Two-Year Home Residency Requirement

Some J-1 visa holders are subject to the two-year home country residency requirement. Your DS-2019 or your J-1 visa will indicate whether or not the two-year home residency rule applies to you. This information is also explained on the reverse side of the DS-2019 form.

Conditions for the two-year requirement:

  • The student is in a field identified by their home government as being in short supply and the field is included on the U.S. government’s “Exchange Visitor’s Skills List.
  • The student receives any funding (regardless of amount) from their home government or they are awarded a U.S. government grant or fellowship specifically designed for exchange.
  • The student is being sponsored by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates.

A J-1 student can fulfill the two-year home requirement by returning to their home country (or country of residence) at the end of the J-1 program and living there for an aggregate of two years.

Note that under the two-year home residency rule:

  • J-1 students are not eligible to change their immigration status to another nonimmigrant visa within the U.S.(except A, G, or U).
  • J-1 students are not eligible for an immigrant visa or adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident.
  • J-1 students are not eligible for work visas such as the H, L, or K.

Waiving the Two-Year Home Residency Requirement

J-1 students can submit an online petition for a waiver through the Department of State’s website. If you need more information, please see: Travel.State.gov

Reasons for a waiver:
  • Statement from the exchange visitor’s home country that it has no objection to the waiver
  • Fear of persecution on account of race, religion, or political opinion
  • Request for waiver made by an interested U.S. government agency
  • Expressed interest in a state agency (only for alien physicians)
  • Exceptional hardship to the U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse or child of the exchange visitor

Contact Us

Global Engagement Office

The Office of Global Engagement (OGE) is the university’s primary resource of services to all incoming and current F-1 and J-1 students. Besides assisting incoming students with their application process, we also support new and returning students with all their immigration questions. Hundreds of international students call Montclair State University home, join us to see why!

I-20 Team

Any questions related to the I-20 or change-of-status (prospective or accepted students)

International Recruitment Team

Prospective and admitted international students seeking information about Montclair State University, the application process, enrollment, and pre-arrival support.