Important Updates to the J-1 Skills List
The U.S. State Department Exchange Visitor Program published a revised , effective Dec., 9, 2024. The State Department changed the criteria for determining which countries will be on the list, resulting in the removal of about 36 countries, including Brazil, China, India, South Korea and Turkey, among others.
Per the notice, "J nonimmigrant exchange visitors who were subject to the two-year foreign residence requirement at the time of their admission or acquisition of J status based on designations in a previously published Skills List will no longer be subject to that requirement if their country is not designated in this revised list."
For current or former J-1 exchange visitors, this means that individuals who were once subject to the two-year home residency requirement based on the Skills List are no longer bound by this rule. Individuals who are no longer subject to this rule will not need to return to their home country for two years or obtain a waiver in order to change their status within the U.S., apply for H-1B status, or pursue lawful permanent residence at the end of their J-1 program.
The notice does indicate the list will be reviewed every three years so there may be further changes in future years.
Those who have questions about the impact of this change are encouraged to .