Hi everyone! I’m Nami, currently living in Los Angeles.
Today, I’d like to talk about the J-1 visa. But before we dive in, let me give a quick introduction for those who are new here.
I worked in sales at an advertising agency in Japan for four years before coming to the U.S. in January 2023 on a J-1 visa. I spent a year and a half working as a digital marketing consultant at a company in the suburbs of San Francisco. After that, I returned to Japan briefly, obtained an F-1 student visa, and relocated to Los Angeles. I’m currently a student at UCLA Extension.
As mentioned, today’s topic is the J-1 visa—I’ll be sharing my personal experience with it. Please note, this is just my perspective, so if you’re seriously considering applying, I highly recommend speaking with a licensed agent or visa sponsor directly.
What is a J-1 Visa?
The J-1 visa is officially a non-immigrant visa managed by the U.S. Department of State, designed for international exchange. It allows students, interns, trainees, teachers, and researchers to temporarily come to the U.S. to study or participate in specialized training. The goal of the program is to promote cultural exchange—participants experience American society and then take that knowledge back to their home countries.
The visa duration depends on the program:
- Training programs can last up to 18 months
- Internships can last up to 12 months
As the name suggests, it’s considered a “training” visa, so you’re technically coming as an intern, even if your work feels closer to that of a full-time employee.
Many people on a J-1 visa are either:
- Looking to boost their careers, or
- Wanting overseas experience outside of student life, especially as working professionals.
Some plan to return to Japan to find better jobs, while others hope to stay in the U.S. and build their careers here.
J-1 Visa vs. Working Holiday Visa
The J-1 visa is often compared to a working holiday visa, and while they’re similar in that both allow you to live and work abroad, there are three big differences:
1. Cost
A working holiday visa is generally low-cost—you may only need to pay small administrative fees and submit photos. In contrast, the J-1 visa can be quite expensive. You must pay for a visa sponsor, which typically costs $4,000 to $5,000, depending on the organization. This includes sponsor fees and mandatory insurance with minimum coverage requirements—so opting out isn’t possible. On the flip side, many people skip Japanese overseas travel insurance because this J-1 insurance already meets the criteria.
2. When You Find a Job
With a working holiday visa, most people travel first and look for part-time jobs (like cafes or tourism) once they arrive. But with a J-1 visa, you must secure a job offer before you can even apply. No employer = no visa.
Here’s the general process:
- Find a company willing to host you in the U.S.
- Choose a visa sponsor organization
- Submit your application
Finding the company is often up to you. Many people apply to Japanese companies with U.S. offices or use job sites like LinkedIn or Indeed. Some people get help from an agent, which was the case for me. Job hunting while working full-time is tough, so having an agent’s support was incredibly helpful.
3. Corporate Assignments
J-1 visas aren’t just for individuals. Japanese companies also use this visa to send employees to their U.S. offices for training or development. For example, large trading or logistics companies might send younger employees to the U.S. for a year as part of their career development. I have a friend who came to the U.S. this way.
One key difference between corporate and individual J-1s is the duration:
- Individuals: up to 18 months
- Company-assigned trainees: typically 12 months
My J-1 Internship Experience
Now that I’ve covered the differences between J-1 and working holiday visas, let me share what it was like to actually train and work under the J-1 program.
Salary
There are both paid and unpaid internships under J-1, but most tend to be paid. However, unless it’s a highly specialized position, you’ll likely start at minimum wage, so your standard of living might be lower than you’re used to.
Living in the U.S. is expensive, and with the current weak yen, converting money can be painful. So, it’s very important to plan your budget in advance. Even if U.S. salaries look high, the cost of living is just as high, so knowing where you can save is essential.
Work Environment
Many companies that accept J-1 interns—especially Japanese companies in the U.S.—often struggle with staffing. So, it’s important to research the company well and try to get a sense of its culture during the interview process.
Despite being technically an “intern,” I—and many others I’ve talked to—were treated almost like full-time staff. Of course, you’ll usually have a supervisor who guides you, and working hours are often reasonable, but you’ll likely be given real responsibilities. That means you’ll need to be proactive and take initiative, not just wait to be trained.
Final Thoughts
That’s a wrap on today’s topic: the J-1 visa. I hope this post helps those of you considering living or working in the U.S. in the future!
Whatever your reason may be, I believe that just being in the U.S. can be an incredibly valuable and eye-opening experience. If you’re interested, I encourage you to reach out to an agent and explore your options.
In my next post, I’ll talk about preparing for life in the U.S. before and after your move—so stay tuned!