Colombian in the US needs to go to france?

A friend of mine is Colombian. She wants to go to France before returning to Colombia. The requirements are a United States visa that is valid 3 month after her departure from France.She has a J1 visa in the united states that expires in march (too soon). Why is this if she is not returning to the United states and goes straight back to Colombia? Also, is there any other way for her to get there(e.g over a European country with more lax requirements)?