The United States Department of State (US) last Monday eliminated the requirement to stay two years in the country of origin for exchange visitors, including research fellows and other highly skilled workers, after finishing the program on US soil.
In a statement, the diplomacy noted that the update to the Exchange Visitor Skills List, a State Department tool that identifies countries that need specialists in specific fields, seeks to improve the competitiveness of the United States.
This is the first update of the Skills List since 2009, the department highlights in the note.
«The modernized Skill List will significantly streamline the visa process for these exchange visitors, making it possible for those who qualify for work visas to continue contributing their talents to American businesses and American innovation,” the statement said.
With the modification, citizens of 44 countries, including Nicaragua, Haiti, Venezuela, Ecuador, Among others, they no longer have to meet the physical presence requirement in their home country for two years after completing their exchange visitor program before obtaining certain immigration benefits, such as changing immigration status.
In addition, it benefits citizens of countries such as the Dominican Republic who, even though the country was not on the list, were forced to comply with this requirement if the program they were accessing was financed by the United States Government or if were receiving postgraduate medical education or training in the United States.
This requirement was intended to ensure that knowledge acquired in the US would first benefit the participant’s home country.
The elimination of the requirement is a momentous change in United States immigration policies by making immigration regulations more flexible. exchange visaswhich will also have an impact on the country’s objectives of attracting talent in strategic areas to strengthen its global leadership in technological and economic innovation.
