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Exchange Visitor Categories
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| Program |
Sponsorship |
Purpose |
Participant Eligibility |
Permitted Activities |
Term of Stay |
| Government Visitor |
Federal, State and Local Governments |
To promote people-to-people programs enabling visitors to better understand American culture and to contribute their knowledge of foreign culture |
Persons recognized as influential or distinguished who are selected by US federal, state, or local government agencies. |
Participate in observation, tours, discussions, consultations professional meetings, conferences, workshops, travel; |
18 months |
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| Program |
Sponsorship |
Purpose |
Participant Eligibility |
Permitted Activities |
Term of Stay |
| International Visitor |
US Department of State |
Foreign nationals identified by State Department as potential leaders in a field of specialized knowledge or skill |
Develop and promote professional and personal ties between foreign nationals and American persons and institutions. |
State Department Sponsored observation, tours, discussions, consultation, professional meetings, conferences, workshops, and travel |
1 year |
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| Program |
Sponsorship |
Purpose |
Participant Eligibility |
Permitted Activities |
Term of Stay |
| Professor/ Research Scholar |
Research institutions, corporate research facilities, museums, libraries, post-secondary accredited educational institutions |
Foreign professors and research scholars engage in research, teaching, and lecturing with their American colleagues. Foster the exchange of ideas between Americans and foreign nationals and to stimulate international collaborative teaching and research efforts |
Professors and research scholars selected by sponsoring entity for their expertise and skills; Individual may not be on tenure track at sponsoring institution; may not have been in US for any part of the 12 months preceding the commencement of exchange program |
Research, teaching, lecturing and short term consulting within field of expertise. |
Term necessary to complete program, up to three years. Extension of 6 months may be authorized by program sponsor, extensions beyond six months must be authorized by |
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| Program |
Sponsorship |
Purpose |
Participant Eligibility |
Permitted Activities |
Term of Stay |
| Short Term Scholar |
Research institutions, corporate research facilities, museums, libraries, post-secondary accredited educational institutions |
Permit foreign professors and research scholars to engage in short term research, teaching, and lecturing in a bona fide program. Foster the exchange of ideas between Americans and foreign nationals and to stimulate international collaborative teaching and research efforts |
Professors and research scholars selected by sponsoring entity for their expertise and skills; |
Participate in educational and professional programs, confer on common problems and projects, and promote professional relationships and communications. |
Lesser of six months or the duration of the program. No extensions. |
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| Program |
Sponsorship |
Purpose |
Participant Eligibility |
Permitted Activities |
Term of Stay |
| Specialist |
Scientific institutions, government agencies, museums, corporations, libraries, and similar types of institutions primarily engaged in, mass media communication, environmental science, youth leadership, international educational exchange, museum exhibitions, labor law, public administration, and library science for example, |
Promotes the interchange of knowledge and skills among foreign and American experts in a field of specialized knowledge or skills. |
Expert in a field of specialized knowledge or skill traveling to US for the purpose of observing, consulting, or demonstrating special knowledge or skills, but not to fill a permanent or long-term position in US |
Observing, consulting, or demonstrating special knowledge or skills |
Lesser of one year or the duration of the program |
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| Program |
Sponsorship |
Purpose |
Participant Eligibility |
Permitted Activities |
Term of Stay |
| Student, Secondary School |
Tax exempt secondary schools controlled by US citizens entering sponsorship agreement with governmental or foreign educational institutions |
Afford foreign secondary students the opportunity to study in a United States public or private secondary school, while living with an American host family or residing at an accredited U.S. boarding school. |
Bona fide secondary students between ages of 15 and 18 who have completed not more than eleven years of primary/secondary education; demonstrate maturity, good character, scholastic aptitude and have not previously participated in a US exchange program |
Attendance in academic program; participation in extracurricular activities; employment permitted for intermittent employment such as babysitting or yard work |
Two academic semesters or quarters |
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| Program |
Sponsorship |
Purpose |
Participant Eligibility |
Permitted Activities |
Term of Stay |
Student, College/
University |
Colleges and universities operating an approved exchange program |
Provide foreign students the opportunity to participate in an exchange program while studying at an accredited university, whether or not working toward a degree. |
Academic credentials as established by sponsor; full time enrollment,; financing by US or home government |
Academic sturdy and training; limited part-time employment |
Degree students – duration of academic program Non-degree students –Two years maximum |
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| Program |
Sponsorship |
Purpose |
