Our Programs
J-1 Specialist Visa Opportunities
Sharing specialized knowledge among exchange visitors and American colleagues
Quick Links
Our Programs
Sharing specialized knowledge among exchange visitors and American colleagues
Quick Links
Delve into a focused exchange environment where specialists share and enhance specific skills with American counterparts in fields such as environmental science, public administration, or technology.
Enhance your career trajectory through collaborative projects that offer direct exposure to advanced practices and innovative approaches in your field.
Contribute to and influence global standards in your specialty through the practical application of your expertise, significantly impacting your professional community and industry at large.
The U.S. Department of State and Cultural Vistas have established criteria that must be met in order to be eligible to participate in a J-1 exchange program.
J-1 Specialists are foreign nationals with specialized knowledge or expertise who can consult, observe methods of practice, and demonstrate special skills in their professional fields at U.S. institutions. They can be a foreign subject matter expert (SME) from the overseas branches or subsidiaries of U.S. companies and other multinational companies, a global corporate partner, a collaborator, etc.
If a candidate is an independent contractor, freelancer, or consultant with specialized expertise, they may also be eligible for the J-1 Specialist visa.
Candidates for the J-1 Specialist program must have relevant professional experience proving their expertise.
Please note that Cultural Vistas does not provide placements for J-1 Specialist programs.
Most U.S.-based companies and organizations in most industry sectors can host a J-1 Specialist. Some industry sectors participating in J-1 Specialist programs include:
The host company or organizations must have a physical U.S. location and the resources to host a candidate for three weeks to a year.
Program Length | Fee |
---|---|
Programs 0 – 3 months | $1,000 |
Programs 3 – 6 months | $1,300 |
Programs 6 – 12 months | $1,600 |
Programs 12 – 24 months | $2,000 |
Programs 24 – 36 months | $2,400 |
Programs 36 – 48 months | $2,800 |
Programs 48 – 60 months | $3,200 |
Participants are required to have insurance through Cultural Vistas. We offer three options for individual health insurance: Standard Lite for $60/month, Enhanced for $100/month, and Family Lite for $120/month. Accompanying family members on a J-2 visa may select either Standard Lite for $60/month or Family Lite for $120/month.
Cultural Vistas’ health insurance plans include unlimited Talkspace messaging completely free of charge. Talkspace is an online therapy platform that allows users to engage in counseling with an individual licensed therapist through unlimited text, audio and video messages in a private chat room. Login instructions can be found on your My Healthcare Zone portal.
The SEVIS I-901 fee is a federally mandated fee that supports SEVIS, an automated system that tracks exchange visitors activity in the United States. Cultural Vistas pays the fee on behalf of the exchange visitor and issues a copy of the receipt. The original receipt will be mailed directly to the participant in his or her home country a few weeks later.
Companies working with Cultural Vistas for the first time (or after a hosting gap of 3 years) must pay a one-time orientation fee. This fee covers vetting for eligibility and suitability and ensuring that your company meets the standards that are outlined by the U.S. Department of State for all J-1 Visa host companies. This fee is non-refundable and cannot be paid by the J-1 candidate. This is to guarantee that companies understand their responsibilities as a U.S. host company to a J-1 Visa holder (this includes training, supervision, evaluations to be completed by trainee and supervisor, etc). Once a company has hosted a successful training program, its registration is considered complete, and it can host subsequent programs. (A successful program is defined as a program during which both the mid-term and final evaluations were completed as required).
All complete applications are processed in 4 – 6 weeks. Application evaluations can be completed in five or ten business days by choosing “expedited service” on the individual or host company application form.
Five business days: $1,500
Ten business days: $1,350
All exchange visitors traveling anywhere, excluding within the U.S., Canada, or Mexico, during their program must have their DS-2019 approved for travel.
This fee applies to amendments and replacement of the DS-2019 form.
This fee applies if you request to extend the length of an active program.
Program Extension Length | Fee |
---|---|
per extension (up to maximum program duration) | $650 |
This is the application fee for issuance of the DS-2019 Form for dependents of J-1 applicants. Extensions are available on a case-by-case basis.
Health insurance coverage is required for J-2 dependents. Accompanying family members on a J-2 visa may select either Standard Lite for $60/month or Family Lite for $120/month.
Both the J-1 candidate and the host company must apply to Cultural Vistas. Please begin the process here.