Use of the Exchange Visitor Program for ordinary employment or work purposes is strictly prohibited.

The purpose of the Exchange Visitor Program is to promote and foster respect and education between Sweden and the U.S. by providing Swedish students and young professionals the opportunity to participate in a structured training program with a U.S. company to meet specific objectives. Training in the U.S. will enable participants to improve their knowledge of American techniques, methodologies, or expertise, which will strengthen their ability to play a dynamic role in their field upon their return to Sweden. At the same time, trainees will have the chance to grow personally and develop a new perspective on their own culture and abilities.

The Exchange Visitor Program also allows the trainee to share his or her culture, knowledge, techniques and experience with the host company and its employees. In this way, the program benefits both parties, encouraging two-way learning in terms of professional and personal growth. Future plans for the program include partnership with a reciprocal exchange for American students and young professionals to train in Sweden.

The specific objectives of your training program are outlined in the Individualized Training Plan, which will be sent to you electronically. You will train under direct supervision, and your progress and skills learned in your training program as observed by your host company will be provided to SACC-USA in a mid-point and a final evaluation.

You will be responsible for providing SACC-USA with a brief evaluation of your program at three stages: (1) an initial evaluation due by the end of the first month of your training period, (2) a mid-point evaluation due by the mid-point of your evaluation, and (3) a post evaluation due by the end of the second week after the completion of your program and your return to Sweden. These evaluation forms will be emailed to you once you start your training program.

Interview at U.S. Embassy in Stockholm

In order to get your J-1 visa, you will need to go to an interview at the U.S. Embassy in Stockholm, and you will need to book the interview yourself. For current instructions visit their website and click on “How to Apply for a VISA”.

When you are at your interview, it is very important to ask that you receive a multiple entry visa. The primary objective of the interview is for the immigration officials at the Embassy to determine that you have an established residence in Sweden and have no intention of abandoning your Swedish residence. In other words, they want to make sure that you will not try to overstay your visa and illegally reside in the U.S. after the completion of the training program. It is very important to understand that the J-1 visa is for training and you will not be working or employed in the U.S.

Below are the current instructions copied from the Embassy website:

United States Embassy Stockholm
Consular Section
Nonimmigrant Visa Unit
Dag Hammarskjolds Vag 31
115 89 Stockholm
Sweden

BEFORE BOOKING AN APPOINTMENT, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS REQUIRED TO BE ABLE TO OBTAIN YOUR VISA.

Do not send anything to the Embassy. Bring your documents to the interview.

Please note that you will not receive your visa at the interview. The Embassy will normally send it out by mail within a week, although it may take longer in some cases.

NONIMMIGRANT VISA CHECKLIST

  1. VALID PASSPORT: The original passport is required. Please note that some Swedish passports are of bad quality (this applies mostly to passports issued 1998-2000) and that if the ID-page is starting to fall out, or even if it only has a little crack in it, you must apply for a new passport before you come for an interview. Please check if the passport cracks by bending it a few times.
  2. ONE PHOTOGRAPH: (Attached to you DS-156 Form): Color or black and white, less than six months old, 5x5cm, against a white background, where you are facing the camera directly. Please note that Swedish style passport photos are NOT accepted.
  3. ORIGINAL RECEIPT: of 900 SEK paid into bankgiro 5452-8948. The receipt must state applicants’ names, amount paid (700 SEK per applicant) and bankgiro number. Internet receipts will not be accepted. A sample receipt may be found on our website. The application fee is not refundable, even if you decide for any reason whatsoever, not to appear for the interview. Please note that we only accept original receipts.
  4. COMPLETED DS-156 APPLICATION FORM (PDF)
  5. COMPLETED DS-157 APPLICATION FORM (PDF)
  6. ENVELOPE: Please bring a self addressed stamped envelope (stamps worth 50 SEK must be put on envelope) for the return of your passport. You will not receive your visa at the interview. We will mail your passport when we have finished processing your visa.
  7. PERSONBEVIS: Ask for a "120-personbevis med alla relationer" from the Swedish tax authorities (skattemyndigheten).
  8. COURT AND POLICE RECORDS: Persons who have been arrested or convicted for any offense or crime must provide a police record in original, copies of court records and of any prison records, even though subject of a pardon, amnesty, or other act of clemency. NOTE! If you have not been arrested you don’t need to submit any records.

