State Department Proposes Broader Power to Terminate J-1 Exchange Visitors

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The U.S. Department of State published a proposed rule on July 30, 2026 that would significantly expand both sponsor obligations and government authority to terminate participation in the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program. Public comments are due by September 28, 2026. The department describes the package as an integrity and oversight update to regulations that have not been substantially revised since 1999.

The proposal clarifies the conditions under which a sponsor must terminate an exchange visitor’s program and, separately, authorizes the State Department itself to terminate a participant’s program in specified circumstances — a discretionary power the department has not previously exercised in this form. Expanded grounds under discussion include falsification of application materials, misrepresentation, unauthorized employment, and visa revocation. The rule would also add regulatory definitions for “Unauthorized Employment” and “Valid Program Status,” giving those terms enforceable content they currently lack.

Exchange Visitors on US Immigration, Explained Daily

State Department Proposes Broader Power to Terminate J-1 Exchange Visitors