J1- VISA 2025 UPDATE

The update for J-1 visa, effective from December 9, marks the first major revision to the Exchange Visitor Skills List in 15 years. It provides greater flexibility for J-1 visa holders to remain in the US through other immigration pathways.

The Department published a revised Exchange Visitor Skills List effective December 9, 2024, (“2024 Skills List”) in the Federal Register. Effective immediately, consular officers will use the 2024 Skills List to make preliminary determinations on the applicability of the two-year home country physical presence requirement under Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) section 212(e) when issuing J exchange visitor visas.

An exchange visitor who was previously subject to the two-year home country physical presence requirement under INA section 212(e) due to a prior Skills List, but whose country is not present on the 2024 Skills List, is no longer subject to the two-year home country physical presence requirement based on the Skills List. While the Skills List may no longer render an exchange visitor subject to the two-year requirement, they may nonetheless be subject to the two-year requirement based on funding from the U.S. government or their home country government or having received graduate medical education or training in the United States.

US National Association of Foreign Student Advisers (NAFSA)’s deputy executive director of public policy, Jill Allen Murray, welcomed the change. “This will make it easier for talented individuals to remain in the United States and contribute to key sectors such as technology, healthcare, and agriculture,” she said in comments to The PIE News. “By addressing the two-year home residency requirement, this change strengthens the US’s ability to retain top international talent and enhances national competitiveness.”

Singh outlined the key benefits of the J-1 visa:

Diverse programme access: Opportunities in research, academia, medicine, and hospitality.

Family privileges: Dependents can join under J-2 status and may qualify for work authorisation.

Professional exposure: Collaboration with US employers and institutions enhances skills and cultural understanding.

Networking opportunities: Building connections that support long-term career growth.

Pathway to H-1B and green cards

According to Varun Singh, the J-1 visa provides a foundation for transition to H-1B visas or green cards by:

Improving skills through US-specific work experience.

Leveraging networks to secure H-1B roles with US employers seeking skilled talent.