How do I know if someone is subject to the two-year home physical presence rule (relevant to J-1 visa holders)?
Under specific circumstances, the Exchange Visitor may incur a “two-year home physical presence requirement, HPPR.” This means that when an EV completes his/her J-1 program, he/she may not change immigration status to H-1, L-1 or Permanent Residency without first returning to his/her country for 2 years, or obtaining a waiver of this requirement. The J-2 dependents are subject to the HPPR if the J-1 principal participant is subject to that requirement. IF HPPR applies, change of status to another non-immigrant classification such as F-1 in the United States is prohibited.
