Leaving j-1 visa early?

[sweetemotion13 0]

Next week I am due to start work in the US under the J-1 work and travel visa. I've spoken to other people doing this same program and have heard bad things and that they want to come home. So if I don't like it there and want to quit the job, does my visa get terminated? Would I be out of status or in? Would I have to leave the US immediately? Can I leave the country and then re-enter under the ESTA visa? And if I did leave the country, would I have to return to my home country? How long would it be until I can re-enter? Is it possible to visit Canada and re-enter un the ESTA program?

Sorry for all the questions.

Thank you.

[JoannaV 174]

I think you will have to leave within -x- days if you quit the programme your J1 is based on, however I'm not sure about that.

But I can tell you that you can most certainly visit with the Visa Waiver Program afterwards. You may have to go beyond Canada though: it's not a cut and dry thing, but in general a trip to Canada is counted within your current US visit, as they don't want people continuously walking back and forth across the border to get more time in the US :-) However, it might be more possible in the case of leaving as a J1 and re-entering on VWP, maybe.

Hopefully some people can give you more definitive answers haha.

[ONA 133]

It is usually possible to quit your job and find a different one, BUT you have to contact your sponsor before you do that and explain the situation - they will let you do it, if you have some issues at work. They will give you about 20 days to send them a new job offer, after you quit your job.

Also, it is possible to leave the States any time you want. If you want to go to your home country and then go back to the USA it is possible since J1 is a multy-entry visa, but again - you will have to contact your sponsor and send the DS-2019 to them (although different sponsoring organizations might have different rules - mine was CIEE).

Just remember, it might seem bad at first anyway, cause everything is so different in the US (especially true for me, the USA and Russia are very different). Give it some time. It took me about a month to get used to some stuff when i went to the USA on the Work and Travel Program for the 1st time.

Edited June 16, 2011 by ONA