Q-1 VISA (Cultural Exchange)
The Q-1 visa allows individuals to come to the U.S. for practical training and employment and for sharing of the history, culture, and traditions of your home country through participation in an international cultural exchange program with the people of United States
Requirements:
- Must be 18 years old or older
- Have gained acceptance to an international cultural exchange program.
- Possess the education and training needed to perform the services that will be expected of him/her, including the cultural component.
- Must be able to communicate his/her native culture to the U.S. citizens.
- The applicant must have a US employer to sponsor them and administer the cultural exchange program.
The U.S. employer will also need to demonstrate that it meets certain criteria through the Q visa application process. In particular, the employer will need to show that it:
- Actively conducts business within the U.S.
- Operates a program that serves international cultural exchange purposes.
- Has named a person within its company or organization to serve as liaison with U.S.C.I.S.
- Will be employing the Q-1 visa holder for a role that involves sharing the person’s culture, such as its attitude, customs, history, heritage, philosophy and/or traditions.
- Will offer the Q-1 visa holder wages and working conditions comparable to U.S. workers performing similar tasks in the same geographical region, and has the financial ability to actually pay the Q-1 visa holder.
Duration:
Q1 visa is usually granted for the duration of the program up to 15 months and extensions cannot be granted. The holder of a Q visa may enter the U.S. up to 10 days before the start date of the petition and has 30 days to departs from U.S upon expiration.
Dependents:
The spouse and children (unmarried, under age 21) of Q-1 visa holders may come to the U.S. under Q-3 visa status.