Students walking around campus
exchange students on canoe trip
canoe group picture

What is a J-1 visa?

The Exchange Visitor (J), non-immigrant visa category is for exchange students and visiting scholars who come to NEIU as exchange students or temporary researchers. 

Exchange students come to NEIU on a J-1 visa, and must come from one of NEIU’s partner universities. Exchange students typically come for only one semester, not to complete a full degree at NEIU.

In order to be admitted to NEIU as an exchange student, you must first be nominated by your home institution. Once we receive a nomination from your home institution, we will email you the link to an application, and later on, the DS-2019 form, which will allow you to apply for your J-1 visa. 

As an exchange student from a partner university, you do not have to pay an application fee, and most exchange students do not even have to pay any tuition to NEIU. This is through a tuition waiver, which we process once you arrive.

If your home institution has exceeded the number of students they are allowed to nominate per year, it is possible to still come to NEIU as an exchange student but with a limited tuition waiver. In this case, you still would have to pay 75% of NEIU's out-of-state tuition, and get 25% only of your tuition waived.

Please Note: We cannot transfer a J-1 visa to an F-1 visa. If you come to NEIU as an exchange student, you cannot become a degree-seeking student here without returning to your home university first. You may stay for Academic Training, but you cannot start a degree program immediately after finishing any number of exchange semesters.

Please Note: SAELL students are not eligible for the tuition waiver and must pay the semester fee. Learn more about the SAELL program.

Acceptable English Proficiency Methods and Scores:

At the undergraduate level: TOEFL (paper-based: 500, iBT: 61); IELTS (composite 6.0); PTE Academic (44); Duolingo (105); or Cambridge B2 First (170).

At the graduate level: TOEFL (paper-based: 550, or iBT 79): IELTS (composite 6.5); PTE Academic (53); Duolingo (120); or Cambridge B2 First (180).

Required Documents for Undergraduate Students/Summer Program

  1. Copy of current university transcript (in English)
     
  2. Proof of English proficiency using the tests and score minimums (mentioned above)
     
  3. Copy of current, valid passport
     
  4. NEIU Financial Form (see the "forms" tab)
     
  5. Bank statement (dated within 6 months of the start of your program)
     
  6. Add/Drop Form (see the "forms" tab)

Required Documents for Graduate Program

  1. Copy of current transcript (in English)
     
  2. Undergraduate diploma
     
  3. Proof of English proficiency using the tests and score minimums (mentioned above)
     
  4. Copy of passport
     
  5. NEIU Financial Form (see the "forms" tab)
     
  6. Bank statement (dated within 6 months of the start of your program)
     
  7. Add/Drop Form (see the "forms" tab)