As of December 9th, 2024, the U.S. Department of State has updated the U.S. Exchange Visitor Skills list for the first time since 2009. This change will impact current and in-coming J-1 exchange visitors who are/will be subject to the 212(e) Two-Year home residency requirement based on the exchange visitor skills list. Many countries have been removed from the J-1 Exchange Visitor Skills list. J-1 exchange visitors who were subject to the two-year home residency requirement at the time of their admission or acquisition of J status based on a previous Skills List, are no longer subject to that requirement if their home country has been removed and no longer on the Skills list. If a J-1 exchange visitor is subject to the requirement based on another reason (government funding, ECFMG), then the requirement will remain.
More information:
U.S. Department of State Media Note: Modernization of the Exchange Visitor Skills List.
U.S. Department of State – Federal Register: Notice of Revised Exchange Visitor Skills List.
Contact iss@ucmerced.edu for any additonal questions.
