English Language Proficiency for J-1

All sponsors of J Exchange Visitors must retain "evidence" of "objective measures" of a prospective Exchange Visitor’s English proficiency before a DS-2019 can be issued.

As per the Department of State, a prospective visitor should have "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."

This "objective measure" can take the following forms:                    

1. A TOEFL score (or equivalent test) of 89 or higher.
2. Signed documentation from an academic institution or English language school.
3. A documented interview conducted by the department either in person, by video conference, or by telephone. For sample questions to use in interviews of prospective J Scholars, please feel free to use the following: Questions for Interviews for Assessing English Proficiency (pdf). To document this "evidence," we encourage you to use the English Proficiency Form for J Scholars (Word document) to be completed, printed and signed and retained for three years after.

Exemption from English Proficiency

Exemptions are granted to applicants who have earned a US bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a college or university accredited by a regional accrediting association in the United States, or the international equivalent degree from a university of recognized standing in a country in which all instruction is provided in English. Therefore, applicants with degrees from the US, Australia, Canada (except Quebec), New Zealand, Singapore, Ireland and the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales) are exempt from the English Proficiency requirement.

J Students have already submitted an objective measurement of English proficiency in the form of a recognized English test required of all those admitted to Stanford’s degree seeking programs.