Exchange visitor (J-1)

J-1 is issued for exchange programs conducted by the U.S. Department of State under the name BridgeUSA: Work and Travel, intern, trainee, au pair, researcher, teacher, and others. First, a program sponsor approved by the Department of State accepts you and issues the DS-2019; the visa application is submitted afterward. On this page, you will find program types and durations, application steps, the two-year home-country return requirement, contact information, and official forms.

• Work and Travel (Summer Work Travel):
  • be a full-time student in higher education abroad and have completed at least one term
  • adequate English; have a job placement before coming to the U.S. (Türkiye is not a visa-waiver country)
  • up to 4 months, during the summer vacation; return to Türkiye before school starts
  • you may participate in the program more than once
• Intern: a person continuing higher education abroad or who graduated within the past 12 months. 3 weeks–12 months.
• Trainee: a foreign diploma and at least 1 year of work experience, or 5 years of experience. 3 weeks–18 months (maximum 12 months in hospitality and tourism).
• Au pair: age 18–26, high school graduate, with adequate English. 12 months (extendable by 6, 9, or 12 months). Childcare up to 10 hours per day and 45 hours per week; at least 6 credits of classes; contribution of up to $500 toward course expenses.
• Teacher: meet the requirements to be a teacher in your home country, with at least 2 years of experience and a bachelor’s degree. Up to 3 years.
• Professor and research scholar: 3 weeks–5 years. Short-term scholar: 1 day–6 months. Specialist: 3 weeks–12 months.
• Camp counselor: at least 18 years old, 4 months. Secondary school student: ages 15–18.5, one term or one academic year.
• College or university student: for the duration of study; 24 months for non-degree programs, 12 months for student internships.
• Intern and trainee restrictions: no unskilled work, childcare or eldercare, or patient care; office work may constitute no more than 20% of the job.
• Prohibited jobs in Work and Travel (examples): childcare or eldercare in private homes, driving jobs requiring a license, work primarily between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., the adult entertainment industry, jobs largely based on commissions, warehouses, and order-distribution centers.

1. Choose a program and sponsor. You can find sponsors approved by the Department of State on the sponsor search and sponsors by country pages. Sponsors charge program fees, and fees vary; request cost breakdowns from several sponsors.
2. Receive the DS-2019. The sponsor registers you in SEVIS and sends the DS-2019. If your spouse and children will accompany you, a separate DS-2019 is issued for each person.
3. Interns and trainees: the training plan prepared by the sponsor, Form DS-7002, is also required.
4. Pay the I-901 SEVIS fee: $220 for most programs, $35 for some government-sponsored programs, and $0 for government visitors. Payment is made through fmjfee.com. The fee is not required in some cases; ask your sponsor.
5. Complete the DS-160, pay the $185 application fee, and schedule an appointment. No application fee is charged for U.S. government programs whose program number on the DS-2019 begins with G-1, G-2, G-3, or G-7. These applicants schedule appointments using the request form; see 1.3 Temporary visa application step by step.
6. Make your social media accounts “public.” This is required of J applicants.
7. Attend the interview. Bring your passport, photograph, DS-160 confirmation page, SEVIS payment confirmation, DS-2019 (or DS-7002), and proof of financial sufficiency. The embassy also requests a résumé, invitation letter, military-service certificate, and research plan.
8. Read the rights brochure. Before applying, you must read the “Rights and Protections” brochure; the Turkish version is on the Department of State website.
9. Entry: you may enter the U.S. no more than 30 days before the program start date. You show your passport, visa, and DS-2019 at the border.
10. J-1 visas are issued to Turkish citizens for 60 months, multiple entry. You cannot participate in an exchange program with a tourist visa.

• Currently: J-1 holders are admitted for “duration of status” (D/S). Your stay is determined by the program dates on the DS-2019; no extension application is filed with USCIS.
• Program extensions are made through the sponsor up to the category’s maximum duration; a new DS-2019 is issued.
• An extension beyond the maximum duration or a change of category is possible only in exceptional circumstances, through an application by the sponsor to the Department of State. The fee is $367 and is nonrefundable.
• Changing sponsors (transfer) may be done in the same category at the sponsors’ discretion and does not extend the maximum duration.
• 30 days after the program ends: you have 30 days to leave the U.S. You may not work or continue program activities during this period. If you leave the U.S., you may not be allowed to reenter.
• If the sponsor terminates your program for good cause, you must leave the U.S. immediately; no 30-day period is granted.
• Reasons for termination: failure to continue program activities, knowingly failing to maintain required health insurance, or unauthorized employment.
• If your visa expires during the program and you will not leave the U.S., you do not need to renew it. If you leave the country, obtain a new J-1 visa to return.

• A J-1 holder may perform only the activity stated on the DS-2019. To work in another job, the category rules and approval from the sponsor’s responsible officer (RO) are required.
• J-2: spouses and unmarried children under 21 may obtain J-2 status regardless of nationality. A separate DS-2019 is issued to each person.
• There is no J-2 for au pair, camp counselor, secondary school student, and Work and Travel programs. Some sponsors also do not accept dependents.
• J-2 employment authorization: apply after arriving in the U.S. using Form I-765 (category (c)(5)). The fee is $520 (paper) or $470 (online). This income may not be used for the support of the J-1 holder.
• A J-2’s stay depends on the J-1’s status. A child loses J-2 status upon turning 21 and must leave the country or change to another status.
• Consult your sponsor about tax questions; for residency rules, see 15.1 Tax residency.

