A J-1 Visa is suitable for those who wish to study or obtain work related experience or training, under a specific exchange visa category. Before you can apply for a J-1 Visa, you must first be accepted into an exchange visitor program through a designated sponsoring organization in the U.S. You can learn more at...Read More
If you are already in the U.S. on an F-1 visa, you can stay in the U.S. and do a Change of Status application or you can return to your country, or a country that does third-country visa processing, and apply for a visa through the consulate. What option you choose depends on various factors: ...Read More
You cannot work while you are here in the U.S. on a student visa unless you are authorized to do so under OPT or CPT. OPT and CPT are both employment authorizations for students on the F-1 Visa. CPT stands for Curricular Practical Training: For undergraduate students; Full-time or part-time; Requires a signed agreement between...Read More
F-1 students do have the option of working on campus subject to certain requirements. They may not work off-campus during the first academic year. After the first academic year, F-1 students can pursue three types of off-campus employment and obtain work authorization (EAD): Curricular Practical Training (CPT); Optional Practical Training (OPT) (pre-completion or post-completion); and ...Read More
Some J-1 visas are subject to a two-year home-country physical presence requirement, which means the J-1 visa holder must return to their home country for at least two years after their exchange visitor program, unless they are approved for a waiver. The Department of Homeland Security must approve the waiver before the J-1 visa can...Read More
