Students walking around campus
exchange students on canoe trip
canoe group picture

What is a J-1 visa? 

The Exchange Visitor (J), non-immigrant visa category is for exchange students and visiting scholarswho participate in work- and study-based exchange visitor programs.   

Exchange J-1 students are students coming to Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) from one of NEIU’s partner universities. Exchange students typically come for only one or two semesters, not to complete a full degree at NEIU.  

In order to be admitted to Northeastern Illinois University as an exchange student, you must first be nominated by your home institution. Once we receive your information from your home institution, we will email you an application packet and the DS-2019 form, to start your application process. 

Since we have partnership with your university, as an exchange student you do not have to pay an application fee, and most exchanges students do not have to pay any tuition fees to NEIU.  

However, if your home institution has exceeded the limit of nominating students, some exchange students do not get a tuition waiver. In that case the student will have to pay 75% of NEIU's out-of-state tuition.  

(E.g. If your home institution has the capacity for nominating only two students per year for the exchange program, then from the third student onwards all the students will have to pay 75% of the out-of-state tuition fees.) 

Please Note: We cannot transfer a J-1 Visa to an F-1 Visa. If you come to NEIU as an exchange student, you cannot become a degree-seeking student here without returning to your home university first. You may stay for Academic Training, but you cannot start a degree program immediately after finishing any number of exchange semesters.

Please Note: SAELL students are not eligible for the tuition waiver. They must pay the semester fee. Learn more about the SAELL program.

Acceptable English Proficiency Methods and Scores:

At the undergraduate level: TOEFL score (paper-based: 500, computer-based: 173, or iBT: 61); IELTS (composite 6.0); or Duolingo (95).

At the graduate level: TOEFL score (PBT 550, CBT 213, or iBT 79): IELTS (composite 6.5); or Duolingo (100).

Required Documents for Undergraduate Students/Summer Program:

  1. Copy of current university transcript (in English)
     
  2. Proof of English proficiency using the tests and score minimums (mentioned above)
     
  3. Copy of current, valid passport
     
  4. NEIU Financial Form (see the "forms" tab)
     
  5. Bank statement (dated within 6 months of the start of your program)
     
  6. Add/Drop Form (see the "forms" tab)

Required Documents for Graduate Program:

  1. Copy of current transcript (in English)
     
  2. Undergraduate diploma
     
  3. Proof of English proficiency using the tests and score minimums (mentioned above)
     
  4. Copy of passport
     
  5. NEIU Financial Form (see the "forms" tab)
     
  6. Bank statement (dated within 6 months of the start of your program)
     
  7. Add/Drop Form (see the "forms" tab)