DOS Notice of Revised Exchange Visitor Skills List
May 1, 2009 – 11:26 am
Yesterday, the Department of State (DOS) published a list of Revised 2009 Exchange Visitor Skills in the Federal Register. It is a list of specialized knowledge and skills that are deemed necessary for the development of an exchange visitor’s home country. It is used by Consular Officers to determine whether an exchange visitor applying for a J-visa is subject to Section 212(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The said provision of INA requires from aliens who earlier obtained an exchange visitor visa and/or became a participant in an Exchange Visitor Program, at least two years of foreign residence (home country physical presence) following the end of an alien’s exchange visitor program.
The new list incorporates all its previous amendments and revisions and is effective on June 28, 2009. However, Exchange Visitors who entered the United States before the effective date will continue to be governed by the 1997 Exchange Visitor Skills List, as amended.
For detailed information on the revised list, please read: DOS Notice of Revised Exchange Visitor Skills List
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