Nigerians looking to have more options in the US, even while their primary aim of travel is to study, can apply for the J1 visa, known as the Exchange Visitor Program Student visa. With the US J1 nonimmigrant visa, a Nigerian student can offer specialized skills, work, conduct research, get trained on their jobs, and even teach while still studying.
The J1 visa directly favors students who desire to learn and exchange skills unavailable in Nigeria. So, they participate in an exchange program related to their course of study.
Students applying for this visa must first find a US sponsor before applying for it in Nigeria. Now, let us explore more current information that will be useful for your application.
Table of Contents
- 1 Can a J1 visa holder bring family?
- 2 Can you get married while on a J1 visa?
- 3 Does a J1 nonimmigrant visa allow multiple entry?
- 4 How long can you stay in the USA after a J1 visa?
- 5 Can I get a US J1 visa without a sponsor?
- 6 Can I work for another employer other than my sponsor?
- 7 Can I participate in another Exchange Visitor Program after my current program?
- 8 How to apply for the Exchange Visitor Program Student Visa
Can a J1 visa holder bring family?
A Nigerian with a J1 exchange student visa can come to the United States with their family. However, there are rules you must follow before your family is allowed to join you during your stay.
Firstly, they must be your immediate family members, like your legally married partner or child. Your child must be under the age of 21.
Moreover, before they can move to the US, they must apply for and be granted a J2 nonimmigrant US visa. J2 visas are also the dependent visa for the J1 Exchange Student Program primary visa holder.
Your family can successfully move to the US, stay for the duration of your program, and return when your visa expires.
Can you get married while on a J1 visa?
No rule prevents a J1 visa holder from marrying a United States citizen. The only clause is that the marriage will not automatically make you a permanent resident or a Green Card holder, as the case may be.
If you wish to remain in the US after marriage as a visitor, you must apply for a spousal-based Green Card. If your application is approved and the visa is granted, your status will change, and you may stay back.
In addition to this process, regardless of whether you get married to a US citizen, you will still have to abide by the rules governing your current student status.
Also Read: H1B Visa Requirements and Application in Nigeria
Does a J1 nonimmigrant visa allow multiple entry?
The decision to either enter the US multiple times or not lies solely in the hands of the embassy. During your J1 visa application, if the embassy stamps a single (S) entry on your visa, it means you have to stay and finish your studies.
Suppose your visa is stamped with multiple (M) entries; it shows that you can travel outside the US, return, and continue your studies until your J1 nonimmigrant Exchange Visitor Program Student visa expires and finally leaves the country.
How long can you stay in the USA after a J1 visa?
Your stay in the US with a J1 nonimmigrant visa is tied to the activity you perform as an exchange program student. This is because different students are given different lengths of stay according to their program.
A J1 visa holder can stay for as long as five years or as short as 18 months (one year and six months). Exchange students who came to the US as trainees are allowed to stay for one year and six months. Research students or professors can get a five-year visa, while interns and hospitality-based students can stay for one year in the US.
Meanwhile, either you or your US sponsor can extend the visa. During your program activities, you may decide to change your program, which means changing your program duration.
Can I get a US J1 visa without a sponsor?
Indeed, you need a US-based sponsor before you can be granted a J1 Exchange Visitor Program visa. The embassy can not grant you or any other foreigner this type of visa without a sponsor because, as a rule, the United States government assigns some arms of the States Department, private sectors, and the academic sectors to sponsor exchange visitor programs for international students, including Nigerians.
Each sponsor is entitled to select and screen these international students in their preferred way. It does not stop there; the sponsors constantly monitor and support their exchange visitor students throughout their stay in the program.
Can I work for another employer other than my sponsor?
Your activities as a J1 US visa holder are broader than those of an F1 holder. However, there are limits to what you can do, like working for another employer.
According to the rules and obligations in Form DS-2019 and the visa, the J1 nonimmigrant visa holder is mandated to abide by the activities stated in the category for which they were granted the visa. All the activities you carry out under this visa type must be in regulation and accordance with your sponsor or the Alternate Responsible Officer. Therefore, you can not take laws into your own hands.
Can I participate in another Exchange Visitor Program after my current program?
You can not switch to a new program with your current J1 Exchange Visitor Program visa. Your current J1 visa serves only one Exchange Visitor Program and under just one sponsor. Whenever you are done with your current program, you are advised to exit the United States of America without further delay.
However, if you want to participate in another Exchange Program in another category, you must first leave the country, find another US-based sponsor, and then reapply for a new visa under another Exchange Program. That is how you can legally participate in another exchange program.
How to apply for the Exchange Visitor Program Student Visa
The general steps to apply for your J1 Exchange Visitor Student Program include:
- Fill out the Form DS-160 online and upload your photo
- Correctly fill out the J1 US visa application online
- Save and print out the confirmation page
- Go to the embassy or consulate near you
- Schedule your interview date
- Return on the scheduled date on time with your documents, including your Form DS-160. Children aged 13 and below are not eligible for an interview, and the same goes for those who are 80 and above.
- Pay your nonrefundable visa application fees, which are 294,952 Nigerian Naira as of March 2024.
- A visa issuance fee may apply.
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