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Office of International Student & Scholar Services

J-1 Exchange Visitors

J-1 Exchange Visitors

The US Department of State (DOS) administers the J Exchange Visitor category to implement the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act (Fulbright-Hayes Act) of 1961. The overall purpose of that Act, and the objective of the Exchange Visitor category, is “to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries by means of educational and cultural exchanges.”  The J-1 category cannot and should not be used for employment purposes.  For more information about the Exchange Visitor Program, you can view the J-1 About Page published by the United States Department of State.  Note that the U.S. Department of State created an important Wilberforce Pamphlet, which briefs the rights and protections for Temporary Workers. You should download and study it prior to coming to the U.S.A. You can find the pamphlet.

Individuals coming to the US as Exchange Visitors enter the country in a variety of categories set by the US Department of State. Currently, Texas A&M University-Kingsville is authorized to sponsor J-1 Exchange Visitors in the following categories: Student, Short-Term Scholar, Research Scholar, and Professor.

If you are interested in sponsoring an Exchange Visitor, please send in completed Form OISSS-200, Request for Form DS-2019 for Scholars, along with all the required documents to OISSS.

For more information, please refer to the following web pages.