What is the two-year foreign residency requirement?
At the conclusion of their exchange visitor program, participants are expected to return to the home countries to utilize the experience and skills they have acquired while in the United States. Accordingly, Section 212(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act prohibits certain exchange visitors from applying for an adjustment of status; applying for an immigrant visa; applying for a change of status H or L status; or applying for an H or L visa until they have returned to their home country our country of last residence and remained there for at least two years.
