U.S. State Department proposes major overhaul of J‑1 exchange visa program

The U.S. State Department issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in July 2026 that would substantially revise the J‑1 Exchange Visitor Program, affecting au pairs, students, physicians and other participants. The proposal eliminates the separate 30‑day au‑pair extension provision and places all J‑1 extensions under a unified framework that requires requests at least 90 days before a program’s end. It also broadens and clarifies the grounds on which sponsors must terminate a visitor’s status, adds electronic tracking for all exchange categories, and removes outdated paper‑based requirements.

Under the new rules, a terminated participant would lose the usual 30‑day grace period for departure, and dependents on J‑2 visas would follow the principal’s status. The changes aim to improve oversight through the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and to standardize program lengths, with fixed periods of stay generally not exceeding four years. The State Department seeks public comment before finalizing the regulations.