About the Exchange Visitor Program
The purpose of the J-1
Exchange Visitor Program (EVP) is to increase mutual understanding
between the U.S. and other countries through educational and cultural
exchanges. This program allows foreign nationals to enter the U.S. for
short periods to engage in educational and cultural exchange
activities.
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) is responsible
for the administration and regulation of the EVP. U.S. embassies and
consulates abroad are responsible for visa issuance. The U.S.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is responsible for admission and
departure requirements and the administration of the Student and
Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), which is a web-based data
system that enables EVP sponsors to create and process Form DS-2019,
Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Program (J-1) Status.
All EVP sponsors must enter an exchange visitor’s record in SEVIS and
report events required by the EVP regulations.
The DOS has
designated UH as an EVP sponsor. UH annually sponsors over 400 exchange
visitors who are invited to participate as students, professors,
research scholars, short-term scholars, and specialists (see the J-1 Exchange Visitor categories chart)
in a variety of temporary programs for specific objectives. After
completing their program objectives, exchange visitors are expected to
return to their home countries to carry out the exchange of knowledge
and skills gained during their programs.
