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Chicago J-1 Visa AttorneyIllinois Exchange Visitor Visa Lawyer
The J-1 exchange visitor visa is available for nonimmigrant visitors to the United States who are approved to participate in an exchange visitor program in the United States. Applicants seeking a J-1 exchange visitor visa are typically trainees in a variety of fields, students, medical graduates, researchers and teachers who are entering the United States as part of a training, education or research program.
Illinois is home to many institutions of higher education, including Northwestern University, University of Chicago, University of Illinois and DePaul University. Frequently institutions of higher education offer exchange programs to further advance training, education or research in a particular field. In addition, many U.S. employers using the J-1 exchange visitor visa for trainees or specialists in a particular field such as management and education.
The skilled Chicago immigration attorney at Badia-Tavas Law Group, Ltd. is well-versed in the types of visas available to those participants of exchange visitor programs, including the J-1 exchange visa, O visa for those with extraordinary ability in the sciences, business, and the arts and EB 1-2 visa for outstanding professors and researchers.
Application Process
J-1 visa applicants should apply at the U.S. Embassy in their home country with a DS-2019 Form - Certificate of Eligibility issued by the program sponsor after a detailed application process. The J-1 visa application process includes an interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate and, because wait times for the interview can vary, J-1 visa applicants are urged to apply for the J-1 exchange visa well in advance to the state of the exchange program.
The J-1 exchange visitor visa application process also requires applicants to provide a digital fingerprint scan and some applicants may be required to undergo additional administrative processing, which can further delay the process.
J-1 exchange visitor visa applicants must provide the following documents to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate: • Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status (Form DS-2019), which is provided by the exchange program sponsor
Two-Year Residency Requirement
Unless a waiver is obtained, certain professionals from specific countries, or participants in certain programs, or recipients of U.S./Foreign government funding, who are in the United States pursuant to a J-1 exchange visitor visa, are required to return to his or her home country to complete a 2-year physical presence requirement, following the conclusion of the exchange program. They must accumulate at least two years of physical presence in his/her home country before he/ she may apply for a new nonimmigrant visa or permanent residency in the United States.
A Knowledgeable Immigration Advocate
The knowledgeable Illinois immigration lawyer at the Badia-Tavas Law Group, Ltd., located in Chicago, Illinois, has been providing personalized legal immigration advice to clients since 1993. Our skilled Chicago immigration lawyer understands several immigration practice areas, including outbound immigration, business immigration, family immigration, labor certifications, and temporary and permanent work visas. Contact the respected Chicago immigration law firm of Badia-Tavas Law Group to learn more about how we can help you obtain your J-1 exchange visitor visa. |
