Office of International Affairs (OIA)
2-year Home Residence Requirement, 212(e)
Exchange Visitors may be subject to the 2-year home country residence requirement of Section 212(e) of the Immigration & Nationality Act, as amended, for one or more of the following reasons:
- They received funding from the United States government, their own government, or an international organization in connection with their participation in the Exchange Visitor Program;
- The education, training, or skill they are pursuing in the United States appears on the Exchange Visitors Skills List for their country (most recent update from 1997);
- They acquired J-1 status on or after January 10, 1977 for the purpose of receiving graduate medical education or training.
Exchange Visitors who are subject to, but do not wish to comply with, the two-year home country residence requirement may apply for a waiver of that requirement under any of the applicable grounds provided by the United States immigration law.
Apply for a waiver: Effective February 1, 2009, applicants will be required to type and complete the DS-3035 form online . More information can be found on the Department of State website.
