Совсем недавно произошли изменения в правилах выдачи J1-визы.
Теперь ее выдают сроком до 5 лет (а не до 3х, как было еще совсем недавно), зато
правило 2 лет теперь распространяется на всех. После завершения любого проекта по J1-визе человек должен покинуть страну на 2 года, только после этого он может снова вернутся на J1-визу.
Насколько я понимаю, это существенно затрудняет для иностранцев переход из одной лаборатории в другую, зато дает дополнительные козыри шефу!
Единственный способ избежать правила 2х лет - это получение waiver-а и переход на H1-визу, но это часто довольно сложно.
Подробности на английском:
IMPORTANT UPDATE for J-1 Research Scholars and Professors
THIS IS A MAJOR UPDATE. THE EMAIL BELOW CONTAINS VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION. PLEASE READ CAREFULLY.
WHAT IS THE MAJOR UPDATE?
The Office of International Services (OIS) recently participated in a conference call with the US Department of State (DOS) and the Student & Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) office to discuss changes in the Student & Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) related to the upcoming release of version 5.4 of the system. Some of the changes in the system will implement the provisions of an important regulation that was posted in the Federal Register over a year ago on May 19, 2005 (NOTE: You can view the full text of that regulation at
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-10020.pdf). This regulation allows for a five-year maximum duration of stay for J-1 Research Scholars and Professors rather than the current three-year maximum. With the implementation of SEVIS 5.4, DOS and SEVP have indicated that this regulation will officially go into effect. This should happen on or around November 4, 2006 when SEVIS 5.4 is installed. It is unclear whether or not an additional regulation must be published to officially make this happen.
THIS IS GOOD NEWS, RIGHT?
While the extension of the maximum duration of stay from three years to five years is very positive news, the new regulation also contains many provisions that are more restrictive and quite complex and confusing. Specifically, it is our understanding, based upon the information shared during the conference call, that any J-1 Research Scholar or Professor who enters the US after the implementation of the new regulation on or around November 4, 2006, will be subject immediately to a new "24-month bar." This "24-month bar" means, for example, that if a J-1 Research Scholar or Professor enters the US on December 1, 2006 and engages in a J-1 program at Pitt for 1 year, completes the program, and then leaves the US, he/she will not be able to return to the US for another J-1 Research Scholar or Professor program until he/she has been outside of the US for 24 months. Basically, this new rule institutes a 5-year "use or loose" window effective on the program start date. This assumes that a J-1 Research Scholar or Professor will actively pursue their activities for a 5-year window. If they choose to end their program earlier than the maximum 5 years, they cannot return to the US in J-1 Research Scholar or Professor category, and thus open another 5-year window, until they have been out of the use for 24 months. So, again, it is important to note that the five-year period is not an aggregate of five years. It is a continuous five-year period given to a participant on a "use or lose" basis.
IS THE "24-MONTH BAR" THE SAME THING AS THE "TWO-YEAR HOME COUNTRY PHYSICAL PRESENCE REQUIREMENT"?
No. This "24-month bar" or "2-year bar" applies to movement into a J-1 program after having already participated in a J-1 program. It is different from the two-year home country physical presence requirement, commonly referred to as 212(e), which prevents movement into H, L, or LPR classifications. J-1 Research Scholars and Professors are still eligible to apply for waivers of 212(e) and thereby move into H-1B status, for example.
