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All EF High School Exchange Year students travel to the USA on the J-1 visa, which means that your school is not required to complete any immigration forms or take legal responsibility for the students during their stay. Instead, EF offices in the students’ home countries and in the US work together to officially sponsor the student and issue the necessary paperwork.
J-1 visa (sponsored by EF High School Exchange Year)
Heavily regulated by the US Department of State with the purpose of building mutual understanding and goodwill among nations.
Host families must meet specific eligibility requirements and are not eligible for payment.
Exchange organization vets and sponsors the student, issues the DS-2019 and recruits and screens the host family.
School must be accredited, but it does not need to be Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certified.
Exchange organization assumes responsibility for legal and government reporting and also employs a global support network.
F-1 visa
Under the auspices of the Department of Homeland Security. No regulations regarding host family recruitment, screening or payment.
Individual schools sponsor students, issue the I-20 and recruit host families.
School must be SEVP-certified and registered in the SEVIS system, which requires a fee.
School assumes all responsibility for legal and government reporting and may not have access to a local support network.
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