The J-1 is a US visa programme aimed at interns or students who visit the country under exchange visitor programmes. The US visa programme grants temporary residence to foreign research assistants, teachers, scholars, college or university students, medical practitioners, non-academic specialists, au pairs, camp counsellors, summer students and other professionals who are to undergo business, industrial or academic training.
J-1 applicants must be between 18 and 26 years of age, high-school graduates, who are proficient in the English language and have no plans to permanently settle in the USA.
A J-1 visa, for the purpose of internship, requires a degree or professional certificate from a tertiary educational institution and a minimum of one year’s work experience or in cases of college undergraduates, a minimum of five years work experience. Interns may only remain in the USA for a maximum of 18 months. The residence period for trainees in agriculture, hotel and tourism industries is limited to a shorter duration, 12months.
The J-1 is also available to au pairs. The US visa programme allows au pairs, young people who live with host families while providing child care services, to stay in the USA for 12 months, which can be extended by one more year. Au pairs, under the US visa programme, are required to spend at least six semester hours at an accredited US school.
Any expenses incurred by au pairs in the course of travelling to and from the USA must be shouldered by their host families, who must also provide them with suitable accommodation. Au pairs should not be asked to work for more than 45hours per week and they are entitled to 1.5 days of rest every week.