Bars on Repeat Participation
The 12- and 24-month bars are different from the two-year home country residence requirement. The information below refers only to the 12- and 24-month bars. It is possible that a J-1 visitor has no wait time related to the 12- and 24-month bars but is subject to the two-year home residency requirement (212(e)).
Note: The bars prohibit certain “repeat participation” in the Research Scholar or Professor categories, dependent on your previous J category. Refer to the table below indicates how long you would have to wait (the 12- or 24-month bar) before you could obtain a new J-1 Research Scholar or Professor visa based on what your previous J status was. If you have never before had J-1 visa sponsorship, then the bars do not apply to you.
| Previous J Status | Length of Time in J Status | Wait time for new J-1 Research Scholar/Professor visa |
|---|---|---|
| J-1 Student Non-Degree | For LESS Than 6 Months | No Wait |
| For MORE Than 6 Months | 12 Months | |
| J-1 Student | For LESS Than 6 Months | No Wait |
| For MORE Than 6 Months | 12 Months | |
| J-1 Student Intern | For LESS Than 6 Months | No Wait |
| For MORE Than 6 Months | 12 Months | |
| J-1 Research Scholar/Professor Category for any amount of time (one day to five years) | Any amount of time | 24 Months |
| J-1 Short-Term Scholar | For LESS Than 6 Months | No Wait |
| J-1 Specialist | For LESS Than 6 Months | No Wait |
| For MORE Than 6 Months | 12 Months | |
| J-2 Dependent of Research Scholar/Professor Category or any amount of time (one day to five years) | Any amount of time | 24 Months |