Important update for J1 visa applicants

Important update for J1 visa applicants and nonimmigrants on J1 in the U.S.

2024 - Exchange Visitor Skills List was published on Monday December 9, 2024 in Federal Register (https://lnkd.in/gFyH27Nj).

Some countries, including China, and India have been deleted from the list altogether.

J1 holders who were subject to the two-year home residency requirement solely based on the previous Skills List no longer have to comply with the 2-year home residency requirement.

This will increase the number of H, L petition filings and probably more immigrant visa petitions. Most of the J-1 holders were reluctant to change the status or adjust the status owing the to the 2-year residency requirement. This updated skill list may be a boon to Indians on J1 status and who intends to apply for J1 visas.

Effective Date – Which Skills List Applies?

The 2024 Skills List applies to J exchange visitors who are admitted in J status, or who obtained J status, on or after December 9, 2024.

1. If you were admitted to the United States in J status or obtain J status on or after December 9, 2024, and your country is on the 2024 Skills List, you are subject to the two-year home country physical presence requirement based on the Skills List.

2. If you were admitted to the United States in J status or obtained J status before December 9, 2024, and your country is not on the 2024 Skills List, you are not subject to the two-year home country physical presence requirement based on the Skills List; however, you may be subject to the requirement based on funding from the U.S. government or your home country government, or if you received graduate medical education or training in the United States.

Check Out the Skills List by Country page: https://lnkd.in/g3SzwbBM

Note: What if your country is not on this list? You are not subject to the two-year home-country physical presence requirement on the basis of the Skills List; however, you may nonetheless be subject to the requirement based on funding from the U.S. government or your home country government, or if you received graduate medical education or training in the United States.