J-1: Program Fees Disclosure
Cultural Vistas is dedicated to remaining an affordable option for international students, professionals, and host companies seeking to bring international Exchange Visitors to their organizations. Our fee structure is outlined below. Please note that this structure is subject to change.
Required Fees + Services
Program, insurance, and SEVIS I-901 fees are mandatory for all programs. Fees are per participant and based on program length and participant status.
Program Fees
The program fee covers the evaluation and administrative support Cultural Vistas provides through the participant and host company application process; the issuance of visa sponsorship documents; orientation and resources provided to participants in preparation for their arrival to the U.S.; maintenance of the participant’s SEVIS record and on-going support throughout the training program; services including a 24 hour hotline available to participants and resources for filing appropriate tax forms; cultural activities organized in major U.S. cities; and more.
J-1 Trainee and Intern Program Fees
Program Length | Student * | Non-Student |
Up to 3 months | $900 | $995 |
Up to 6 months | $1,125 | $1,395 |
Up to 12 months | $1,375 | $1,695 |
Up to 18 months | N/A | $1,895 |
J-1 Research Scholars, Short-Term Scholars, & Specialists Fees
Program Length | Fee |
0 – 3 months | $1,000 |
3 – 6 months | $1,300 |
6 – 12 months | $1,600 |
12 – 24 months | $2,000 |
24 – 36 months | $2,400 |
36 – 48 months | $2,800 |
48 – 60 months | $3,200 |
Participant Health Insurance
Participants are required to have insurance through Cultural Vistas. We offer two options for individual health insurance: Standard Lite for $60/month and Enhanced for $100/month.
Additionally, we offer a family plan: $520/month that covers the J-1 Intern/Trainee and accompanying family members on the J-2 visa. Health insurance coverage is required for J-2 dependents. This fee applies if the J-2 dependents wish to purchase insurance through Cultural Vistas and plan to arrive within two months of the new J-1.
All Cultural Vistas’ health insurance plans include unlimited Talkspace messaging completely free of charge. Talkspace is an online therapy platform that allows users to engage in counseling with an individual licensed therapist through unlimited text, audio and video messages in a private chat room. Login instructions can be found on your My Healthcare Zone portal.
SEVIS I-901: $220
The SEVIS I-901 fee is a federally mandated fee that supports SEVIS, an automated system that tracks exchange visitors activity in the United States. Cultural Vistas pays the fee on behalf of the exchange visitor and issues a copy of the receipt. The original receipt will be mailed directly to the participant in his or her home country a few weeks later.
Please note that all J-1 Visa applicants must pay a fee of $185 to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where they interview for the visa. Canadian citizens are exempt from scheduling an interview and paying this fee.
Other Fees + Services
New Host Company: $300
Companies working with Cultural Vistas for the first time (or after a hosting gap of 3 years) must pay a one-time orientation fee. This fee covers vetting for eligibility and suitability and ensuring that your company meets the standards that are outlined by the U.S. Department of State for all J-1 Visa host companies. This fee is non-refundable and cannot be paid by the J-1 candidate. This is to guarantee that companies understand their responsibilities as a U.S. host company to a J-1 Visa holder (this includes training, supervision, evaluations to be completed by trainee and supervisor, etc). Once a company has hosted a successful training program, its registration is considered complete, and it can host subsequent programs. (A successful program is defined as a program during which both the mid-term and final evaluations were completed as required).
Site Visits: Regular $300/Expedited $1,500
In-person site visits are required for companies with less than twenty-five full-time employees and less than $3 million in revenue. A host company can request an expedited site visit to be conducted within five days of application submission.
Optional Expedited Processing Fee: $1,350/$1,500
All complete applications are processed in 4 – 6 weeks. Application evaluations can be completed in five or ten business days by choosing “expedited service” on the individual or host company application form.
5 business days – $1,500
10 business days – $1,350
Travel Validation: $50
All exchange visitors traveling anywhere, excluding within the U.S., Canada, or Mexico, during their program must have their DS-2019 approved for travel.
DS-2019 Replacement: $100
This fee applies to amendments and replacement of the DS-2019 form.
Program Extension: varies
This fee applies if you request to extend the length of an active program.
Program Extension Length Fee
Up to 3 additional months | $550 |
3 to 6 additional months | $650 |
over 6 additional months | $750 |
Expedited Program Extension
If a program extension application is submitted fewer than 10 business days prior to the original program end date, an additional $750 expedited fee will be incurred.
J-2 Application Fee: $750
This is the application fee for issuance of the DS-2019 Form for dependents of J-1 applicants. Extensions are available on a case-by-case basis.
Refund Policy
Refunds will be issued only to the party who paid the fee. Cultural Vistas reserves the right to
withhold additional monies or refuse a refund request.
Fee Type | Refund— Cultural Vistas rejection, or withdrawal prior to approval decision | Refund— Embassy denial or program cancellation post-approval decision |
Program Fee | 50% | $0 |
SEVIS Fee | 100% | $0 |
Insurance Fee | 100% (minus admin fee)** | varies** |
New Employer Fee* | 0% | $0 |
Expedited Application Review* | 0% | $0 |
Expedited Site Visit* | 0% | $0 |
Dependent | 100% | $0 |
Dependent Insurance | 100% (minus admin fee)** | varies** |
Extension | 0% | 0% |
Forms Replacement | N/A | N/A |
may be possible. **Insurance may only be refunded prior to entering the United States.