After you complete a J-1 program, you may be subject to one or more of the restrictions below
Until the requirement is fulfilled or waived you will not be able to:
However, while you are subject, you do have the option to leave and return to the U.S. as F-1 students, B Visitors, the O-1 Extraordinary Ability visa and many other nonimmigrant statuses.
INA 212e
What is it?
The two-year home-country physical presence requirement is based on Section 212(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. If you are subject to the requirement, then you must return to your home country for at least 2 years at the end of your J-1 program.Until the requirement is fulfilled or waived you will not be able to:
- Apply for H, L, and Permanent Resident statuses in the U.S. and at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate
- Apply for a K visa outside the U.S.
- Apply for a nonimmigrant status while inside the U.S.
However, while you are subject, you do have the option to leave and return to the U.S. as F-1 students, B Visitors, the O-1 Extraordinary Ability visa and many other nonimmigrant statuses.
Bars on beginning a J-1 program
The 12-Month bar after previous J participation
You are not eligible to apply for the J-1 Professor or Research Scholar categories if you were physically present in any J status (including J-2 status) for the 12 months immediately preceding the request start date of the DS-2019 for your new Exchange Visitor Program.You are exempt from the 12-Month Bar if:
- You already have an active J-1 status and will transfer your J-1 program to another university/institution, or
- You were in the U.S. on J status for less than 6 months, or
- Your previous J status was J-1 Short-Term Scholar
The 24-Month bar on repeat participation
If you have already completed a J-1 Professor or Research Scholar program, then for the two years after the program you cannot start a new J-1 Professor or Research Scholar program.The 24-month bar should not be confused with the two-year home-country physical presence requirement (212e), which is a separate requirement.
Overall wait time for another J-1 Professor/Research Scholar program after completion of a previous J-1 program
Previous J status | Wait Time for another J-1 Professor/ResearchScholar Program |
J-1 Professor/Research Scholar | 24 Months |
Other J-1 category more than 6 months | 12 Months |
Other J-1 category for less than 6 months | No Wait |
*The wait time for J-2 Dependents is based on the category of the J-1