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Based on your responses, you should apply for a J visa. This means that you are planning to visit the United States to participate in exchange visitor programs.
Exchange Visitor Pilot Programs:
For more details on a J visa, visit Travel.State.gov.
Be sure to view local information below to determine fees and payment process and additional requirements.
Complete the Online Visa Application
You should have the following documents available while you complete your DS-160:
Additional Documentation May Be Required
A consular officer will interview you to determine your qualifications for an exchange visitor visa, and may request additional documents, such as evidence of:
Evidence of your employment and/or your family ties may be sufficient to show the purpose of your travel and your intent to return to your home country. If you cannot cover all the costs for your travel, you may show evidence that another person will cover some or all costs for your travel.
Each Applicant must pay a non-refundable processing (MRV) fee of US$185.00.
For some nationalities and visa types, an additional issuance fee may be required. Detailed information is available on your country of nationality’s Reciprocity Table on travel.state.gov. These additional fees will be paid at the time of your interview.
Applicants for F1, M1, and J1 visas must pay the appropriate SEVIS fee online BEFORE they come to the interview. It is not possible to pay the SEVIS fee in person. The SEVIS fee does not replace the processing (MRV) or any other additional fees or reciprocity fees as listed on your country of nationality’s Reciprocity Table.
Schedule an interview online (using the barcode of your Form DS-160) and print the appointment confirmation. Because of space limitations in our public waiting area, only the person with an appointment for an interview will be admitted. Exceptions: Parents or guardians of a minor child who has an appointment, a caregiver for a disabled person, and young children accompanying the person with an appointment will be allowed to enter the waiting area.
Applicants aged 14 – 79 are required (some exceptions for renewals) to book one interview slot each and appear in person for an interview with a consular officer. While an interview is generally not required for children aged 13 and younger or for adults aged 80 and older, please keep in mind that a consular officer can require any applicant to appear for an interview. When submitting an application for a non-present child, the person present at the interview should bring the child’s birth certificate or family book as a supporting document.
Please read the information in this section carefully. It contains location-specific information that you will need to know when applying for your Visa.
Select the country or area where you will apply for your visa:
You can check the status of your visa application on ceac.state.gov.
Some visa applications may require further administrative processing, which takes additional time after the visa applicant’s interview by a consular officer. Applicants are advised of this requirement when they apply. When administrative processing is required, the timing will vary based on the individual circumstances of each case.