A New Year for the J-1 Visa Program
Kostyantine Pankin/123RF.com
People joined cultural exchange programs in the United States in order to obtain specialist training. The J-1 Visa Program is a great way for physicians and other individuals working in the United States to do so and acquire a non-immigrant visa in the process. The J-1 Visa Program has recently undergone a number of important changes that all participants should know about before they take effect on January 5, 2015.
Internal Control Reviews
Previously, most program sponsors had to provide the necessary documentation required to ensure fairness and conformity to the program. However, beginning January 5, 2014, program sponsors will be required to allow independent auditors to review the internal controls of processes and provide a managerial report of their findings. One primary reason behind the move seems to be the promotion of transparency.
For program sponsors, this translates into both greater paperwork and a need for precision managerial processes. For J-1 program participants, this change removes any instances of system bypass and therefore eliminates the possibility of illegal entry into the J-1 Visa Program.
J Nonimmigrant Auditing
Prior to the changes, program sponsors were required to audit their J nonimmigrant applications and file their findings in a report to the Department of State. Known as internal auditing, this was a crucial requirement that had to be met by program sponsors. However, this requirement has changed and J nonimmigrant auditing will also be conducted by independent auditors.
By improving on the original auditing requirement, the Department of State will be able to ensure that the sampled J nonimmigrants are valid participants. Interestingly enough, there is an interesting clause to this change, and that is the elimination of independent auditing in case of programs where the funding is from the government itself. This may be on a local, state or federal level, and people falling under thus category are likely exempted as the government performs a variety of checks by itself.
Increased Health Insurance Coverage
Health insurance is highly recommended under the current J-1 Visa Program and requires all participants to acquire adequate health care insurance. This ensures that in the case of an accident, participants will have the required funds. While the requirement for health insurance may still exist, the minimum requirements have increased. Unlike many of the new changes going into effect, this coverage requirement will not be put in full effect until May 15, 2015.
Today, not only are participants required to acquire health insurance coverage that can easily cover $100,000 on every accident, but failure to do so will result in their dismissal from the J-1 Visa Program. For sponsors, that means they only retain and exchange with individuals who are worth their time and effort. For participants in the program, that means tighter restrictions and a lower approval rate.
Record 3rd Party Activities and Interactions
Prior to the changes, program sponsors had a wide number of responsibilities attached to them. One such change was to ensure that participants in the J-1 Visa Program were not interacting with 3rd party businesses in order to make immigration and integration into the country easier. Now, companies are required to maintain an entire list of any 3rd parties their parties interact with, regardless of whether they are international or local
For sponsors, this means increased paperwork and thus increased cost of sponsorship. For participants in the program, this means tighter regulations and makes their lives a little more complicated. Moreover, program sponsors are required to ensure that more members of their staff, including responsible and alternative officers, are acquainted with the new law requirements.
The J-1 Visa Program aims to help numerous participants of the program gain their freedom and green card. However, as 2015 draws closer, changes may still continue to surface. It is imperative that program sponsors stay on top of all of the news surrounding the J-1 Visa Program.