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J-1 Candidate Interview Process
The English Language Program is happy to support the K-State community in its sponsorship of visiting scholars and professors by providing interviews to document English proficiency for the J-1 visa process. We ask that departments initiate the interview process by following these steps.
English Proficiency Requirement
The exchange visitor possesses 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. A sponsor [Kansas State University is considered the sponsor when we issue the DS-2019] must verify an applicant’s English language proficiency through a recognized English language test, by signed documentation from an academic institution or English language school, or through a documented interview conducted by the sponsor either in-person or by videoconferencing, or by telephone if videoconferencing is not a viable option.
(From: Government document: 22 CFR 62.10 (a) (2), Requirements for J-1 Sponsorship)
Options to document English Proficiency
1. Standardized Test Scores
Submit scores from one of the following English tests. Scores cannot be more than 2 years old and must meet the following minimum requirements. (See table below.)
|
English Test |
Minimum Scores |
|
46 on Listening with interview |
|
|
15 on Speaking and Listening sections |
|
|
48 on Listening with interview |
|
|
5.5 on Speaking and Listening sections |
|
|
44 on Speaking and Listening sections |
|
|
Pass |
|
|
Pass |
|
|
Combined score of 550 |
Official test scores are provided by the administering company. If the Exchange Visitor has taken an English proficiency test that is not listed above, he/she can submit the results and the English Language Program (ELP) will evaluate it. It must be a standardized test and the information interpreting test scores must be published and easily accessible.
2. Other Documentation Options
A J-1 will be considered proficient in English if:
- Exchange visitor is from an English speaking country and indicates that English is their native language.
- Exchange visitor received a degree from a university in an English speaking country within the last 5 years.
- Exchange visitor taught at an accredited American school, international school, or school whose language of instruction is English within the last two years. The school would need to provide the documentation.
- Exchange visitor provides certified documentation (no more than 5 years old) of a Common European Framework (CEFR) of B1.
3. Interview with the English Language Program (ELP)
If the Exchange Visitor cannot provide any of the above, the ELP can provide an oral assessment through a Zoom interview. The conversation would be conducted according to the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) guidelines. (Learn more about the Oral Proficiency Interview.) Hosting department personnel are welcome to sit in on the interview or they can view the recorded Zoom conversation at a later time. In addition, the department may contribute questions for the interview. Learn how to schedule an interview.
Interview Fee
There is a $60 fee for J-1 interviews conducted by the English Language Program. After the test is given, the department will be invoiced for this fee.
We will need the following information for invoicing the fee.
- Department name
- Department accountant's name
- Accountant's email address