The Department of State has released an update of the Exchange Visitor Skills List effective December 9, 2024, which will apply retroactively.
The 2024 revised "skills list" removes a large number of countries.
J-1 Exchange Visitors and their J-2 dependents who were subject to the two-year home residency requirement at the time of their admission or acquisition of J status based on a prior "skills list" will no longer be subject if their country no longer appears in this 2024 revised list.
Foreign nationals who are no longer subject to the two-year residency requirement based on the "skills list" will now be able to do the following without first having to either spend two years in their home country or seek a waiver of the two-year requirement:
- Change from J nonimmigrant status to any status from within the United States;
- Obtain an H or L nonimmigrant visa; and/or
- Obtain U.S. permanent residence.
Note that the revised skills list will not impact J-1 Exchange Visitors and J-2 dependents that are subject to the two-year residence requirement based on either:
1) funding from the U.S. government, home government or an international organization
2) participation in a graduate medical training program in the United States under the sponsorship of the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates
Questions about the impact of the 2024 revised skills list can be directed to ISSO.
