Jan 13 2006

Clarification of Home Residence Requirement for EU Nationals Under J Visa

The Visa Office has recently clarified information regarding the home residence requirement of the J visa. According to the Visa Office, European Union (EU) nationals in the U.S. under the J visa category are NOT allowed to fulfill their two-year home-country residence requirement in any EU country, as previously believed by some J visa holders. This residence requirement must be fulfilled in their country of nationality or legal residence.

According to the Visa Office: "Since the INA requires two years in the individual's country of nationality or legal residence, and the EU is not a country, the option of returning to any of the EU countries is not acceptable. European nationals must fulfill the two year requirement in their country of nationality or legal residence."