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Nonimmigrant Visas

General Information

Opening Hours

Arrival-Departure Record (I-94)

Our Service Commitment

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Voluntary Departure/ Bond Returns

How to Read Your Visa

Application Process

Renewal of Lost, Expired, or Mutilated Visas

What to Expect

Additional processing

Visa Refusals

Visa Types

Business/Tourist

Student/Exchange

Work

Diplomatic/Official(A/C3/G)

Petition-based (H/L/O/P/Q)

Specialty Position E-3

FAQ

Immigrant Visas

American Citizen Services

It is a priority for the State Department to ensure that all qualified F, M, and J applicants (students and exchange visitors) have the opportunity to start their programs in time. If you belong to one of these categories and need to expedite your visa process, please click on Expedited Visa Appointments for Student and Exchange Visa Applicants.

Exchange visitor (J-1) visas

Anyone wishing to take up prearranged employment, training, or research in the United States under an officially approved program sponsored by an educational or other nonprofit institution requires an exchange visitor (J-1) visa. Applicants for the J-1 visa include postgraduate students, foreign medical graduates, foreign scholars sponsored by universities as temporary faculty, and some business trainees. In addition, there are several exchange visitor programs, including summer camp counselor programs, intern programs for university students, and au-pair programs.

You are required to obtain form DS-2019, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status, from your sponsor before the visa interview. The DS-2019 is not valid for travel unless accompanied by a valid J-1 visa. If you have an I-20 form or are applying for a younger student (in elementary school or high school) please see the sections of this Web site for Student (F/M) Visas or Younger Students.

Remember that a visa is not a guarantee of entry to the United States. The immigration officer at the port of entry determines whether or not you may enter and the authorized duration of stay.
Please note: U.S. law requires that applicants for nonimmigrant visas, including exchange visas, provide evidence that they don't intend to immigrate to the United States. Consular officers at U.S. embassies and consulates determine eligibility on an individual basis on the merits of each case. Because each person's personal situation is different, people applying for the same kind of visa may be asked different questions and be required to submit different documents. Applicants should bring at least the recommended documents listed below as proof of their ties to Israel and their proposed studies in the United States, but consular officers may also request additional information or documentation depending on their assessment of each person's situation.

J-1 Visas

In order to receive an J-1 visa, even if you are applying to renew a current J-1 visa, you must apply for a visa and schedule a visa interview just as you would for any other visa type. In order to apply for a J-1 visa, you will need the original form DS-2019 from your program representative. In addition, you will need to pay the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee.
If you will be engaging in technical or scientific research, please read Applicants with a Technical or Scientific Background and be sure to bring in the requested documents.

Two-Year Foreign Residence Requirement

Restrictions apply to some former J-1 visa holders who seek to receive certain other visa categories or greencards. Former exchange visitors may not be issued immigrant visas (greencards), fiancé(e) (K),temporary worker (H), or intra-company transferee (L) visas until they have resided and been physically present in the country of nationality or last residence for at least two years after they have finished the exchange visitor program if one or more of the following conditions applies:

The program was financed in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, by an agency of the United States government or by the country of exchange visitor's nationality or last residence; or
The exchange visitor was a national or resident of a country which the Secretary of State has designated as clearly requiring the services of persons engaged in the field of specialized knowledge or skills in which the alien was engaged during the exchange visitor program; or
The exchange visitor was a physician who entered the United States to receive medical education or training (except those who participated in a program involving exclusively teaching research or consultation).

For information on obtaining a waiver of the J Visa Two-Year Foreign Residence Requirement, please follow this link. The consular officer will usually inform you if you are subject to the “Two Year Rule” when you apply for your visa. The words “Bearer Is Subject” will also appear on your visa when it is issued.

Recommended Documents for J-1 Students

Applicants must come to the visa interview with the required visa application forms and photo, a current passport valid for at least six months after entry to the United States, the receipt for the processing fee from the post office, and the receipt of SEVIS payment. You should also bring any previous passports with U.S. visas.

Before applying for a J-1 visa you will need to receive the original DS-2019 document from your program organizer. You must bring the original of this document to the Embassy for your visa interview in order to receive a visa. Your DS-2019 will be returned to you in a sealed envelope after your visa has been processed. Please do not open this envelope but give it unopened to the U.S. immigration inspector when you arrive in the U.S.

Keep in mind that applicants for exchange visitor visas must still prove their intention to return to Israel. In order to show significant ties to Israel, applicants may wish to bring some of the following documents:

Applicants who are employed can bring:

A typed, original letter from your current or future employer on company stationery stating the length of time you have worked for the company and information concerning the employee's future employment with the company; and
The three most recent salary slips from the current job. Bank statements cannot be substituted for proof of regular income from current employment.

Applicants who are self employed can bring:

A copy of the business incorporation document, a copy of the business license, copies of sales receipts and payroll records; and
A typed, signed letter from the business's accountant that details the type of business, years in operation and net monthly profit.

Applicants who are students can bring:

Receipt of tuition payment;
Letter of enrollment or acceptance; and
Academic transcripts.

Applicants applying with their families should also bring marriage and birth certificates to prove the relationship to the principal J-1 applicant.

Please note: Presenting fraudulent documents, or making false or misleading statements on the application form or to the interviewing officer, can result in you becoming permanently ineligible for any type of U.S. visa.

SEVIS Fee

You will need to pay the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee if your program began on or after September 1, 2004. If you are a continuing or returning student, you should consult your school or program organizers in the United States to confirm whether or not the SEVIS fee is required or has been paid. Applicants must bring proof of payment to their visa interviews. See Visa Fees for more information on SEVIS. Spouses and children of J-1 applicants do not need to pay the SEVIS fee.

