The first major revision in 15 years to a list of occupations requiring exchange visitor visa holders to return home after training in the U.S. is nearly ready for public release.
The U.S. State Department announced Wednesday that the updated Exchange Visitor Skills List has passed review by the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.
The revision is part of a broader effort outlined in an executive order last year, aimed at advancing artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies. However, the department has not disclosed the specific factors that influenced the changes to the list.
Each year, around a quarter of a million exchange visitors come to the U.S. on J-1 visas. Many of these visa holders must return to their home countries for at least two years after completing their training before they can apply for a new visa. This requirement includes tens of thousands of researchers whose fields are considered crucial to the development of their home countries. Critics, including science advocates, argue that this rule prevents the U.S. from retaining valuable talent.
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