Selecting Your Designated J1 Visa Sponsor

For exchange visitors planning a visit to the United States, finding and choosing a sponsor is a key decision that can large effects on the quality of your program. This decision will affect where you will be stationed in the U.S., what your role will be, and how long you will stay in the country. This article aims to provide more in-depth information for how to find a J-1 sponsor and ensure they are the right choice for you.

What is a J-1 Visa Sponsor?

J-1 visa organizations are certified by the US Department of State to verify J-1 applications, which allow prospective visitors an opportunity to travel to the U.S. Some fields that these companies exist in include:

• Arts and culture
• Hospitality and tourism
• Information media
• Business
• Public administration
• Engineering
• And many others

All above companies can be either public or private and can be a nonprofit or for-profit organization. They will need to have the capacity to support an exchange visitor financially and administratively during their stay and have a history of successfully sponsoring exchange visitors.

These companies will designate someone, typically called an ARO, who will act very similarly to a college admissions officer as acceptances are highly competitive and selective.

Assuming you have been accepted into your program, your sponsor must then fulfill the needs of welcoming and nurturing you during your stay. Let’s look at how to properly select a sponsor organization for your needs.

How to Choose the Right J1 Sponsor

Ultimately, being sponsored in the U.S. is rewarding both academically and culturally. After all, these visits are first-time experiences for most new arrivals and are meant to offer a “complete package” – one that’s tailored to investing in your academic potential, as well as opening new doors to cultural firsts in your new environment.

Many J1 sponsor companies have been in place for years on end, inviting a vast number of visa holders to their respective programs. You can look at their individual story by locating your program on review websites, like Glassdoor. These spaces provide a wealth of information that you can use to determine how to better define your expectations.

Another way to check the selections you have made is to confirm that your prospective sponsor is also verified to administer a J-1 program. To be considered as a sponsor for this type of program, one will need to be given a stamp of authenticity by the US Department of State, and prospective visitors are welcome to access their website to confirm the validity of their program.

Though the professional/academic experience you get from your program is at the forefront, you should also consider what type of environment you will be a part of. You’ll want to look into items such as safety of the work environment, perks/pay of being a part of the program and how effective the leadership team is.

Responsibilities of a Sponsoring J-1 Department

A sponsor’s duty is filled with administrative tasks that help smooth the process of arriving in the US and relaying consistent communication about your status to either SEVIS or other parts of the school.

If you ever look to make changes in your program, whether that be to extend, cancel, or even shift, either from within the institution, or from one to another - you will need to first reach out to your sponsor. They will need to report any changes you make in order to ensure that you legally remain within the parameters of your program.

Another thing that you will need to report to your sponsor includes pursuing additional areas that are relevant to your field, like clinic research or deeper assistantships. In these cases, your sponsor can support you to approve these efforts, as long as they are within your program's description.

As your sponsor is responsible not only for your academic, but also personal well-being, they will need to ensure that all occupational, health, and safety laws are being followed.

One other task that your sponsor will need to relay to you is the need to have a health insurance plan which meets the requirements of the US Department of State. Companies like ISO Student Health Insurance carry plans that accommodate J-visa holders and their dependents, for both short- and long-term coverage!