In June of 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
(USCIS) published a policy manual on the nonimmigrant exchange
visitor (
J-1) program, including guidance on the program's two-year
foreign residence requirement and the J-1 waiver. On October 26,
2023, USCIS updated the policy manual by providing further
clarification on how to satisfy the two-year foreign residence
requirement and the waiver grounds for foreign medical graduates
(FMG).
The policy manual provides insight into USCIS adjudicating
factors, outlining how officers evaluate evidence against the
program requirements and exceptions. This transparency,
particularly the clarifying updates to the J-1 two-year residence
requirement and FMG waiver grounds, allows J-1 participants to
better prepare ahead of seeking additional nonimmigrant and
immigrant benefits as their career progresses in the United
States.
