Q-1 International Cultural Exchange Visitors

This classification is intended to provide practical training and employment in the U.S. to aliens who will, during the course of their programs, share with the U.S. the history, culture and traditions of their home countries.  The cultural exchange must take place in a school, museum, business or other establishment where the public is exposed to the foreign culture.  The purpose of the employment or training must be to achieve the objective of exposing the U.S. to the foreign culture.

The foreigner must be at least 18 years old, qualified to perform the services stated in the petition, able to communicate effectively about the culture of his country to Americans, and must intend to leave the U.S. upon the conclusion of her stay.  They are only able to stay in the U.S. while engaged in the approved training/employment.  The wage paid to the alien must be comparable to that paid to U.S. workers and the employer must prove financial viability.

The business training provided by the Q visa is also authorized under the J visa category.  The Q category is intended to cover situations in which the principal goal is for the alien to share her culture with Americans, rather than the mutual exchange of culture under the J program.

A person in Q-1 classification may be allowed to stay in the U.S. for the duration of the approved cultural exchange program or up to fifteen months, whichever is shorter.  A person who has been in Q-1 status may participate in another cultural exchange program upon leaving the U.S. for a period of at least one year.  While in the U.S., the alien may work only for the employers that have filed and have had approved Q-1 petitions.  Any spouse or children of a Q-1 alien must enter as a visitor (B-2), as there is no derivative beneficiary status allowed. 

The Q-2 “Walsh” program has the purpose to assist residents of Northern Ireland and selected counties in the Republic of Ireland to participate in U.S. employment and training programs which will provide job and conflict resolution skills.  Employment opportunities include hospitality, tourism, customer service, pharmaceuticals, engineering, sales, marketing, promotion, food processing and information/communications technology.  The participant must be between 18 and 35 years of age and there may not be more than 4,000 total participants per year.