School Exchange Programs: News and Updates
2026-06-25 12:47 U.S. Visas

Where Do High School Students Get Their US J-1 Visa in 2026 and How to Read It Correctly?

The visa interview season for our high school exchange students is now in full swing! Months of waiting, filling out forms, and worrying are finally behind us, and an unforgettable academic year in an American high school is just ahead. Here at WayUSA, we are truly happy for each of our students. Even though the travel logistics for visa interviews have objectively become more difficult, our participants from different countries in Europe and the former USSR are successfully receiving their J-1 (Exchange Visitor) visas one by one.

Where Do Our Students Go for Visa Interviews in 2026?

Because visa rules and embassy availability change all the time, the US Department of State officially allows exchange students to pass their interviews in third countries as non-residents. This is a completely legal and normal practice, so there is no need to worry.
This spring and summer, our visa team helped dozens of students collect the right paperwork, "catch" available appointment slots, and register for interviews, while their parents organized the actual trips. Our visa map is truly international: students received their documents in Kazakhstan, Georgia, Slovenia, Cyprus, Poland, and Israel.
We understand very well how stressful this step can be for a family. Finding a rare appointment slot in a foreign consulate, paying the local fee correctly, and following all the internal embassy rules is a difficult task. The WayUSA visa team handles this process completely. We help fill out the DS-160 form, carefully choose the interview date, organize the document package, and gently prepare each child for the conversation with the officer in English so they go to the interview with a confident smile.

How to Read the Information on Your J-1 Visa Correctly?

When your passport finally returns with the visa inside, you naturally want to look at it closely. Let’s review the main fields using real examples from our students this year so that you feel completely confident.

The Visa Expiration Date Is NOT Your Departure Date From the US

This is the most common misunderstanding that worries many parents. They look at the line Expiration Date and think it means the date they must leave America.
In our practice this season, we saw two extreme cases that perfectly explain how the rules actually work:
  • Case One (Short Visa): One of our students received a visa in June 2026, and the Expiration Date is January 1, 2027. Does this mean the child must leave the US in the middle of winter? Of course not!
  • Case Two (Long Visa): Another student received a visa in May 2026 with an Expiration Date of May 21, 2031—5 years into the future! Does this mean they can legally live and study in America for all those years? Also no!
How it actually works:
The Expiration Date in your visa is strictly a "time window" during which the student has the right to cross the US border and enter the country. In both cases, the student will stay in the US only for the actual duration of their high school exchange program.
The legal length of stay and your exact travel dates are determined by other documents. These are your official DS-2019 government form and your official Host Family & School Placement information sheet, which state the exact dates for arriving at your host family, the school year schedule, and your return date. Additionally, a border officer will place a D/S (Duration of Status) stamp in the passport upon arrival.
An important rule to remember: Despite the popular internet articles about a "30-day Grace Period to travel after the program," the rules set by the US Department of State high school exchange agencies are much stricter. Program sponsors require students to fly home within 7 to 10 days after the last official school date listed in their placement document. Using the full 30 days for travel is allowed only in one rare exception—if the student's biological parents fly to the US at the end of the school year. Only then, under the parents' direct responsibility, does the program allow the family to spend a month traveling together.

What Does the Letter "M" Mean in the Entries Column?

In our students' visas, you can see the letter M (Multiple) under the Entries column. This means the visa stamp itself allows multiple entries into the US during its validity period.
Strict Rule for Exchange Programs: Despite the letter "M" in the passport, high school exchange participants cannot leave the United States during their exchange program. Leaving the country during the school year (for example, going back home for winter holidays or taking a vacation in a neighboring country) is strictly forbidden by the program rules. Exceptions are made only for serious emergencies and require written approval and signatures from the leadership of the US Department of State Agency or your hosting organization.

What Is Hidden Behind the Mysterious Two-Year Rule (Section 212(E))?

Many parents read online forums and find scary articles about the "Two-Year Home-Country Physical Presence Requirement" (Section 212(E)). This US law states that after completing an exchange program, a participant must return to their home country and live there for 2 years before they can apply for certain work or immigration visas in the US.
It is very important to separate the types of programs here, and this is where the main advantage of working with us lies:
  1. Free Government Programs: The two-year rule applies to them automatically because the trip is fully funded by the government.
  2. Private Exchange Programs: These are funded by sponsors and families, so this strict limitation does not apply to them.
If you look at our students' visas this year, the Annotation section clearly states:
Bearer is not subject to section 212(e). Two year rule does not apply...
This is a huge advantage for your child's future. Their US visa history remains completely "clean". In the future, after finishing high school, they can easily apply for an F-1 student visa to attend an American university or get a regular B1/B2 tourist visa without any two-year waiting periods.

Why Is a Visa Alone Not Enough for the Trip?

For a successful and stress-free border crossing, a student must carry the following printed documents in their hand luggage:
  • The original DS-2019 form with original signatures.
  • Their official, confirmed Host Family & School Placement information sheet showing exactly where and with whom the child will live and study.
  • And, of course, their passport with the valid J-1 visa!
Flying to the US and passing border control without this package is absolutely not allowed. The WayUSA team will definitely remind you about this before departure and will help all our students safely reach New York for our summer orientation camp, where their unforgettable journey begins!

WayUSA Visa Summary for 2026

Wrapping up the visa results for this year, we can proudly say: 100% of the DS-2019 government forms have been successfully received, and absolutely all of our students either have a confirmed appointment or have already successfully passed their interview with the US consul.
We have done a massive amount of work together, and now we cannot wait to welcome all our kids to New York! A wonderful orientation camp, new friends, and the most exciting year of their lives are waiting for them.
If you also want your child to spend an unforgettable year in the US, master English like a native speaker, and grow into an independent individual—start this journey with professional support.
👉 Learn more about our exchange programs, requirements, and visa details on our website WayUSA.info.

We are with you every step of the way!