Also required for J-1 visa applicants:

  1. COMPLETED DS-158 APPLICATION FORM (PDF)
  2. PROOF OF FUNDS TO COVER ALL EXPENSES: For example CSN letter, scholarship, or bank statement.
  3. DS-2019: For J1 “Exchange Visitor” status you must include the original SEVIS DS-2019 form. Family members seeking J2 status need their own copies of the DS-2019 form. The DS-2019 will be sent to you by SACC-USA.
  4. Proof of payment of the SEVIS fee. All student and exchange visa applicants presenting I-20 or DS-2019 forms issued on or after September 1, 2004, must present proof of payment. SACC-USA will pay the fee on your behalf and provide you with a receipt along with the DS-2019 form.
  5. The DS-156 needs to be completed online and can be found on the Embassy’s website: http://evisaforms.state.gov/.

Home-Country Physical Presence Requirement

A J-1 exchange visitor whose program was funded in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, by the U.S. government or home country government, or whose skills are needed by his or her home country may be subject to a rule that requires the individual to reside and be physically present in his or her country of nationality or last legal permanent residence for an aggregate of at least two years following departure from the United States before the exchange visitor is eligible to apply for a U.S. immigrant visa or permanent residence, a nonimmigrant H visa as a temporary worker or trainee, or a nonimmigrant L visa as an intra-company transferee or a nonimmigrant H or L visa as the spouse or minor child of a person who is a temporary worker or trainee or an intra-company transferee. The visa stamp and DS-2019 form will indicate that the two-year rule applies for persons subject to this requirement. Please note that the majority of programs sponsored by SACC-USA do not meet the criteria that would subject participants to this regulation. If your visa states that you are subject to the requirement, please contact SACC-USA immediately – before you leave for the U.S.

Return to Sweden

The dates on the DS-2019 reflect the maximum amount of time that you may train with a host company. You are expected to return to Sweden at the end of your program and must report to SACC-USA your exact date of departure. Upon completion of the Exchange Visitor Program, you are permitted to remain in the U.S. for a maximum of 30 days. Any trainee who remains in the U.S. longer than 30 days risks deportation by the immigration authorities.

Travel and Entry into the United States

Travel plans should not be made before you have had your interview at the U.S. Embassy and have received the visa in your passport. It is your responsibility to arrange for travel to the United States. You may discuss with your host company whether or not you will be met at the airport upon arrival to the U.S. If you will not be met at the airport, it is advisable to contact the host company for directions to where you will be staying. Depending on the city, various modes of transportation may or may not be available, such as car rental, taxi, or public transportation (bus or train). You are encouraged to arrive in the U.S. at least three days prior to the start date of the training program.

Upon arrival to the U.S. you will need to show the immigration officer your J-1 visa and form DS-2019. You will receive an I-94 card coded “D/S” for Duration of Status. Contact SACC-USA immediately if your I-94 card is not coded D/S for Duration of Status. You should always keep the DS-2019 and the I-94 in a secure place.

Travel after Arrival to the United States

Domestic Travel: Trainees who plan to travel for more than one week are required to report to SACC-USA prior to their departure, so that SACC-USA is able to reach you in case of an emergency. Please keep in mind that the Exchange Visitor Program is not a tourist program and you are not entitled to vacation days unless agreed upon with the host company. You must comply with all program requirements regarding travel.

International Travel: You may leave the U.S. during the program so long as it is permitted in your program. Before leaving, you are required to notify SACC-USA of your travel plans. Your program officer must validate your program by signing the back of your DS-2019, which proves to the immigration officials that you are in compliance with the guidelines of the program.

