The final section of the bill would limit the applicability of the 2year foreign residency requirement for exchange visitors and add two additional grounds for waiver of the 2year residency requirement. The exchange visitor program was enacted into law for the primary purpose of facilitating an interchange of persons. knowledge. and skills between the United States and other countries of the world. Under the present section 212(e). the exchange visitor is prohibited from adjusting status or obtaining an immigrant visa or a nonimmigrant visa under section 101(a) (15) (H) unless he has resided for 2 years outside the United States. This bill would amend section 212(e) so that the foreign residency requirement would be applicable only in two situations: First. where the exchange visitor participated on a program financed by the U.S. Government or his own government. and second. regardless of financing. if at the time the alien acquired exchange visitor status his country of nationality or last residence was one which the Secretary of State had designated as clearly requiring the services of persons engaged in the field of specialized knowledge or skill in which the alien was engaged.
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immigrant visa