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Do the J-1 intern and trainee programs sponsored by the American Immigration Council produce a lasting and positive impacts on the lives of the J-1 visa holders? Do the J-1 visa holders leave with a lasting and positive impression of the United States? The responses from our alumni survey indicate an overwhelming “Yes.”

Survey results show that our alumni “Learned, Left and Leveraged” their experience in America. 

• They learned from their host company sponsors and about American culture–20% arrived in the US with a very positive impression but 59% left with a very positive impression.

• The vast majority left when their visas ended—89% reported that they left the United States after the conclusion of their J-1 program.

• After returning home they leveraged their new skills into new jobs and expanded responsibilities—95% of the respondents reported that the J-1 training or internship has had an impact on their current career

Between 2007 and January 2011, approximately 1200 J-1 Interns and Trainees completed programs sponsored by the American Immigration Council.  678 were invited by e-mail to participant in the Alumni Impact Survey. 79 or 11.7% of those invited answered the survey and the results indicate that our J-1 Visa Program participants overwhelmingly report a positive experience with our program.

J-1 Interns and Trainees Go Home

Key results show that 89.3% left the United States after the conclusion of their J program.  As sharing one’s positive experience with family, friends, and colleagues is an important goal of the exchange visitor visa, the result is a positive indicator that US Department of State objectives are being met.

Impressions of the United States Improve

The change in overall impression of the United States from before to after participating in the J-1 program is notable.  Only 20% of the respondents reported having a very positive impression of the United States before participating on the J-1 program; 58.7% reported a very positive impression after participating.  12% reported having a negative or very negative impression of the United States before participating on a J-1 program; 2.7% reported having a negative impression after participating and no one reported a very negative impression.

The very positive impressions are not limited to the J-1s themselves.  64.3% of Trainees who brought their family as J-2 dependents reported that family members described their impressions of the United States at the end of the J program as very positive.

The J-1 Training or Internship had an Impact on Careers.

94.7% of the respondents agreed that the J-1 training or internship has had an impact on their careers.  70.7% strongly agreed.  89.3% reported that they maintained professional contact with Americans they met during their J-1 programs.  Even more impressive is the 90.7% who have maintained personal/social contact with Americans they met during their J-1 programs.

From the words of one of the respondents, “I found people not like those we see in tv.politics and citizens are not the same. Because before I came to the US, I use to see it in news in Iraq so taught that all Americans are that way, but thanks God I didn’t die with that idea in my head.”

Satisfied with the Support from the American Immigration Council

97.3% of the respondents reported they either agreed or strongly agreed that the American Immigration Council was helpful throughout their J-1 experience.

View the complete survey results here.

Program

Immigration attorneys with clients who are training international personnel find that the J visa can offer many advantages over Hs and Bs: no restrictions on source of income, no USCIS involvement in the application process, priority visa appointments, etc. But the J visa comes with many considerations not readily found in the Department of State Regulations.

This audio seminar will cover "how it works" questions regarding SEVIS, maintaining J status, determining eligibility, determining home residency requirements, etc. It will also address some of the political considerations behind J policies.

• Why does a J visa applicant need a designated sponsor?
• What's involved in being a J visa sponsor?
• Why do different sponsors have different application processes?
• Who provides financial support for J program participant in the United States?
  • How much funding is enough/too much?
  • What is SAVE and what does it have to do with J-1 compensation?
• Who determines in rule 212 (e), two year home residency requirement applies?
  • Who determines what subject codes are on the DS-2019 and where do they come from?
• Why are some occupations excluded from intern and training J programs?
• Why do the "unwritten rules" keep changing?

The "Late-Breaking Seminar: The Unwritten Rules of J Visas" Audio Seminar takes place Wednesday, March 30, 2011, at the times noted below:

2:00 pm-3:30 pm eastern time 1:00 pm-2:30 pm central time 12:00 pm-1:30 pm mountain time 11:00 am-12:30 pm pacific time

Faculty

Noemi Masliah, New York, NY

Born in Havana, Cuba, Noemi Masliah immigrated with her family to the United States as a child and grew up in New York City. She attended Queens College and Yeshiva University Cardozo Law School. Ms. Masliah has practiced immigration law since 1980 and has worked extensively in all aspects of immigration law becoming a recognized expert in the field with frequent speaking engagements, written articles, interviews and panel discussions at legal conferences and law schools. Her practice areas include routine and complex employment immigration cases for permanent and non-permanent work visas, including national interest waiver, alien of extraordinary ability and other non-labor certification. Ms. Masliah advises corporate clients on compliance with immigration law and regulations. Ms. Masliah is also a co-founder of the DOMA Project.

Kristen A. Harris, Chicago, IL

Kristen A. Harris is a partner of Rubman and Compernolle, a boutique immigration law firm. She is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Yale University (B.A., M.A.) and holds a J.D. degree from the University of Michigan Law School. Ms. Harris writes and speaks frequently regarding business immigration issues. She chairs the Advocacy Committee of the International Medical Graduate Taskforce, a national organization. She also currently serves on the USCIS District Director's Liaison Committee and has previously served on the Customs and Border Patrol Liaison Committee. She previously chaired the Chicago Bar Association's Immigration and Nationality Law Committee. Her practice has served foreign-born professionals, their employers and their families across the U.S.

Lois Magee, Washington, DC

Lois C. Magee was named Director of the American Immigration Council's Exchange Visitor Program in January 2006. Ms. Magee has been affiliated with a number of citizen exchange organizations including the International Christian Youth Exchange, AFS Intercultural Programs, and the YMCA International Branch. She has worked with and written on J-1 visa programs for over twenty years. Ms. Magee holds a Master's degree in International Administration from the School for International Training in Brattleboro, VT.

Registration

There is no fee to participate, but registration is required.

Register online or download and complete the registration form. Please fax the completed form to the AILA National Office at 202-783-7853.

Toll-free number provided for callers in the U.S. Callers outside the U.S. should contact teleconference@aila.org for information about how to connect to the call and additional direct dial charges that apply.

Registration Deadline: The deadline to register is Tuesday, March 29, at 11:59 pm eastern time.

Confirmations: Registrants will receive confirmation of their participation via email the day before the session starts. No additional notices will be provided.

Additional Resources

J-1 Nonstudent Exchange Visitors Performing U.S. Services

Kurzban's Immigration Law Sourcebook, 12th Edition by Ira J. Kurzban

AILALink Online

Overview

This seminar offers you a cost-effective and convenient way to stay current on the immigration issues that matter most. Discussions are lead by practitioners with extensive experience in the subject matter being presented.

From the convenience of your home or office, you can dial in and listen to the discussion. There is time at the end of the Audio Seminar devoted to a Q&A session. Questions for consideration can be emailed to the faculty in advance of the Audio Seminar.

The International Exchange Center has released an enhanced application packet, making it more compatible with Adobe Reader. The enhancements resolve previous problems with downloading and saving information in the forms.

New final rules became effective Sept. 9, 2010 for J trainee and intern programs 22 C.F.R.§ 62 (2010). With few exceptions, the final rule will produce little change to the way J trainee and intern programs have been administered since the interim-final rule of 2007.

View our Practice Advisory