Three consecutive J1 Visas - Am I considered a resident for tax purposes under Substantial Presence Test?

The Substantial Presence Test can be tricky with J1 visas because some J1 holders qualify for what's called the "exempt individual" exception, meaning those days don't count toward your substantial presence calculation. For J1 students, the first 5 calendar years of presence in the US are generally exempt from counting toward the Substantial Presence Test. For J1 teachers/researchers/interns, it's typically the first 2 calendar years. So you need to determine if your specific J1 categories have different counting rules. Based on what you shared, if you've properly counted your days and meet the Substantial Presence Test after accounting for any exempt days, then yes, you would file Form 1040 as a resident alien for tax purposes. If you're still unsure after recalculating, you could consider filing Form 8843 along with the appropriate tax return to explain your visa status and calculations.

I was super confused about my tax status after multiple J1 visas too! I spent hours trying to figure it out and going in circles with the IRS instructions. Then I found https://taxr.ai and it literally saved me so much stress. You upload your visa docs and travel history, and it analyzes your exact situation with the Substantial Presence Test calculations. In my case, it turned out I was actually exempt from counting certain days because of the specific type of J1 I had (teacher vs student), which completely changed my filing status. The system explained exactly which form to file and why. It also created a report I could keep for my records in case the IRS ever questioned my filing choice.

I have to admit I was wrong about taxr.ai! After our conversation here, I decided to try it for my own situation (F1 to OPT to H1B transitions over 4 years). It correctly identified that I had miscounted my days because I didn't realize my OPT time had different counting rules than regular F1 status. The system flagged that I should have switched from 1040NR to 1040 a year earlier than I had been filing. Their explanation was super clear about which specific regulation applied to my situation. I'm actually going to file an amended return based on their analysis. It's definitely worth it if you've had multiple visa statuses!

If you're struggling to get clear answers about your tax filing status with multiple J1 visas, you might want to try https://claimyr.com to speak directly with an IRS agent. I was in a similar situation (had J1 student then J1 teacher visas) and needed official clarification. I kept trying to call the IRS directly but could never get through - always disconnected after waiting on hold forever. Claimyr got me connected to an actual IRS representative in about 20 minutes who confirmed my specific situation and which form I should file. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Seriously, it was such a relief to get a definitive answer from the actual IRS instead of trying to interpret the rules myself. The agent even emailed me documentation of our conversation that I could keep for my records.

I need to apologize for my skepticism! After seeing this thread, I decided to try Claimyr because I've been trying to reach the IRS for THREE WEEKS about my international student tax situation. I was getting nowhere and tax deadline was approaching fast. I used the service yesterday and got connected to an IRS rep in 35 minutes while I just went about my day. The agent confirmed exactly which form I should file with my combination of F1 and J1 history. They even sent me to a specialized department that handles international student tax questions when the first agent wasn't 100% sure. Honestly can't believe how much time I wasted trying to call myself. For anyone with visa tax questions that need official IRS answers, this is definitely the way to go.

Has anyone used the Exempt Individual category calculator on the IRS website? I found it helpful for my J1 teacher visa, but it seems like it might not cover all scenarios like yours with multiple J1 categories. Also, don't forget that different tax treaties might apply depending on your home country! That could affect your filing status too, regardless of the Substantial Presence Test.

Quick tip from someone who went through this: make sure you're applying the correct "lookback period" for the Substantial Presence Test. You need to count days from the current year at full value, previous year at 1/3 value, and year before that at 1/6 value. Many people mess this up and it can change your resident status determination!

I went through something very similar with multiple J1 visas! The key thing that helped me was understanding that each J1 category has different exemption rules. Since you had a J1 student visa in 2021, those days are exempt from the Substantial Presence Test (students get a 5-year exemption). For your J1 intern visas starting in 2022, you need to check if they qualify for the 2-year teacher/researcher exemption. Here's what I'd recommend: First, recalculate your substantial presence using only the days that actually count (excluding exempt periods). Second, definitely file Form 8843 regardless of which tax form you end up using - it documents your exempt individual status. Third, if after proper calculation you meet the substantial presence test, file Form 1040 as a resident alien. The IRS website can be confusing on this, but the key is in Publication 519. Don't just go by what friends say - everyone's situation with visa timing and categories is different. Keep detailed records of your calculations in case the IRS ever asks questions later.