212(e) 2 Year Foreign Residency Requirement
Under the Immigration and Nationality Act 212(e), the J-1 visa holder cannot change his or her status to that of H, L, K, or to lawful permanent resident (LPR) until he or she has returned to his/her home country for at least two years, or received a waiver of that requirement. Such waivers can be obtained under five separate bases: Exceptional Hardship or Persecution, Conrad Program, Interested Government Agency, or No Objection Statement (Not available to Physicians).