• You must spend a total of 2 years in Türkiye at the end of the program if one of these three situations applies:
  • the program received funding, even partially, from the U.S. or Turkish government
  • your country and field are on the Department of State’s “Exchange Visitor Skills List”
  • you received graduate medical education in the U.S.
• Türkiye has not been on the Skills List in effect since December 9, 2024. People subject to the requirement only because of the former list, whose country is not on the new list, are no longer subject to it. The government-funding and medical-training grounds remain valid.
• If you are subject to the requirement, before completing the 2 years:
  • you cannot change to H or L status inside the U.S.
  • you cannot obtain a green card; an immigrant visa will not be issued
  • you cannot obtain an H, L, or fiancé(e) (K) visa
  • you are not prohibited from traveling to the U.S.
• J-2 spouses and children are subject to the same requirement.
• If you are unsure, you may request an “advisory opinion” from the Department of State’s Waiver Review Division by submitting your program documents.
• Five ways to obtain a waiver:
  1. A “No Objection Statement” from the Turkish government. The embassy in Washington sends it directly to the Department of State. It cannot be used for medical training.
  2. A request from an interested U.S. federal agency.
  3. Persecution grounds: file Form I-612 with USCIS.
  4. Exceptional hardship to a U.S. citizen or green-card-holder spouse or child: Form I-612. Mere separation is not sufficient.
  5. A request from a state health department (Conrad 30, physicians only).
• Waiver steps:
  1. Complete Form DS-3035 online and print the barcoded form in black and white.
  2. Mail the barcoded form, copies of all DS-2019s issued to you, and the $120 fee together.
  3. Third-party documents are sent directly to the Department of State (212ewaiver@state.gov). You can track the case in J Visa Waiver Online; updates may take 3–4 weeks.
  4. The Form I-612 fee is $1,100 (USCIS, 2026).

• Your sponsor: the first point of contact for any program-related question. The name and telephone number are listed on the DS-2019.
• U.S. Embassy Ankara: Çukurambar Mahallesi, 1480 Sokak No: 1, 06530 Çankaya / Ankara · +90 312 294 00 00
• U.S. Consulate General Istanbul: Poligon Mahallesi, Sarıyer Caddesi No: 75, 34460 İstinye / İstanbul · +90 212 335 90 00
• Visa Information Line: from Türkiye +90 850 390 1950, from the U.S. +1 313 572 0883.
• BridgeUSA help line (health, safety, and problems not resolved by the sponsor): +1 866 283 9090, jvisas@state.gov. The line is open at all times. Your sponsor may not threaten to terminate your program because you filed a complaint.
• National Human Trafficking Hotline (if your rights are violated): +1 888 373 7888.
• J-1 waiver mailing addresses:
  • Mail: Department of State J-1 Waiver, P.O. Box 979037, St. Louis, MO 63197-9000
  • Courier: Department of State J-1 Waiver, Attn: 979037, 3180 Rider Trail South, Earth City, MO 63045

• Signing a contract without receiving the sponsor’s program fee and scope in writing.
• Trying to enter the U.S. more than 30 days before the program start date.
• Working in a job not listed on the DS-2019 or taking a second job without sponsor approval.
• Failing to maintain health insurance.
• Continuing to work during the 30-day period after the program ends.
• Planning for H, L, or a green card without finding out whether you are subject to the two-year home-country requirement.
• Assuming that you can bring your spouse or child to an au pair or Work and Travel program.

• Where can I download the DS-2019? There is no blank DS-2019 to download. The sponsor who accepts you issues the document through SEVIS.
• Can I participate in Work and Travel a second time? Yes, you may participate in the program more than once.
• How long can I stay after my program ends? 30 days. You may not work during this period.
• Am I subject to the two-year requirement? If the program did not receive government funding and you did not receive medical training, generally no, because Türkiye is not on the 2024 list. Request an advisory opinion from the Department of State for a definitive answer.
• Can my spouse work with J-2? Yes, after arriving in the U.S. and obtaining authorization with Form I-765. The income may not be used for the support of the J-1 holder.
• My visa expired during my J-1 program. Do I need to renew it? No, if you will not leave the U.S.

• BridgeUSA sponsor search
• Sponsor list by country
• Program comparison table (PDF)
• Pay the I-901 SEVIS fee (fmjfee.com)
• Form I-901, paper application (PDF)
• DS-160 form (CEAC)
• Appointment system (ustraveldocs)
• Rights of temporary workers – Turkish
• Form I-765, J-2 employment authorization (PDF)
• Form I-765 instructions (PDF)
• DS-3035 waiver application (J Visa Waiver Online)
• Form I-612 (PDF)
• Form I-612 instructions (PDF)
• 2024 Exchange Visitor Skills List (Federal Register)