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Immigration Law

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204 Muirs Chapel Road, Ste. 105 Greensboro, NC 27410 | Toll-Free: (866) 790-3511
Providing immigration counsel services globally. Our practice is limited exclusively to immigration law. We serve individuals, families and businesses throughout North Carolina, the United States and the world.

J-1 Visas: Exchange Visitors

  • General. The J-1 non-immigrant visa category was created to promote educational and cultural exchange activities between the United States and other countries. The J-1 exchange visitor is broadly defined by as an foreign national having a residence abroad, which he has no intention of abandoning, who is a bona fide student, scholar, trainee, teacher, professor, research assistant, specialist, or leader in a field of specialized knowledge; who is coming temporarily to the United States as a participant in a program designated by the State Department for the purpose of teaching, instructing, lecturing, studying, observing, conducting research, consulting, demonstrating special skills, or receiving training.
  • Eligibility to Participate in a J-Visa Program. Exchange programs are available for the following individuals:
    • College and university students
    • Secondary school students
    • Short-term scholars
    • Trainees
    • Teachers
    • Professors and research scholars
    • Specialists
    • Foreign national physicians
    • International and government visitors
    • Camp counselors
    • Summer work/travel students
    • Au pairs
    • Special education exchange visitors
  • Sponsored Program. Each exchange visitor must be sponsored. The sponsor of the J-1 visa program is a legal entity designated by the State Department to conduct an exchange visitor program.
  • Two-Year Home Residency Requirement May Apply. A foreign national admitted in J-1 status may be subject to a two-year foreign (home country) residence requirement. Without a waiver of this requirement, the foreign national is not eligible to apply for a change within the U.S. to a non-immigrant visa, any change to permanent residence, or any change to an H or L non-immigrant visa. This two-year period must be spent in the foreign national's home country, or the country in which they last permanently resided before coming to the U.S. A foreign national is subject to the home residence requirement if:
    • The foreign national's participation in an exchange visitor program was financed by the government of the country of his or her last residence;
    • At the time of admission, the foreign national was a national or resident of a country which the Department of State had designated as clearly requiring the services of individuals with the foreign national's special skills or knowledge; or
    • The foreign national came to the United States to receive graduate medical education or training.

Goulder Immigration Law Firm is located in Greensboro, NC and serves clients in and around Greensboro, Oak Ridge, Summerfield, Colfax, Jamestown, Stokesdale, High Point, Mc Leansville, Browns Summit, Kernersville, Pleasant Garden, Belews Creek, Sedalia, Gibsonville, Whitsett, Madison, Climax, Walkertown, Julian, Reidsville, Alamance County, Forsyth County, Guilford County, Randolph County, Rockingham County.

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Goulder Immigration Law Firm
204 Muirs Chapel Road, Suite 105
Greensboro, NC, 27410 USA
336-808-1119