Immigration Services

We help businesses, families, and individuals navigate the immigration process and reach their goals

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Families
Individuals
Investors
Students
Victims
J1 & J2 Visa
The J1 Exchange Visitor Visa is a popular non-immigrant visa issued by the United States to foreign nationals including students, researchers and professors for the purposes of promoting cultural exchange in the fields of educational, business, and medical training. J1 Visas are temporary visas and are issued for a short duration. The intent of this visa is to allow a diverse group of people to come to the US, thereby increasing the natural cultural exchange between countries while also giving the visa holder an opportunity to live and work in the United States for a period of time. There is no cap on the number of J1 Visas that can be issued every year.
Lawyers for Student Visa
Eligibility
The described intent J1 Exchange visitor visa might suggest that anyone can apply for a J1 Visa and be approved. The reality of the program is much more limited in scope, however. Firstly, it is necessary for anyone applying for this visa to fall into one of the following categories:

Au Pairs
University Students
Short term Scholars
Physicians
Government Visitors
Interns
International visitors
Teachers
Professors
Work and Travel Participants
The described intent J1 Exchange visitor visa might suggest that anyone can apply for a J1 Visa and be approved. The reality of the program is much more limited in scope, however. Firstly, it is necessary for anyone applying for this visa to fall into one of the following categories:

Process
The described intent J1 Exchange visitor visa might suggest that anyone can apply for a J1 Visa and be approved. The reality of the program is much more limited in scope, however. Firstly, it is necessary for anyone applying for this visa to fall into one of the following categories:

Once your application has been scrutinized and reviewed by the Embassy officers, they will schedule an interview with the US consulate/ embassy in your home country. It is important to demonstrate the constrained intentions defined by your sponsors exchange program, as a J1 is a non-immigrant visa.

Documents to be carried to the visa interview at the US Embassy/ Consulate
Some of the documents that should be provided at the time of the visa interview:

Complete and filled DS-2019 Form- Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status
Complete and filled DS-7002 Form- Training/ Internship Placement Form
Complete and filled DS-160 Form- Online Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application
A valid Passport (with at least six month of validity)
One 2X2 passport size photograph

J2 Visa for Dependents
J1 Visa holders are allowed to file for a dependent J2 Visa for their spouse and any dependent children. These dependent visas can be filed at the same time as the primary J1, at which time the dependents will be required to appear for an interview alongside the main applicant. The J2 Visa is valid so long as the J1 remains in effect; they will expire at the same time.

J1 Visa and Adjustment of Status
J1 Visa students are restricted from pursuing Permanent Residency in the United States as they are generally required to return to their country upon the visa expiration for a two-year residency period before being allowed to apply for a Green Card. However there does exist certain exceptions to this rule. If you are on a J1 Visa and want to explore the options that exist for transitioning your immigration status from J1 to a Green Card, contact Rijal Law Firm without delay. One of our attorneys will walk you through the options available, and they have the relevant experience needed to successfully process a Form DS-3035 J-1 Visa Waiver, a Fear of Persecution Waiver, or an Exceptional Hardship Waiver. Whichever remedy makes the most sense for your situation, we can get it done.

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