What is the difference between an H-1B visa and a J1 Visa?

The H-1B Visa is a work visa under which the employee is permitted to live and work in the US. The J1 Visa is issued for exchange visitors looking to apply for training programs offered in the US. People applying for the J1 visa must enroll in a training program that is not provided in their country and is related to their field. The H-1B visa is valid for six years, whereas the J1 visa is valid for up to five years.

Want to apply for the US H-1B Visa? Talk to Y-Axis for expert guidance.

Looking to apply for J1 Visa? Reach out to Y-Axis for assistance.

H-1B Visa vs. J-1 Visa

The differences between and H-1B Visa and J1 Visa are as follows:

Visa Type	H-1B Visa	J1 Visa
Purpose of visa	Issued to people who want work in the US	Issued to the people who are coming to the US for training and research purposes
Eligibility and Requirements	Applicant needs have a valid job offer from an US employer and have at least a bachelor’s degree	Must be enrolled in a training program or a research project based in the US.
Validity	Valid for three years with another three-year extension	Varies based on the purpose of the of the visit Interns - 12 months Trainee - 18 months Researcher - up to 5 years
Processing Time	3-5 months	5-6 weeks
Processing Fee	215 USD	160 USD
Request for immigration status is initiated by	Employer files the petition for the H-1B visa	D - 2019 is issued by the institution
Other Employment options	Visa holders cannot work with another employer while working for the sponsor; however, they can change their employer.	Visa holders are allowed to work part-time while they are under training.
Permanent Residency	After completing six years the visa holders are eligible to apply for PR.	Cannot apply for Permanent Residency
Work while waiting for a change in visa category	Can work under new employer with the previous H-1B visa until new one is approved	Cannot not work on J1 visa until the H-1B visa is approved
Dependents	Family members - spouse and children who are under the age of 21 and not married can apply with an H-4 Visa	Family members - spouse and children who are under the age of 21 and not married can apply with a J2 Visa
Work authorization for dependents	Spouse can work once they get approval from the Employment Authorisation Department	Spouse can work after filing from employment authorization with the USCIS

Planning to Migrate to the USA? Reach out to Y-Axis, world’s No. 1 overseas immigration consultancy for end-to-end support.

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Difference between an H-1B visa and a J1 Visa, H-1B Visa

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Difference between an H-1B visa and a J1 Visa

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H-1B visa is a work permit that allows visa holders to work in the US while J1 visa is an exchange visitor visa where people come for training programs in the US.

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H-1B visa vs. J1 Visa

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Anshul Singhal

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Difference between an H-1B visa and a J1 Visa