America has modified the rules of the hugely popular J-visitor visas by updating the Exchange Visitors Skills List. Effective December 9, 2024, the United States has updated its Exchange Visitor Skills List, bringing significant changes to the J-visitor visa program. The new rules impact the two-year home country physical presence requirement that was previously enforced for only certain J-1 visa holders.
Under the updated Skills List, if an exchange visitor’s home country is no longer included, they will no longer be subject to the two-year foreign residence requirement that previously applied. This change expands opportunities for J-1 researchers and trainees, allowing them to remain in the U.S. without having to fulfill the foreign residence obligation.
Historically, the Skills List has been used by the U.S. Department of State and Homeland Security to determine whether exchange visitors are subject to the two-year stay requirement based on the need for specialized knowledge or skills in their home country. This revision to the Skills List supersedes the previous list published in 2009 and could affect many individuals previously bound by this rule.
While the change lifts the two-year requirement for many, some exchange visitors may still face it due to funding sources (either from the U.S. government or their home country’s government) or specific training programs such as graduate medical education.
This policy update is seen as a step towards making it easier for J-1 visa holders to contribute to research and training in the U.S. without the added burden of returning to their home countries after their exchange program ends.