High School J1 Programs

Secondary school students applying for exchange visitor (J1) visas to study in a United States high school while living with an American host family must meet all of the following three requirements:

1. Be currently enrolled as a secondary school student in their home country who has not completed more than eleven years of primary and secondary schooling, excluding kindergarten;

2. Be at least the age of 15 but not more than 18-1/2 years of age at the time of the initial school enrollment; and

3. Has not previously participated as an exchange visitor for high school studies in the U.S. Screening factors such as English language proficiency, maturity, character, and scholastic aptitude are critical.