DS-2019 Travel Authorization: For you to travel internationally during your program, two weeks before a planned trip the following items must be sent to SACC-USA via FedEx (not by regular mail):

  1. Form DS-2019
  2. A check for $15.00 to cover return FedEx fees
  3. A separate sheet listing the following information:
    1. Dates of travel
    2. Destination
    3. Reason for travel
    4. Return address for the DS-2019 (no PO Boxes!)

If an emergency arises requiring you to leave the U.S. before the DS-2019 is validated for international travel, it is possible to leave the country without having the form signed. However, you must obtain the travel validation signature prior to returning to the U.S. It will not be possible to re-enter the U.S. with J-1 visa status without the necessary signature. For this situation, the DS-2019 form should be sent to SACC-USA as outlined above, but also including the international address to which the form should be returned and a check for $30 to cover return FedEx fees.

**Note that any participant who leaves the U.S. for a period greater than 30 days is considered to have interrupted his or her program, resulting in the automatic cancellation of the participant’s visa.

For international travel, you must have the following:

  1. A valid I-94 card
  2. Form DS-2019 validated for international travel
  3. Passport valid for at least 6 months after intended return
  4. J-1 visa stamp in passport (valid at time of re-entry and valid for “multiple entries”).

Housing

There is fairly substantial variance in housing throughout the U.S. Following are general guidelines regarding housing in the U.S.:

How to find housing

Depending on whihc area of the U.S. you are going to, it may or may not be difficult to find housing. Here are some suggestions as to how to find housing:

Rent, sublet, and agreements

As you look for housing, you will find apartments available to rent, sublet, or share. Renting an apartment allows you to actually sign the lease with the landlord. One problem with leases is that they in most cases cover a one-year period. If you are staying for a shorter period of time, it may be easier to sublet. Subletting means that you legally rent the apartment from the person who has signed the original lease.

Whether you sublet or rent you should always sign a rental agreement. Be sure to keep a copy of the agreement for your records. The agreement defines the terms by which a particular apartment is rented. The contract protects both the tenant and the landlord by stating rental price, time period, etc. Do not take any housing opportunity without carefully reviewing the lease, having the landlord sign the lease in duplicate, signing the lease yourself, and keeping one of the original copies of the lease. Before you sign anything, carefully read the agreement and ask questions if there is something that you do not understand. For example, if a landlord said that heat is included in the rent but it is not written in the agreement, do not sign the lease before the landlord writes on both copies (landlord’s copy and your copy) that heat is included at no additional cost (if that is the case). Remember that only the written information on the agreement is binding!

Fees and Costs Paid by the Trainee:

The trainee is not required to pay any of the original administrative fees to SACC-USA nor to pay the SEVIS fee.

DS-2019 Replacement fee: $100

U.S. Embassy in Stockholm interview fee: currently 900 SEK and should be paid into bankgiro 5452-8948. You will need to bring the receipt for this to your interview at the Embassy. The receipt must state your name (and names of any dependents accompanying you to the U.S.), amount paid (800 SEK per applicant) and bankgiro number. Internet receipts will not be accepted. A sample receipt may be found on the U.S. Embassy’s website. The application fee is not refundable, even if you decide for any reason whatsoever, not to appear for the interview. Please note that they only accept original receipts.

Room and board

Room and board expenses, as well all other living expenses will be the sole responsibility of the trainee unless otherwise explicitly stated in the offer of training letter by the host company. Host companies have the option to provide the trainee with a monthly allowance to cover room and board, but are in no way obligated to do so.

The cost of room and board differs greatly throughout the various geographic locations in the U.S. Large metropolitan cities are often significantly more costly than smaller cities or towns. Rent for an unfurnished studio apartment can generally range from $600 - $1500, depending on the area. Utilities, such as phone, cable, heat, electricity, and water, are often in addition to the rent and can range from $50 - $300, depending on what is or is not included and the extent to which it is used. For instance, heat can be a significant cost in Minnesota, but not an issue in Florida. Sharing an apartment with other roommates can often reduce the overall cost of living significantly.

