Exchange Visitor

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Exchange Visitor (J-1 classification) is a program the U.S. Department of State provide that authorize people who intent to participate in an approved program to come to the U.S.. Exchange visitors include students, teachers, trainees, specialists, research assistants, professors or scholars, au pairs and other. An exchange visitor must accepted by an exchange visitor program through a designated sponsoring organization in the U.S.. The purpose of exchange visitor program is to promote the international educational and cultural exchange between U.S. and other countries.

Two-year Home-Country Physical Presence Requirement

Individuals who participate in an exchange visitor program might be subject to two-year home-country physical presence requirement. This means, you must return to your home country and stay for 2 years before you can apply for an immigrant visa or adjustment status in the U.S..  Not all exchange visitors are subject to two-year home-country physical presence requirement. The best way to verify is to check your J-1 visa on your passport, a note about if you are subject to this requirement should be on the bottom right of the visa. Even you have to fulfill this requirement, you can still apply for a waiver under certain circumstances.

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