General Administrative Requirements Accreditation and Licensure Sponsors are required to comply with all local, state, federal and professional requirements applicable to the program category and to the activity for which they are designated. Requisite licenses and accreditation are to be current at all times [22 CFR 62.9(c)]. Staffing and Support Services Sponsors are to appoint adequate staff and support services with appropriate qualifications and training to administer the program in compliance with the Exchange Visitor Program regulations [22 CFR 62.9(f)]. Appointment of Responsible and Alternate Responsible Officers The sponsor appoints one responsible officer (RO) and alternate responsible officers (ARO) to…
Sponsors screen and select their program participants according to the eligibility criteria for each program category. Some categories require that a personal interview be part of the screening and selection process. In addition to program-specific criteria, all participants must satisfy English language proficiency and insurance requirements. Sponsors are to provide participants with pre-arrival information prior to their departure from their home countries and an orientation upon their arrival in the United States. Sponsors are also required to monitor the progress and welfare of the participants for the duration of their programs. English Language Proficiency Participants must possess sufficient proficiency in…
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (Updated on 01/04/2023) We share your concerns for everyone’s health, safety, and welfare and the situation regarding COVID-19 as it continues to evolve. Please follow the links below for the latest guidance for Exchange Visitor Program sponsors and participants. VIEW ARCHIVED FAQs FOR J-1 VISA APPLICANTS/SELECTEES (Updated 5/1/20) Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, can the requirement for the “Statement of Need” (SoN) letter for J-1 Alien Physicians be waived? Public Law 94-484, as reflected at 22 CFR 62.27(b)(6), requires that alien physician applicants provide SoN letters from the governments of the countries of their most recent legal…
Program Extension The responsible officer has the discretion to extend a participant's program to its maximum regulatory duration, that is, to the limit imposed by the regulations specific to a program category or to a program sponsor's designation. A new Form DS-2019 reflecting the extension is issued to the participant. Extensions beyond the maximum program duration are allowed in some program categories for exceptional or unusual circumstances, with approval from the Department of State. To obtain approval for such extensions, the responsible officer must submit an electronic request that justifies the petition and provides supporting documentation to the Department of…
Minor or Technical Infractions These include, but are not limited to: failure to 1) extend a participant's program before the end date on the Form DS-2019; 2) process a program transfer prior to the end date on the Form DS-2019; or 3) receive approval and an amended Form DS-2019 prior to accepting an honorarium or other type of payment for an allowable activity. The responsible officer may correct the participant's record within 120 days of the stated end date of the participant's program by issuing a new Form DS-2019 that 1) shows continued authorized stay without interruption; 2) indicates the…
Video Transcript Slide #1 Welcome to the SEVIS Training for sponsor officials. This training is designed to facilitate your understanding of SEVIS in regards to the administration, maintenance, and management of the J-1 program information at your organization and your exchange visitor and spouse/dependent records. In this presentation, we will discuss the following functions: Cancel/Invalidate Exchange Visitor, No Show, Terminate, and Shorten Program. Slide #2 Disclaimer: This presentation provides guidance for using SEVIS. It does not replace the Exchange Visitor Program regulations 22 CFR Part 62. To obtain administrative guidance on the Exchange Visitor Program, the Exchange Visitor Program regulations,…
