The J-1 is used for educational exchange programs, and can be issued to students as well as other beneficiaries including camp counselors and au pairs. The F-1 visa is only issued to students studying for a set period at a U.S. school or college. Each visa also has different conditions. For instance, a student on a J-1 visa has to prove 51% of their financial funding comes from an institution, while any source of funding is accepted for the F-1 visa.