J-1 English Language Requirement
Regulations Effective January 5, 2015
The US Department of State recently released new regulations which further address English language proficiency for J-1 exchange visitors. Specifically, the new regulations require that the J-1 sponsor verify that the prospective "exchange visitor possesses sufficient proficiency in the English language, as determined by an objective measurement of English language proficiency, successfully to participate in his or her program and to function on a day-to-day basis." As a J-1 sponsor, Virginia Tech is subject to this requirement and as the office that processes the scholar and student intern categories of J-1, GSS must ensure compliance with this requirement. Therefore, effective January 5, 2015, all new requests processed through GSS for J-1 exchange visitors must include documentation of sufficient English proficiency as outlined below.
Meeting the Requirement
GSS accepts four types of documentation as proof of an incoming J-1 exchange visitor’s English Proficiency in meeting the Department of State requirement, in an initial J-1 request submitted in the GSS portal:
Option 1: Evidence of citizenship of a country whose official language is English.
Please upload a copy of the passport evidencing citizenship from any of the following countries:
Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Canada (except Quebec), Cayman Islands, Christmas Island, Cook Islands, Dominica, Fiji, Gibraltar, Grenada, Ghana, Guyana, Ireland, Isle of Man, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Micronesia, Montserrat, Nambia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norfolk Island, Northern Ireland, Papua New Guinea, Pitcarin Islands, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Sudan, St. Helena, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Grenadines, Swaziland, Tanzania, The Gambia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, United Kingdom, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Option 2: Skype Interview with Language and Culture Institute at Virginia Tech.
Please upload the email confirmation issued by Virginia Tech LCI indicating that the exchange visitor has successfully passed the LCI skype interview.
To set up an interview, please visit LCI website.
Option 3: Evidence of having obtained the minimum required scores on standardized English language test within the last two years.
Before uploading documentation, please contact the Virginia Tech Language and Culture Institute and request that they verify the authenticity and scores of the test results. After verification, upload LCI’s email confirming that the test scores meet the minimum requirement.
*Please do NOT upload a copy of the test score itself.
**Not all standardized English test is acceptable, LCI will make the determination.
Option 4: Evidence of having obtained a degree from a post-secondary institution whose language of instruction is English (including US institutions).
Please upload a transcript in English showing degree conferred and English as the language of instruction. If transcript does not note English as the language of instruction, an official letter from the institution's registrar stating the individual attended the institution and the medium of instruction was English can be submitted with the transcript.