Consulate

You may request a waiver if you are unable to meet the two-year home-country physical presence requirement.

Keep in mind that there is no guarantee that a visa will enable you to enter the US. Foreign nationals with valid visas can travel to the port of entry, usually an airport, and apply for entry. The power to grant or refuse entry into the United States rests with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials at the entry port.