J-1 Visa Fees

Understanding the J-1 visa fees is important to know when starting your immigration journey, as it can be an investment of time, effort, and money. The J-1 visa is an advantageous option for those wanting to pursue a cultural and professional exchange. From program sponsorship fees and government filing costs to waiver or extension costs, understanding these charges can help you avoid unexpected costs and budget more effectively for your stay in the U.S.

We will break down every J-1 visa-related fee you may encounter, and explain which costs are fixed and vary by sponsor. 

J-1 Visa Cost

Most sponsors will charge you a program fee unless they are federally funded. Since these fees vary widely from sponsor to sponsor, you should check with them to determine the program fee. However, some costs are the same regardless of which J-1 visa program you choose, in particular, the DS-160 application fee. 

How Much Does a J-1 Visa Cost?

Visa applicants are responsible for the DS-160 fee of $185 and the SEVIS fee of $220, totalling $405, excluding the program fee. However, ask your sponsor if the SEVIS fee is included in your program fee. You will also need to factor in additional costs like:

• Traveling to the U.S. consulate or embassy
• Health insurance
• Program fees

Health Insurance

Health insurance is required throughout your stay in the U.S., and the coverage must meet the requirements set by the Department of State:

• Deductible no more than $500
• Repatriation up to $25,000
• Medical evaluation/evacuation expenses to cover up to $50,000
• $100,000 in medical benefits

J-1 Visa Waiver Cost

One of the main drawbacks of the J-1 visa is that many programs have a foreign residency requirement, which states that you must return to your home country for at least two years after the end of your J-1 visa validity period before coming back to the U.S. under a different visa or green card.

The only way to avoid the foreign residency requirement is to obtain a J-1 visa waiver. Getting a J-1 visa waiver requires you to obtain a DS-3035 Application for Recommendation of a J-1 Waiver, which incurs a fee of $120. Add that to the cost of a J-1 without a waiver, and the J-1 total fees rise to $525, excluding the program fee.

Four statutes can qualify a candidate for a waiver:

1. Getting a statement of “no objection” from the government of your home country
2. Having a U.S. government agency be interested in having you remain in the U.S.
3. Demonstrating that returning to your home country would result in exceptional hardship for you or your family.
4. Showing that there is a high likelihood that you would suffer persecution in your home country should you return.

J-1 Visa Extension Fee

Your J-1 validity period will be dependent on your program. Some are only six months long, while others last for more than 10 years. If you would like an extension beyond the usual amount and your sponsor approves it, you will need to have them obtain a new DS-2019, and the cost for a new DS-2019 is determined by the sponsor.

J-1 to Green Card Cost

There are several steps to getting a green card, and each one carries the potential for an additional cost. You will have to decide if you are applying for a green card through marriage to a U.S. citizen or if you are having an employer sponsor you. The costs will vary depending on the route you take.

Marriage-based costs

For a marriage-based green card, your U.S. citizen spouse will need to file an I-130 petition with the USCIS. This comes with a $675 paper filing fee ($625 for online filing). Once the I-130 is approved, you will have to pay $1,440 to file the I-485 form to change your status. 

There is a separate application fee to obtain the Employment Authorization Document (EAD/Work Permit), which is $260, and the Advance Parole costs $630 when filed concurrently with the I-485 form. These are optional fees.

Employment-based Costs

For an employment-based green card, you will need to find a U.S. employer to sponsor you for a green card, such as the EB-2 or EB-3. This employer will have to obtain a PERM Labor Certification from the Department of Labor to ensure that there are no available U.S. workers for the position. Fortunately, this does not incur a fee, though it will cost your employer to go through the PERM recruitment process.

Next, your employer will file an I-140 petition with the USCIS. The J-1 visa cost to employers will most likely incur the I-140 filing fee of $715, plus a mandatory asylum program fee of $600 for most petitioners. Nonprofit organizations and small employers (25 or fewer) may pay a reduced asylum fee of $300.

The I-140 phase of the J-1 to green card process can be sped up significantly through the optional premium processing service. For an additional fee of $2,805, you can have your I-140 processing time reduced from the eight-month average to just 15 business days. However, this will not increase your chances of being approved.

Lastly, once your priority date is current, you will need to file the I-485 form to adjust your status.

The J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa

The J-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa classification that was created for certain workers, students, and special visitors to live, work, and study temporarily in the U.S. The sentiment behind this visa is to allow people from all over the world to come and learn new skills in the U.S. before taking those skills back to better their home countries.

In contrast to other non-immigrant work visas, J-1 holders are not sponsored by employers. Rather, they are sponsored by programs that are partnered with the Department of State. Students are among the most common J-1 visa applicants, but there is also a designated list of occupations that fall under these approved programs.

Common Occupations

Here are the occupations that could be considered eligible for a J-1 visa:

• Au pair
• Camp counselor
• Government visitor
• Intern
• International visitor
• Physician
• Professor
• Research scholar
• Specialist
• Secondary school student
• Summer work travel visitor
• Trainee
• Teacher

Outside of falling into one of these categories, you must also maintain a permanent residence outside of the U.S. and make clear your intentions to return there after your J-1 validity period is over.

Application Process

The first step to getting a J-1 visa is to find a program to sponsor you. It could be an employer, a service, or a university. However, it must be one of the DOS-designated sponsors. That sponsor will be your main point of contact throughout the J-1 application process. Be sure to reach out to them for the details on how to move forward.

If you are accepted into the program, your sponsor will obtain and send you a DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status. It will be your sponsor’s responsibility to fill out this form for you. All you need to do is use the DS-2019 to fill out a DS-160 Nonimmigrant Online Visa Application and schedule a consular interview with the U.S. consulate or embassy in your home country.

Keep in mind that just because you have been accepted into the program and have a DS-2019, it doesn’t mean that your J-1 is secure. The consular officer can still deny your case during the interview.

Can I Use Premium Processing For My J-1?

No, premium processing cannot be used for a J-1 visa, as it is only available to certain visas that utilize the I-129 and I-140 forms. As the J-1 does not use either one, you are not able to expedite the J-1 processing time with this option.

How VisaNation Can Help

Your visa is an investment. The best way to protect that investment is to put it in the hands of qualified experts. An immigration attorney can help you make sure that your forms are in order, that your case is sound, and that your J-1 visa fees are correct and sent to the right places.

VisaNation Law Group has a team of dedicated J-1 visa lawyers who treat each case with the care and respect it deserves. They help you gather necessary documentation, file petitions, and submit fee payments to give you the best chance at J-1 visa approval.

To get in touch with one of their immigration attorneys: 

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