The bill recommended by the Department of State was introduced by the gentleman from Minnesota and referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. It passed the House and the Senate and became Public Law 555 of the 84th Congressthe act of June 4. 1956. Briefly. it provides that a person admitted to the United States under the international exchange program is not eligible to obtain the status of an immigrant admitted for permanent residence until it is established that such person has resided and been continuously physically present in a cooperating country or countries for an aggregate period of at least 2 years following departure from the United States. The law provides for the granting of waivers from this obligatory 2 years residence abroad. but such waivers may be granted by the Attorney General only upon the request of an interested agency of the United States Government and the recommendations of the Secretary of State if it is found that the granting of such waiver is in the public interest. This provision of the law has been somewhat extended through administrative interpretation so that on rather rare occasions waivers are granted in order to avoid extreme hardship which might be caused by the EX visitors enforced departure from this country.
Keywords matched
immigrant