how to request a J1 Visa?

[a fragrant plant]

Some people on this forum said they were offered the option between J1 and F1 visas. It's a great news to hear because my fiance and I are thinking of getting married in 2011. He'd like to accompany me to the US as a dependent. Can someone share your experience of obtaining a J1 visa? Do you have to indicate your visa preference on your application?

[fuzzylogician]

I didn't end up getting a J1 but I did seriously research that option. All the universities that offered me a J1 presented that option after I had been accepted, when they sent the visa application forms. In them, I could choose between an F1 and J1 - just tick the box for the visa I wanted. I don't remember there being a question about this on the applications. But pretty much all the programs that got as far as sending me the documents did have that option. You could contact your prospective programs and ask if they issue J visas - it's an important factor that might cause you not to apply to a school to begin with. Current students might also be a good resource - you could go online, find married international students and ask them.

[liszt85]

I didn't end up getting a J1 but I did seriously research that option. All the universities that offered me a J1 presented that option after I had been accepted, when they sent the visa application forms. In them, I could choose between an F1 and J1 - just tick the box for the visa I wanted. I don't remember there being a question about this on the applications. But pretty much all the programs that got as far as sending me the documents did have that option. You could contact your prospective programs and ask if they issue J visas - it's an important factor that might cause you not to apply to a school to begin with. Current students might also be a good resource - you could go online, find married international students and ask them.

The reason why I opted for the F1 visa was that the J1 is believed to be more difficult to get from the consulate, esp if the reason for applying for the J1 is solely so that the dependent can work. There were also restrictions that specified that we had to return to our country for at least 2 yrs after the visa expires before we can reenter the country (USA).