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J-1 Exchange Visitor Program Overview

The J-1 Exchange Visitor Program is a diplomacy initiative administered by the United States government. The intent and purpose of the Exchange Visitor Program is to exchange persons and ideas and to build mutual understanding among peoples and cultures. The Exchange Visitor Program provides foreign nationals with opportunities to participate in educational and cultural programs in the United States and return to their home countries to share their experiences.

There are four principal parties interacting in the EVP process:

  • The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), a designated sponsor of the EVP;
  • Exchange visitors, who have been selected by an MUSC department to participate in a particular program/activity;
  • The U.S. Department of State (DOS), which issues J visas to exchange visitors and their dependents and oversees the Exchange Visitor Program; and
  • The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which manages the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), admits foreign nationals to the United States in J status, and adjudicates certain immigration benefits for exchange visitors and their dependents.

The J-1 Classification

The J-1 classification (and associated J-1 visa) is a temporary, nonimmigrant classification. The J-1 classification includes multiple different program categories for a wide-range of program purposes.

The J-1 classification requires sponsorship from a designated EVP program sponsor and participation in specific program activities on a full-time basis in the United States. In addition, J-1 applicants must demonstrate strong ties to their home country and a clear intent to return to their home country upon completion of the J-1 program.

J‐1 is not an employment-based visa status. However, exchange visitors may be temporarily employed by MUSC as long as the purpose of the temporary employment is to facilitate the specific J-1 program activities.

Basic Exchange Visitor Eligibility Requirements

  • Minimum of a bachelor’s degree (except for the student categories)
  • Sufficient funding that meets minimum requirements
  • Medical insurance that meets minimum requirements
  • Intent to pursue appropriate activity
  • Intent to return to home country upon completion of program
  • Not subject to the 12 or 24 month bar for repeat J program participation

English Language Proficiency Requirement

A J-1 exchange visitor's success in his/her particular program is dependent upon sufficient English language capability. Adequate English communication skills are essential to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of exchange visitors.

All J-1 applicants must possess sufficient English proficiency not only to participate in their academic program activities but also to live and function in the United States. Exchange visitors must be sufficiently proficient in English in order to do the following:

  • Navigate daily life in the United States (e.g. grocery shopping, renting an apartment, banking, transportation)
  • Be able to seek help when necessary (e.g. medical attention, police intervention)
  • Perform J-1 program activities in the academic/laboratory environment
  • Read and comprehend information regarding maintaining J-1 status and complying with J-1 program requirements
  • Understand his/her rights, responsibilities and protections as a visitor in the United States

U.S. government regulations require all J-1 program sponsors to verify English proficiency for all prospective J-1 exchange visitors through objective measures. Sponsors are required to retain detailed documentation indicating how English proficiency was verified for each Exchange Visitor. At MUSC, the sponsoring MUSC department is responsible for verifying the English proficiency of J-1 applicants and providing documentation to the Center for Global Health during the J-1 sponsorship application process.

At MUSC, there are currently two acceptable methods to verify the English language proficiency of a J-1 exchange visitor applicant:

  1. A documented interview to assess English proficiency conducted by the sponsoring department; or
  2. Signed documentation from an academic institution to verify one of the following
    • The applicant currently teaches courses in English at his/her home institution or has taught coursework in English within the past 10 years
    • The applicant completed an undergraduate or graduate degree within the past 10 years from an institution where English was the primary language of instruction

In most cases, option 1 (English proficiency interview) is the method used to verify English proficiency for J-1 applicants. The sponsoring MUSC department must designate a person in the department to conduct the English proficiency interview other than the proposed faculty supervisor. In other words, the proposed faculty supervisor for the exchange visitor cannot be the person to conduct the English proficiency interview. After the English proficiency interview is conducted, the sponsoring MUSC department must complete a form that will be submitted along with other J-1 sponsorship application materials.