Qu'est-ce qu'un visa J-1 ?
Le visa J-1 pour les États-Unis est un visa de non-immigrant. The J-1 program was established to Le programme de bourses d'études vise à faire venir temporairement des universitaires aux États-Unis à des fins éducatives spécifiques, telles que l'enseignement ou la conduite de travaux de recherche. Aujourd'hui, elle se concentre également sur promouvoir les échanges culturels avec un échange de compétences entre les Américains et le reste du monde.
Statistiquement, le visa J-1 est le type de visa le plus courant pour les Français. En 2014, environ 15 000 ont été délivrés.
À qui s'adresse-t-il ?
Il y a 15 Programmes d'échange de visiteurs J-1, all of which are entirely different from one another. Here are the various programs and their specific eligibility criteria:
- Chercheur à court terme : Ce visa d'une durée maximale de six mois est destiné aux enseignants, chercheurs, chercheurs postdoctoraux, chercheurs prédoctoraux et étudiants diplômés qui participent à un programme de conférences, de formation ou d'observation aux États-Unis.
- Professeur et chercheur : D'une durée de 3 semaines à 5 ans, ce programme s'adresse aux enseignants ou aux chercheurs qui participent à un projet de recherche ou d'enseignement aux États-Unis.
- Médecin extraterrestre : D'une durée maximale de 7 ans, ce visa est destiné aux étudiants en médecine diplômés qui souhaitent poursuivre leurs études aux États-Unis.
- Stagiaire : D'une durée maximale de 12 mois, ce programme est destiné aux étudiants inscrits dans une université ou un établissement d'enseignement supérieur en dehors des États-Unis, ou à ceux qui ont obtenu leur diplôme dans les 12 mois précédant le début du programme et qui souhaitent participer à un programme de stage dans leur domaine d'études.
- Stagiaire : Ce visa est idéal pour les personnes titulaires d'un diplôme ou d'un certificat d'études post-secondaires obtenu en dehors des États-Unis (plus une année d'expérience professionnelle) ou ayant au total cinq ans d'expérience professionnelle. Il vous permettra de participer à un programme structuré dans votre domaine professionnel pour une durée maximale de 18 mois. Puis-je bénéficier d'un stage J1 ?
- Spécialiste : Un visa pour les experts reconnus participant à un programme d'observation ou de consultation.
- Élève de l'enseignement secondaire: Ce visa (pour un maximum de deux semestres) est destiné aux élèves de l'enseignement secondaire âgés de 15 à 18,5 ans qui fréquentent un établissement d'enseignement secondaire public ou privé accrédité.
- Étudiant au collège et à l'université: Il s'agit d'un candidat diplômé ou non diplômé d'une université ou d'un collège situé en dehors des États-Unis et inscrit à un programme diplômant ou non diplômant dans un établissement d'enseignement supérieur accrédité, ou d'un étudiant participant à un programme de stage.
- Voyages d'affaires d'été: Ce visa est idéal pour les étudiants universitaires à la recherche d'un emploi saisonnier ou temporaire non qualifié.
- Conseiller de camp: Ce programme s'adresse aux animateurs de jeunesse, aux étudiants, aux enseignants ou aux personnes ayant des compétences spécialisées et une expérience en tant que conseillers dans un camp d'été aux États-Unis.
- Au Pair : Ce visa est destiné aux jeunes de 18 à 26 ans ayant fait des études secondaires. Il permet de faire garder les enfants par des familles d'accueil pendant que le demandeur suit des cours dans un établissement d'enseignement supérieur accrédité aux États-Unis.
- Enseignant: Ce visa permet à un éducateur de rester aux États-Unis jusqu'à trois ans pour enseigner à temps plein dans une école publique ou privée accréditée.
Le visa J1 offre de nombreux avantages aux entreprises. Il est rapide et facile à obtenir par rapport à autres visas de travail non immigrants. Toutefois, il comporte également certaines restrictions.
Comment fonctionne le visa J-1 ?
Travailler aux États-Unis, vous aurez besoin d'un visa quelle que soit votre situation. Dans le cas d'un visa J-1, ce n'est pas votre entreprise qui devra vous sponsorisermais plutôt un Organisme de parrainage J-1. Veuillez noter que vous ne pouvez pas remplir votre demande de visa sans un organisme de parrainage J-1.
So, the four mandatory agents that you need for getting a J-1 visa are:
- Yourself (logical, I know);
- The company that wants to hire you;
- Your J1 Sponsor (or J1 sponsor organization);
- The US Government (specifically, the Department of State and your consulate).
You will find all the sponsor organizations for the J-1 visa here. You can contact them to obtain a sponsorship agreement before receiving a job offer (and I strongly recommend that you do so). You need to have an agreement from one sponsor organization.
However, these organizations will not be able to sponsor you for the J-1 visa until you get an offer. Once you find a company that offers you a trainee program, you can apply for a visa.
There is no quota, and your application can be sent at any time throughout the year.
Do I Need a Lawyer?
Your case to apply for a J-1 visa can be one of two things: simple or complicated. Let me clarify what I mean by that: a simple visa case is one where someone has never been to the US before, either as a tourist or a student. If that situation describes you, you won’t need a lawyer and can handle your visa application on your own. Well, technically not on your own because you will receive help from your sponsor or another organization. They can assist you in submitting your application through your sponsor and embassy.
