What is the two year rule on J-1 visa?

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).

How to waive 2 year rule J-1?

You must submit Form I-612, Application for Waiver of the Foreign Residence Requirement, to USCIS. USCIS will forward its decision to the Department of State's Waiver Review Division. The Waiver Review Division will proceed with the waiver recommendation under this basis only if USCIS makes a finding of persecution.

How long J-1 can stay outside of us?

If you will be outside the U.S. for more than 30 days pursuant to an approved International Remote Work request or on an approved protected leave, you should complete and ISO must approve an Out of Country Request well in advance before you leave the U.S. You can then return to the U.S. after an absence of more than 30 ...

Can I get another J-1 visa if I m still under the two-year rule requirement from the first one?

No. A J-1 visa is always bound to a specific internship and thus to a company for a certain period of time. Therefore, you can not start a second internship with another J-1 visa at another company.

What does it mean 2 year rule does not apply?

The two-year rule does not force individuals to return home. Instead, it limits options for U.S. immigration benefits for those who do not. It does not prohibit applications for other non-immigrant visas, provided all other eligibility criteria are met.

J-1 Visa 2-Year Rule

Can I change my J-1 visa to green card?

Yes, transitioning from a J1 visa to green card status is possible, but not all J1 visa holders will be eligible for a green card. There are a number of problems with attempting to transition from a J1 to a green card.

How can I stay in the US after J-1?

Can I renew my J1 visa without leaving the US?

You can only renew your visa at a U.S. consulate abroad. ISSO always recommends that you apply for your renewal visa in your home country. If you apply in a country other than your home country, you may be subject to administrative processing, which will require that you stay in that country until your visa is issued.

How many times can you renew a J1 visa?

J-1 Professors and Researcher Scholars have a 5-year time limit on their stays in this immigration class. DOS does not permit extensions beyond 5 years. J-1 Short-term Scholars have a 6-month time limit on their stays in this immigration class. DOS does not permit extensions beyond 6 months.

Can J1 visa be converted to H1B?

To transfer your J1 visa to an H1B visa: You must obtain a job offer from a US employer before you can apply. You must go through the H1B visa application process.

What happens if I stay more than 6 months outside US?

If you intend to stay outside the United States for 1 year or more, you must apply for a re-entry permit with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) prior to leaving the United States.

Can I extend J-1 visa after 5 years?

E-2 Visa Validity Period

Now, once your 5-year period is over, you can apply for a 2-year extension.

Can I get married to a U.S. citizen with a J-1 waiver?

J-1 Waiver Marriage Background

There is no law that would prevent them from marrying a U.S. citizen, but there is more to getting a green card than marrying. Obstacles such as the home residency requirement must be met or waived before a J-1 holder who marries a U.S. citizen can seek permanent residence.

What is two year meeting requirement?

One of the requirements is that the foreign national applicant (k1 visa) should have had a physical (in person) meeting with their future spouse ( U.S citizen petitioner) within the past two years of the application filing date. This is also commonly referred to as the two-year meeting requirement.

How long can you hold J-1 visa?

Length of Time Business and Industrial Trainees Can Stay in the U.S. on a J-1 Visa. Business and industrial trainees may be issued J-1 visas for a maximum of 18 months.

Can I leave and reenter the US on a J1 visa?

Before you leave the country, make sure you have a valid travel signature from an OIA advisor or your program sponsor on your DS-2019. You will not be able to re-enter the United States without one. To get a travel signature, make a request through Atlas at least two weeks before you plan to travel.

Can I buy a house on a J1 visa?

Typically, you can get a loan as a J1 visa holder. Meanwhile, buying a home can be difficult, and you might stumble across several obstacles. But that doesn't mean it is impossible. You can access a mortgage as an L1 visa holder, or as a TN visa holder.

How long does it take to get a green card from J-1?

Once that happens, your priority date will be considered current, a visa number will become available, and you will be able to file to adjust your status from J-1 waiver to green card status. To adjust your status, you must file an I-485 form with the USCIS and wait an average processing time of six months.

Can I work after my J-1 visa expires?

As mentioned above, you have a 30 day grace period after the completion date as indicated on your original DS-2019. This is regarded as a travel grace period. You are not allowed to work on any exchange activities during this grace period.

What happens if you overstay your J-1 visa?

If your SEVIS (or DS-2019) is terminated OR you overstay your grace period, you could be accruing unlawful presence. This can lead to arrest and deportation proceedings. Accruing unlawful presence may result in being barred from the U.S. for many years or even permanently.

Can J-1 visa bring family?

If a J-1 exchange visitor has a spouse and/or unmarried children under 21, those family members are eligible to come to the U.S. as J-2 dependents. Each J-2 dependent must have a Form DS-2019. ISO issues DS-2019s for all dependents listed on the initial J Visa Request form.

Can I get a J-1 visa without a sponsor?

Do I need a sponsor? Yes. The State Department designates U.S. government, academic and private sector entities to conduct educational and cultural exchange programs. To participate in the Exchange Visitor Program, foreign nationals must be sponsored by one of the State Department-designated sponsors.

Can a J-1 visa holder marry a U.S. citizen?

If you're a J-1 exchange visitor who recently married a U.S. citizen or green card holder (permanent resident), you can apply for a marriage visa to live with your spouse in the United States.

Can I come back to the US after staying for 6 months?

If their presence was 90 days or less, they will be able to return to the country again after leaving the US up to a maximum of 180 continuous days per year. If their presence was more than 180 days but less than a year, they will have to wait 3 years to re-enter the country on a tourist visa.

What happens if I stay more than 1 year outside US?

If you stay outside of the United States for 1 year or more and did not apply for a reentry permit before you left, you may be considered to have abandoned your permanent resident status. If this happens, you may be referred to appear before an immigration judge to decide whether or not you have abandoned your status.