J Waiver Eligibility and Application Instructions

Some exchange visitors with J-1 visas are subject to a two-year home-country physical presence requirement. It requires you to return home for at least two years after your exchange visitor program. This requirement is part of U.S. law, in the Immigration and Nationality Act, Section 212(e). If you cannot return home for two years, you must apply for a waiver. The Department of Homeland Security must approve your waiver before you can change status in the United States or receive a visa in certain categories.

!BE AWARE!

If you need to extend the DS-2019, you must do it BEFORE a waiver is approved. If you have an approved waiver and you extend the DS-2019, it cancels the waiver.

• Waiver of the Exchange Visitor Two-Year Home-Country Physical Presence Requirement