The cost of board, or living expenses, does vary from small to large cities, but depends more significantly on an individual’s spending habits. Not living extravagantly, one should budget approximately $500-1000 per month for food and other small expenditures.

Transportation

Depending on the are, the transportation options and costs differ dramatically. Larger cities such as New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. have comprehensive public transportation systems, and monthly fees can range from $75 - $150. Smaller towns and even many of the larger cities do not generally have good public transportation systems and it can be very difficult to get around without a car. In this way the U.S. is very different from Sweden.

For short term transportation needs, it is possible to rent a car from a company such as Enterprise, Hertz or Avis, among others. Enterprise is one of the few car rental companies that will rent cars to individuals under 25 years of age, though they do charge an additional fee for persons aged 21-24. Depending on what kind of deal a car rental company may have, the age of the renter, and the insurance one chooses (if any), the price of a car rental can range from $10 – $70 per day.

For longer term transportation needs, you may need to buy or lease a car. A working used car can be anywhere from $1500 and up. A fairly decent used car can range from $4000 - $7000. Every car owner is required to have insurance, which varies based on location, age, gender, and driving history, and amount of coverage. Insurance can range from $60 - $200 per month.

Some car dealerships offer shorter term leases on cars, which can be $160 - $400 per month, but good credit history is generally required to secure a lease. If an individual has never previously lived in the U.S., he or she will most likely have no credit history. No credit history is not regarded as good credit history, so it can be very difficult to secure a lease.

It is important to discuss with your host company what transportation options are available and advisable.

Healthcare and Insurance

You and your dependents, if any, are required to have health insurance policies for the entire duration of your training period that meet the minimum requirements set forth in 22CFR22.14, including at least $50,000 per accident/illness; $7,500 for repatriation coverage; $10,000 for medical evacuation coverage; and a deductible not to exceed $500 for accident/illness. The insurance company must also meet the requisite rating as stated in the above reference regulation.

As it may be very difficult to find an insurance company in Sweden that meets these requirements, SACC-USA is able to obtain policies for trainees. The monthly premiums range from approximately $40 - $75, depending on the trainee’s age and length of stay in the U.S. Please see the enclosed brochure for more information. Please also note that insurance for the 30-day grace period following completion of your program is optional.

Salary

You will not be paid a salary.

Stipend

You will not receive a stipend unless otherwise explicitly stated in the offer of training letter by your host company. Host companies have the option to provide you with a monthly stipend, but are in no way obligated to do so. The amount of the stipend will be at the discretion of the company, but may not exceed U.S. norms.

Important Information

Special Registration
If you were born in a country outside of Sweden, such as a country in the Middle East or Northern Africa and you are a male, you may be subject to Special Registration. For more information on Special Registration, visit www.ice.gov.

Reporting Your Address

You must notify the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) – formerly the INS – of any change in your U.S. address within 10 days of the change. For instance, if you plan to stay at a hotel for your first week in the U.S. so that you can find an apartment to move to, you must notify the USCIS within 10 days of your move to the apartment. To fulfill this obligation, you will need to file form AR-11, which you can download a current version of from the USCIS website, www.uscis.gov. The current link to the page for this form is here.

Important Documents

The following documents are very important:

Taxes

J-1 visa holders and their host companies are not required to pay Social Security, Medicare or FUTA (unemployment) tax on any monies paid to a J-1 trainee. You will most likely owe State and Federal taxes on any monies you receive from the host company. Further information regarding the appropriate forms and other details can be found at www.irs.gov.

Contact Linda McCarty with questions:

Linda L. McCarty, Esq.
Blanco Tackabery Combs & Matamoros, P.A.
Stratford Point Bldg. - 5th Floor
110 South Stratford Road
Winston-Salem, NC 27104-4299
E:Mail: llm@btcmlaw.com
Website: www.btcmlaw.com
Website (in Swedish) www.btcmlag.se