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Eligibility Requirements

To ensure that the program is suitable to the participant's background, needs, and experience, sponsors screen and select their program participants according to the eligibility criteria for each program category. Some categories require that a personal interview be part of the screening/selection process. Please refer to the information provided in this website on each category and to the regulations through the established links. In addition to program-specific criteria, all participants must satisfy English language proficiency and Insurance requirements. In addition, sponsors are to provide participants with pre-arrival information prior to their departure from their home countries and with an appropriate orientation. Sponsors are also required to monitor the progress and welfare of the participants in their programs.

English Language Proficiency
Participants must possess sufficient proficiency in the English language to participate in their programs. Sponsors are required to ensure that their participants are sufficiently proficient in the English language to participate in their exchange programs before they enter the United States. [22 CFR 62.10(a)(2)]

Insurance
Participants and any J-2 dependents (spouses and minor children -- children under the age 21) accompanying them are required to carry medical insurance at the minimum benefit levels stated in the program regulations. Program sponsors are required to ensure that all participants have the appropriate medical insurance. They will verify that the participant's medical insurance meets the regulatory requirements, and will facilitate the purchase of coverage to participants who do not have their own insurance, or whose coverage does not meet the requirements. Participants interested in obtaining appropriate medical insurance should contact the responsible officer of the organization sponsoring their program. Willful failure on the part of the participant and/or any J-2 dependents to maintain active insurance coverage is grounds for termination from the program. Please refer to the regulations for details. [22 CFR 62.14]

Pre-Arrival Information
Sponsors are required to provide their participants with information about the program and related matters before they leave their home countries for the United States. Sponsors must also provide their participants with specific program information and any contractual obligations relevant to their program category. For details, please refer to the regulations. [22 CFR 62.10 (b)(1-8) and specific regulations for categories of interest]

Orientation
Sponsors must offer appropriate orientation for all participants, and are encouraged to offer orientation to the participant's family (J-2 spouses and dependents), especially those expected to remain in the United States for at least one year. For details, please refer to the regulations. [22 CFR 62.10 (c)(1-7) and specific regulations for categories of interest]

Orientation material should include information about the region, state, and locale. Useful information specific to each state may be found at that state's website. The URL for each site is <<www.state's name spelled as one word.com>>. For example, the site providing information for the state of Maryland is located at www.maryland.com. The site providing information for the state of New Hampshire is located at www.newhampshire.com.

Monitoring
Sponsors are required to monitor the progress and welfare of their participants. Sponsors are to ensure that the participants' activities are consistent with the program category identified on the participants' Form DS-2019. Sponsors are also to require their participants to provide current contact (address and telephone number) information and to maintain this information in their files.

All program categories require that sponsors provide emergency, 24-hour contact information to their participants. Participants should not hesitate to contact the responsible officer if they need assistance. For additional information, please refer to the regulations. [22 CFR 62.10(e) and specific regulations for categories of interest]

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