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) is designed to help the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State better monitor school and exchange programs and F, M and J category visitors. Exchange visitor and student information is maintained in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). SEVIS is an Internet-based system that maintains accurate and current information on non-immigrant students (F and M visa), exchange visitors (J visa), and their dependents (F-2, M-2, and J-2). SEVIS enables schools and program sponsors to transmit mandatory information and event notifications via the Internet, to the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State (DOS) throughout a student or exchange visitor's stay in the United States. Select SEVIS to go to the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Internet site and learn more.

Families of J-1 Visa Holders

Children under 21 years old and spouses of J-1 visa applicants may apply for "derivative" visas (J-2) to accompany or follow to join the principal J-1 applicant in the U.S. Derivative visas are unavailable to the parents, in-laws, or adult sons and daughters of the principal applicant.

You should apply for your accompanying family members through the Internet the same way that you apply for a J-2 visa. See How to Apply for more information. We strongly encourage accompanying family members to apply with the principal applicant. J-2 applicants will need to bring the necessary application forms to the interview, as well a photo, a current passport valid for at least six months after entry to the United States, and the receipt for the processing fee from the post office for each application. You will also need to bring the original DS-2019 forms for each J-2 applicant. However, J-2 applicants do not need to pay the SEVIS fee.

J-2 spouses and any J-2 children age 14 years old and older must be present at the interview and are required to be finger scanned. J-2 children 13 years old and under DO NOT need to come to the Embassy for an interview and finger scanning. The child's parents may bring in the child's application at the time of their interview and apply on the child's behalf.

Applicants for J-2 visas must bring proof of their relationship to the primary J-2 visa holder, as well as proof of the J-2 bona fide, full-time status as an exchange visitor if the primary applicant is already in the U.S. (i.e. transcripts, letter of enrollment, copy of valid/current I-20).

J-2 spouses may study while in the United States. The children of J-1 holders are allowed to attend either public or private schools in the United States on J-2 visas. J-2 holders may work in the United States only if they have received permission in advance from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. An application for permission to work can only be made after the J-2 visa holder's arrival in the United States and will be considered in light of policies then in effect.

Entry and Length of Stay

The Embassy can issue J-1 visas at any time before the program begins. The holder of an exchange visitor J-1 visa may enter the United States up to 30 days before the program start date, as listed on the DS-2019. The 30-day limitation does not apply to exchange visitors returning to resume studies; they may enter the U.S. at any time.

When you enter the United States on a student visa, you will usually be admitted for the duration of your student status. That means you may stay as long as you are a full time student, even if the J-1 visa in your passport expires while you are in America, as long as you have a new DS-2019 that is still valid. The holder of a J-1 visa may remain in the United States for up to 30 days following the completion of the program.

If you wish to remain longer that this time, you will be required to apply for an adjustment of status or extension of stay from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office that has jurisdiction over your place of residence in the United States.

Applicants with a Technical or Scientific Background

Visa applications for persons who work or study in certain sensitive technical or scientific fields may be subject to additional processing. The process, on average, takes approximately three to four weeks to complete. Applicants who present detailed information at the time of interview help us process their cases more expeditiously and efficiently. Information that the officer will need in order to process the case will vary from applicant to applicant, but generally we suggest that applicants be prepared to present the following detailed information, in writing, to the officer at the time of interview:

A detailed description of applicant’s current business, research or study program interests.
Applicant’s current position and location of current work (including address and phone number).
The address, website addresses, and contact information of the company and/or institution that the applicant intends to visit in the U.S.
The point of contact at the company and/or institution.
Details about the business, research or studies the applicant plans to conduct in the U.S.
Details about the source of funding for the trip.
Location of continuing work upon return from the U.S.
Location and manner in which the applicant will use the goods or knowledge acquired in the U.S.
Complete CV/resume for applicant.
List of the applicant’s publications, if any.
Letter(s) of invitation from U.S. sponsor(s).
Letter of support from the financial sponsor.
Export license numbers covering the activity, if relevant.

If traveling to the United States in service of an ACTIVE CONTRACT or SUBCONTRACT between your company and the U.S. Government, please contact the U.S. Defense Contract Management Agency prior to the visa interview, at 09-960-1234 and request a letter of confirmation.

Non-refundable flight reservations and other travel plans should not be made until you receive a visa to the United States.

It is a priority for the State Department to ensure that all qualified F, M, and J applicants (students and exchange visitors) have the opportunity to start their programs in time. If you belong to one of these categories and need to expedite your visa process, please click on Expedited Visa Appointments for Student and Exchange Visa Applicants.

Expedited Visa Appointments for Student and Exchange Visa Applicants

You must reside in the consular district of the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv. Our consular district does not include Jerusalem , the West Bank, or Gaza . If you reside in our consular district, schedule an interview on line at http://VisaInfo.US-Visaservices.com EVEN IF THE DATE YOU RECEIVE IS TOO LATE. After you have registered and paid for a PIN, please follow the directions on the VisaPoint web site for emergency appointments. You need first to schedule an appointment date, and only then, make a request for an expedited appointment by entering the “emergency appointment” option in the "My Info" page .

In your correspondence with VisaPoint or the Embassy, please clearly identify yourself as a student/exchange visa applicant and provide the date by which you must leave Israel in order to attend your program.

Urgent cases with need to travel within 4 days: Extremely urgent student/exchange visa cases will be handled to the degree we are able. After going through the VisaPoint emergency process as described above, please highlight the fact that the case involves the need to travel within 4 days, and at the same time, please send an e-mail to the following address: usvisa.israel@gmail.com informing us that you have submitted this time-sensitive request. VisaPoint will forward these cases directly to the Embassy for handling.