Participant Eligibility |
Permitted Activities |
Term of Stay |
| Teacher |
Primary and secondary schools |
Promote the exchange of US and foreign teachers in public and private schools and the enhancement of mutual understanding between people of the United States and other countries; teacher participation in cross cultural programs |
Licensed as teacher in home country; three years teaching or related professional experience; satisfies state teaching standards; good reputation and character; intends to teach primary/secondary full time; |
Employment as a primary or secondary teacher |
Three years maximum |
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| Program |
Sponsorship |
Purpose |
Participant Eligibility |
Permitted Activities |
Term of Stay |
| Visiting Physician |
Clinical: Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates Non-Clinical: University or academic medical center |
To facilitate exchanges for foreign medical graduates seeking to pursue graduate medical education or training at accredited schools of medicine or scientific institutions |
Clinical:
-education and training satisfactory to program
-English competency -Passed either Parts I and II of the National Board of Medical Examiners Examination, the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination in the Medical Sciences, the United States Medical Licensing Examination, Step I and Step II, or the Visa Qualifying Examination (VQE) prepared by the National Board of Medical Examiners, administered by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates
-provide statement of need from home country government Non-Clinical: Certification from sponsoring institution that activities will be non-clinical in nature |
Clinical or non-clinical activities consistent with status of program |
Duration of program to maximum of seven years. May be extended if State Department certifies to exceptional need of home country in specialty training. |
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| Program |
Sponsorship |
Purpose |
Participant Eligibility |
Permitted Activities |
Term of Stay |
Au Pair/
Educare |
Programs designated by State Department |
To permit foreign individuals the opportunity to live with an American host family and participate directly in the home life of the host family by providing child care services and attending a post-secondary institution full or part time. |
Foreign individuals who are:
-between ages of 18 and 26;
-secondary school graduate;
-English proficiency -pass physical examination -pass personal interview by sponsor and background investigation
-completed au Pair orientation and training |
Au Pair Program: -Perform child care services up to 45 hours per week -pursue at least six semester hours of post-secondary education Educare Program: -Perform child care services up to 30 hours per week -pursue at least twelve semester hours of post-secondary education |
One year |
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| Program |
Sponsorship |
Purpose |
Participant Eligibility |
Permitted Activities |
Term of Stay |
| Camp Counselor |
State Department designated exchange sponsors |
To facilitate the entry of foreign nationals to serve as counselors in U.S. summer camps, thereby promoting international understanding by improving American knowledge of foreign cultures while enabling foreign participants to increase their knowledge of American culture. |
-At least 18 years old -bona fide youth worker, students, teachers, or individuals with specialized skills
-passes sponsor's interview and reference inspection
-completes sponsor's orientation program |
Acting as a camp counselor, that is, having direct responsibility for supervision of groups of American summer campers and of activities that bring the individual into interaction with them. |
Four months maximum |
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| Program |
Sponsorship |
Purpose |
Participant Eligibility |
Permitted Activities |
Term of Stay |
Summer Work/
Travel |
State Department designated exchange sponsors |
To provide foreign post-secondary students the opportunity to work and travel in the United States during their summer vacations |
- enrollment in post secondary program in home country -pass sponsor's interview |
Employment other than household domestic services or work that requires individual investment to provide inventory for door-to-door sales |
Four months maximum |
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| Program |
Sponsorship |
Purpose |
Participant Eligibility |
Permitted Activities |
Term of Stay |
| Trainees and Flight Training |
State Department designated specialty and non-specialty occupation sponsors |
To provide training opportunities in the US to enhance the exchange visitor's skills in his or her specialty or non- specialty occupation through participation in a structured training program and to improve the participant's knowledge of American techniques, methodologies, or expertise within the individual's field. Not intended merely to permit individual to obtain experience. Training categories include: Arts and Culture; Information Media and Communications; Education, Social Sciences, and Library Science; Counseling and Social Services; Management, Business, Commerce and Finance; Health Related Occupations; Aviation; The Sciences, Engineering, Architecture, Mathematics, and Industrial Occupations; Construction and Building Trades; Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing; Public Administration and Law; Other. |
--Sponsor determination as to suitability of program given individual's background, experience and level of career development. -Adequate English language proficiency --Full qualification to |
Training activities in the field in which the program sponsor is authorized. May include payment of a stipend. |
Flight Training: 24 months Al other trainees: 18 months |
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