J-1 Restrictions

The U.S. State Department restricts the CGE’s ability to issue a DS-2019 for J-1 programs which include any of the following:

  • Childcare 
  • Teaching pre-K through 12th-grade students 
  • Elder care 
  • Clinical positions or engaging in any direct patient or client care or contact, including any type of therapy, administering medication, psychological counseling, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, social work, or speech therapy 
  • Aviation 
  • Permanent positions, such as tenure track faculty 
  • Administrative or clerical positions 

There are also certain circumstances that restrict our ability to issue a DS-2019 or prevent the visitor from successfully obtaining a J-1 visa. 

  • The visitor is a high school student. 
  • The visitor has not obtained a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, is not currently enrolled in a bachelor's degree program outside the U.S., and is not considered an expert in their field. 
  • The visitor has been in J-1 visa status in the Research Scholar or Professor category in the past 2 years and is not eligible for a transfer of their status. (One short-term scholar visit of less than 6 months may be possible, but will require the visitor to exit the U.S. and obtain a new J-1 visa). 
  • The visitor has been in J-2 visa status in the Research Scholar or Professor category in the past 2 years. (One short-term scholar visit of less than 6 months may be possible, but will require the visitor to exit the U.S. and obtain a new J-1 visa). 
  • The visitor is currently completing a program in J-1 or J-2 student status. (One short-term scholar visit of less than 6 months may be possible, but will require exiting the U.S. and obtaining a new visa). Students in J-1 status may be eligible for post-completion academic training authorized by their previous J-1 sponsor.
  • The visitor is planning to conduct their research too close to the time they will be starting a regular degree-seeking program in the U.S. The visitor will be hired into a tenure-track position now or is a candidate for a tenure-track position.
  • The visitor’s intent is to be working for another organization that is not a designated J sponsor.
  • The visitor has previously had a U.S. green card or immigrant visa. 
  • The visitor is in the process of obtaining a U.S. green card or immigrant visa. 
  • The visitor is unable to demonstrate ties to their county of last permanent residence and/or their intention to come to the U.S. temporarily (married to a U.S. citizen, living in temporary statuses outside their home country for many years).

Additionally, FSU will not sponsor the J-1 status for anyone under the age of 18.