J-1 or F-1?

[Guest MK]

I am looking for inputs as to what the best visa status is given that you have a choice between F-1 and J-1.

I am starting a PhD program in Finance and I am envisioning a career in academia, either in the US or in Europe (though that of course may change over the next 5 years).

Right now I can't see any clear advantages/disadvantages with either status, but I am curious about what would provide the most benefits/options/flexibility in the future, especially as I've understood it's dead impossible to chance the status during the program.

I don't have a spouse (which would make J-1 a good thing to have). I may get some quasi-government support, but this would not put me under the 2-year rule (I definitely want to avoid the 2-year rule) in case of J-1. I have a pretty good stipend from the school and health insurance, and I don't plan to work much during the program except for some TA/RA work and possibly some off-campus consulting work if I have any spare time during the summers.

How are you other people thinking about the F-1 vs. J-1 issue?

[elvisina]

As I'm married, I requested J-1 status and luckily the dept I'm headed to have agreed to sponsor me. As far as I am aware it is very difficult to get a J-1. I think most depts issue F-1 authorisation as a matter of course unless a J-1 is specifically requested. Even then, getting J-1 approval takes some persuading! I also think there's a limit (possibly 5) on the number of J-1s a dept can sponsor each year. Basically, what I'm saying is that you might not have a choice between an F-1 and a J-1 - if I wasn't married, I would definitely have gone down the normal F-1 route. Like you say, the main differences are for those who are taking spouses/dependents with them.

[Guest Caroli]

Mk,

J1 has one huge disadvantage if you plan to stay and work in the US: You must go back to your other country, or somewhere other than the States for a couple of years after having finished your studies. You won't be elegible for a working permit in the US until some years later. This is done because J1 is an exchange scholar visa, which means you should go back to your country and share your achievements with others.

Beware of this it you are planning to stay in the US.

Good luck!

[Guest Guest]

It is possible to have the requirement of returning to your home country waived, but I don't know how typical or easy this is. Both of my parents did this, and I don't think it was a big problem, but they did it 10 years ago.

[Guest DJH]

I am a citizen and my husband came here with a J1 and then changed to F1, then changed to O1. It has been a total nightmare trying to get the J1 waiver (even though we have been married 4 years and have a child). After everything we have gone through I would never advise anyone to get a J1 if they might want to stay here. Get the F1 if there is any way possible.

[elvisina]

DJH - are you a US citizen? If you don't mind saying, where is your husband from?

I will be a student, but my husband is a professional and there's just no way we could survive if he was unable to work at all (which the F2 doesn't allow) - that's why we're going for the J-1.

Anyway, I hope things are finally sorted for you - I know how hard these things are as my husband and I are also from different countries.

[Guest DJH]

I am a U.S. citizen and my husband is from Morocco. The problem here is that it is taking a long to get this J1 waiver. We have been waiting for over a year now. We were told by our lawyer that it only takes a couple of months. Now we are just told to wait and be patient. Best of luck to you.

[Guest Ida]

With an F1 visa, can we work off campus, say on a summer internship with the government or a company? Or do we need a different kind of visa for that? I will be applying for my visa soon, and was wondering what advice you could give. I would like to stay for post-doctoral work in the States too, so would that change much in what type of visa I should ask for now?

[Debating]

with an f-1, you can only work off-campus with special permission. you get a year of curricular practicum training (cpt), which is kinda hard to get, and a year of optional " " (opt). once you get your opt it's only valid for a year, so if you only use it for three months in the summer too bad, it's gone. so in short, working off-campus is really hard.

[AspirEEng]

the J1 waiver you are talking about - is it the waiver of the 2 year home residency limit?

Not all J1 holders have that limit to start with, so for them I think its the best visa option.

[Guest Cridamour]

About the J-1 visa and returning home afterwards. What are the restrictions? Do you need to return to your home country or do you just need to exit the US? I'm European, so, to give an example, could I go to a European country that is not my home country and work there for 2 years, then return to the US to work? Would I comply with the requirements then?

[Bianca]

these visa issues are so annoying and the US seems to have the single most complicated visa system in the world!

I have a question that has nothing to do with the J- or F-1, but has any of you internationals (particularly those not currently residing in the US) received the I-20 forms? if not, have you had any info on when you'll get them and if they're already processing these documents? thanks

[Guest Ida]

I received my I-20 form two days ago. But then my university was pretty efficient with sending every other letter.

[Guest Cridamour]

I received an information package from admissions a little over a week ago. It contained all sorts of papers to fill in and get back to the univeristy, among which a medical record and a form by which I needed to request forms for either an F-1 or J-1 visa. The deadline for me to send back the form was May 15 and they said the university would send out the forms during June. They also added that we should contact the univerisity if we hadn't received the papers by 1 July.

I think a lot depends on the country you're requesting your visa from. If you're from a Western European country, you won't have much trouble scheduling a visa appointment at a later date and you won't encounter much difficulty getting your visa. If you are from India, for example, you will want to push the university a bit to get your papers soon enough so that you can book your appointment before the places start filling up, as they traditionally do towards the summer months.

[Guest hydsnare]

got an email from the Intl Progrm Off at my school... the I-20s have been processed and will be sent in a couple of days... they also hv a website to track the status of where things are...

[yannbd]

Hi,

My girlfriend has been offered a three-year post-doctoral fellowship in Harvard. I applied to several graduate programs in the Boston aera. However, if I'm not accepted I will join her. We would then get married. She was said that she can have a F1 visa, and that in this case I would get a F2 visa, allowing me to work and to earn at most the amount of money she gets. Can you confirm this ? It seems that it's different from what is said on this thread. We are from the EU (I don't know if this is relevant anyhow).

[crossedfingers]

I am not an immigration expert. But from what i know, a person on an dependent visa does not get to work right away. There is a certain time lag. Things in the immigration section have changed since 9/11. I would immediately get hold of an immigration officer and get exact information.