If you have already worked in the United States or participated in an exchange program, your situation will be a bit more complicated. My advice is to seek help from an immigration lawyer to ensure you are eligible and to assist you in preparing a solid application.
J-1 Visa Application
As it is not the host company’s responsibility to sponsor your visa, the administrative procedures on the business side are greatly simplified. You may be able to bypass hiring a lawyer if you have a very straightforward case.
And, as an applicant, you will have the possibility to take care of all the administrative procedures for your J1 visa application with your sponsor organization, without taking the precious time of your future employer. An organization can also assist you in submitting your visa application.
Your employer will need to verify all documents, including the training program you submit.
The application process varies for each type of program and requires a thorough understanding of each one’s specific requirements. Indeed, if you don’t complete the proper paperwork, the foreign national’s application may be denied.
J-1 Visa Processing Time
The processing time to obtain a J-1 Trainee visa typically ranges from 3 to 12 weeks, depending on the sponsor organization chosen, whether expedited processing is paid for, and the consulate’s availability for an interview.
Can the J-1 Visa Bring Family?
You will have the opportunity to be accompanied by your spouse and/or children. Cohabitation, or civil union, is not recognized in the United States; therefore, you need to be legally married. Your spouse and/or children will also receive a visa, a J-2 (J2), which will allow them to live with you, and your spouse will also be able to work in the U.S.A. However, you will have to prove that his or her salary is supplementary and that you do not need it to live in the U.S.
Change of Employer During Your J1 Program
Your J-1 visa is related to your company or organization. In other words, if your program falls through, you will need to transfer your visa to another company if you want to continue living in the U.S., provided your sponsor organization allows you to do so.
J-1 Cost
The price to obtain a J-1 depends on the J-1 category and the length of the program.
For example, the J1 Trainee visa will cost between $2,000 and $3,500 for the maximum amount of time. Check here the J1 cost details.
Who Will Pay Your J-1 Visa Fees?
A visa is never free.
Three parties can pay the costs of the J-1 visa: you, your employer, or a government agency (if you enroll in a special program). I’m not sure if those government agencies are the same ones that sponsor your visa (that is yet to be confirmed).
To avoid the 212 rule (which forces you to return home for at least two years after your exchange visitor program), you or your employer should cover the visa fees, and not a government agency. So, if you do not want the J-1 visa 212 rule to apply to you, be very careful regarding this detail.
Depending on your financial means, you should negotiate with your employer to support these additional costs.
It is, therefore, essential to factor the cost of your visa into your expatriation budget to avoid potential shortfalls. As the demand is usually stronger than the supply, you are likely to have to pay for your visa fee.
Compensation and Health Coverage
There is simply no restriction, minimum or maximum, on income for this visa. You may not be paid at all, you might not be paid as much as other employees in the company, or you might be paid more. However, always keep in mind that the J-1 Trainee visa enables you to acquire new skills and enhance your expertise. In our example, Max was paid the same salary as the other employees working in the same sector as him in his company.
In terms of health coverage, you will be covered by the health insurance of your sponsor, which is included in the fees. This is a significant advantage, as medical costs in the United States are incredibly high.
It will save you between $500 (if you are single) and $1,800 (if you have a family) per month for you and your employer.
Tax Benefits
In addition to having no legal fees at the beginning of the process and no monthly healthcare coverage fees, your employer and you experience tax benefits with a J-1 visa. This visa is exempt from:
- Social Security tax
- Medicare tax
- Federal and State Unemployment taxes, as it is an exchange program visa and not a visa for immigration to the United States (so, you will never be technically unemployed in the USA).
This will save your company about 7.79% and save you 7.11% on your taxes. Here is a table summarizing J-1 tax benefits:
J-1 Visa Duration
Depending on the training program, the sector, the agreement between you and your company, and the sponsor organization, the duration of the visa can vary from 3 weeks to 3 years.
Check the visa duration of the program you are interested in:
2 Years Home Country Physical Presence Requirement
As you will see later in this article, not all J-1 visa holders are subject to the “2 Years Home Country Physical Presence Requirement,” but some are.
This rule states that you must return to your home country for a minimum of two cumulative years after your J-1 exchange visitor program. In other words, during these two years, you will not be able to obtain H, L, or K visas, permanent resident status, or an immigrant visa.
How Do I Know if I’m Eligible for This 2-Year Rule?
If you are already in the United States on a J-1 visa, you will need to check the status of your visa. If you see the inscription, “Bearer is not subject to section 212 (e) 2-year rule does not apply”, that means that you are not subject to this rule.
In Which Case Does the Rule Apply?
If you are not yet on a J-1 visa, you will be subject to this rule if:
- A government agency funds your exchange visitor program
- Your country and your field of activity are on the list concerned by this rule
If a government agency funds your program, you will be subject to the 2-year rule.
If your country is not listed ici, and you do not have your program funded by a government agency, you will not be subject to the 2-year rule.
If your country is listed, check here to see if your field is listed, as it may vary by country. If your field is listed, then you will be subject to this rule. If this is not the case, and you also do not get your program funded by a government agency, you will not be subject to this rule.
For more information, you will find instructions for this ici.
The 2-Year Rule Waiver
If you are eligible for the “2-year rule,” there is a possibility to waive it. However, this is only possible if you meet very specific criteria. You will find more information here.
Interested in the J-1 visa? Or have you ever benefited from this visa? Share your experience in the comments below! 🙂
