Program Categories & Time Limitations
Program categories & time limitations
| Government Visitor | Research Scholar | Short-Term Scholar | Specialist | Trainee | Intern | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Stay | None | 3 Weeks | None | 3 Weeks | None | None |
| Maximum Stay | 18 Months | 5 Years | 6 Months | 12 Months | 18 Months | 12 Months |
| Purpose | To develop and strengthen professional and personal ties between key foreign nationals and Americans and American institutions. These people-to-people programs enable government visitors to better understand American culture and society, and to contribute to American knowledge of foreign cultures. | To allow educational and cultural exchange through collaboration with American colleagues that will advance research and educational goals of host and home institutions and organizations. | To allow educational and cultural exchange through collaboration with American colleagues at research institutions, government agencies, museums, libraries, post-secondary accredited educational institutions and similar types of institutions. | To facilitate exchange among experts at scientific institutions, government agencies, museums, corporations and similar institutions. | To facilitate exchange and provide a structured and guided work-based learning programs set forth in an individualized Trainee Placement Plan (Form DS-7002) that enhances both the trainee’s understanding of American culture and society and skills in an occupational field. | To facilitate exchange and provide a guided work-based learning program set forth in an individualized Intern Placement Plan that reinforces a student’s or recent graduate’s academic study, provides work-based experience, and provides exposure to American techniques, methodologies, expertise, culture and society. |
| Activities | Discussions, Consultations, Professional meetings, Conferences, Workshops, Travel, Other activities approved by the Responsible Officer | Collaborative Research Teaching Lecturing | Collaborative Research Lectures Consultations Observation Training Demonstrations Conferences Workshops | Observation Consultation Demonstration of special skills | Work-based training in a specific occupational field | Work-based training in a specific academic field |
| Candidate Profile | Government officials, Business persons, Editors, Students, Professionals, Labor leaders, Foreign nationals recognized as influential or distinguished persons selected by US federal, state or local government agencies. | Foreign Professors Research Scholars | Professor Research Scholar Specialist Graduate Student Person with similar education or professional accomplishments | Experts in a field of specialized knowledge or skill | One who has either: - A degree or professional certificate from a foreign post-secondary institution and at least 1 year of prior related work experience in an occupational field; or - 5 years work experience outside the US in his/her occupational field |
- One who is currently enrolled in and pursuing students at a degree- or certificate granting post-secondary academic institution outside the US; -OR- - One who has graduated from such an institution no more than 12 months prior to the start date of the internship program |
| Other | Participants of programs funded directly or indirectly by the US government in all categories, are subject to the 2-year home country physical presence requirement. Visitors must spend 2 years in their home countries before they are eligible to apply for an H, L or permanent residency. | Subject to the 2-year home presence requirement. Subject to the 24-month bar. Scholars cannot have been in J-visa status for more than 6 months of the24-month period preceding the program start date. Scholars are not eligible for tenure track positions. | Subject to the 2-year home country physical presence requirement. 24-month bar does not apply. | Subject to the 2-year home country physical presence requirement. | Subject to the 2-year home country physical presence requirement. Subject to the 24-month bar. Those who have participated in a Trainee program for any part of the 24-month period preceding the new program are not eligible. FORM DS-7002 TRAINING/INTERNSHIP PLACEMENT PLAN REQUIRED | Subject to the 2-year home country physical presence requirement. Repeat participation in a new internship program is allowed so long as the candidate is still a full-time student or has graduated within 12 months of the start date of the new training program. FORM DS-7002 TRAINING/INTERNSHIP PLACEMENT PLAN REQUIRED |