Why is the J-1 different from other visas from the Host Companies Perspective?
There are several visas that allow foreign nationals to be employed while living in the United States. For example, there are specialized visas for investors and traders (E-2 & E-1), for travel-related professions (C-1 for transit, D-1 for cruise ship employees), for religious workers (R-1), and for performers (P-1). Here is a comparison of some of the more general visas, which require sponsorship by a U.S.
