There are two nonimmigrant visa categories for persons who want to participate in Exchange Visitor programs in the United States. The J nonimmigrant classification is for participants of exchange programs, designated by the Department of State, that are designed to promote educational and cultural exchanges between the United States and other countries. The Q nonimmigrant classification is for participants of international cultural exchange programs designated by the Department of Homeland Security.
You may be eligible for Q-1 nonimmigrant classification if you are seeking to participate in an international cultural exchange program approved by the Secretary of Homeland Security. The Q cultural exchange program is for the purpose of providing practical training and employment, and sharing the history, culture, and traditions of your home country with the United States.
Whatever your immigration issue may be, we are here to help. Our team of attorneys and staff work hard to help you reach your goals.
The initial period of stay is up to 15 months. After you have completed your Q cultural exchange program, you have 30 days to depart the United States. You are required to spend 1 year outside the United States before you can apply for participation in another Q cultural exchange program
Unfortunately, the Q nonimmigrant classification does not have a provision for any spouse or children to accompany or follow to join a Q-1 nonimmigrant. Therefore, any spouse or children wishing to enter the United States must qualify independently for a nonimmigrant classification.
Yes, there is a $460 filing fee for Form I-129 and an $85 biometric fee. If you apply online, you can also pay online. If you pay by mail, then you can pay via money order, personal check, cashier’s check, or by credit card using Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions. If you pay by check, you must make your check payable to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
You can file your form online or by mail. Filing online allows you to:
You can create an account to file online. You can also mail your form to your region’s designated USCIS office.
Of course, you can choose to manage your case independently. However, working with immigration experts can help you navigate the process and provide guidance throughout.
You may be represented, at no expense to the U.S. government, by an attorney or other duly authorized representative. Your representative must submit Form G-28, Notice of Entry or Appearance as Attorney or Representative. Your representative may also submit Form G-28 at the time of your interview.
Immigration issues can be quite complicated. Combine that with the current rate of change in U.S. policies, it can be hard to keep up. Our team puts their experience to work for you and your particular situation. We work hard to stay on top of policy changes and are prepared for changes down the line. We offer patented online software, MyEsq, that streamlines the filing process and makes our knowledgeable team of lawyers just a click away.
Stay up-to-date on the latest developments in U.S. Immigration.
The U.S. Supreme Court overturned the 1984 landmark case, Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council, which established what is known as “Chevron deference.” For forty years, the Chevron doctrine required courts to defer to a federal agency’s interpretation of the law if the interpretation was considered reasonable, severely limiting meaningful judicial review.
Since three weeks ago, when President Biden ordered a pause on processing asylum claims when illegal border crossings hit certain levels, the number of arrests at the border has dropped by more than 40%, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
A recent court decision by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned an earlier ruling by a district court that required the U.S. Department of State to process diversity visas for fiscal years 2020 and 2021. The circuit court found that the lower court did not have the authority to mandate this processing.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that U.S. citizens do not have a constitutional right to challenge the rejection of spousal visa applications.
