harrista Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 If I'm eligible for both F-1 and J-1 visas and not subject to the home residency requirement, which should I choose? My friends studying different programs in the US at the moment said the F-1 is more flexible but to me it seems like the J-1 has some benefits over the F-1: 18 months vs 12 months work spouse can get study/work rights job offers go through the university's office of international affairs rather than through Dept of Immigration The main downside seems to be that you have to have a job offer lined up before graduation whereas on an F-1 visa you can be unemployed for 60 days before having to leave the country or change status. Can anyone tell me if I have this completely wrong? Which visa have other people chosen or are thinking of choosing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kadisha Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 Why don't you contact Chicago's international student office to get the most accurate information possible? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khaled Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 J-1 visa holders can get a social security number without having a job ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzylogician Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 If you have a spouse, the J-1 is significantly better than the F-1 because it will allow your spouse to work. If you are not married then the differences are much smaller; the J-1 is maybe still more convenient locally but you should find out if there is a restriction on how long you can be on it. If there is one, then getting a post-doc in the US could become more complicated because I think many times you get a J visa, not a H1B. You should ask the international students office at your new university. Maybe there are other differences I am not aware of. FWIW I could choose between the F and J when I arrived, and I chose the F. So far I am as happy with it as I think I would have been with the J. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TakeruK Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 I agree with fuzzy -- if you have a spouse that wants to work, you should go for the J visa. Otherwise, there is no real benefit of J-1 over F-1. I'm actually not sure what you mean by the 18 months of work available on the J-1 visa. From my understanding, I can extend my J-1 status for an additional 3 years for a post-doc in the US, provided that I have one lined up before I graduate (which is usually the case). Actually, now that I read your sidebar, maybe post-docs don't exist in your field? I'll just leave this post here to clarify (for people in other fields) that J-1 status can have 3 years of post-doc after graduation or 18 months of other academic work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrista Posted March 28, 2013 Author Share Posted March 28, 2013 Thanks everyone for your input. Let the paperwork begin! ImagineMe and Andean Pat 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andean Pat Posted March 30, 2013 Share Posted March 30, 2013 I thought I was going to be given a J1 visa because the school pays the fellowship but the paperwork I got is for F1, no spouse so better! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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