The 12- and 24-month bars are different from the two-year home country residence requirement. The “no wait” time refers only to the 12- and 24-month bars. It is possible that a J-1 visitor has no wait time related to the 12- and 24-month bars but is still subject to the two-year home residency requirement.
The 12- and 24-month rule affects J-1 exchange visitors who have been in the U.S. on a J-1 visa previously and wish to return using another J-1 visa. The bars prohibit certain “repeat participation” in the Research Scholar or Professor categories only. Depending on what your previous J category was, you may be subject to a 12-month bar, a 24-month bar or have no bar at all. The following chart shows how long you would have to wait (the 12- or 24-month bar) before you could obtain a new J-1 Research Scholar or Professor visa based on what your previous J status was.
If you have never had J-1 visa sponsorship, then the bars do not apply to you.
For Less than 6 Months
| If you have or had this J Visa Category | Wait time for new J-1 Research Scholar/Professor Visa |
|---|---|
| J-1 Student Non-Degree | 🟢 No Wait |
| J-1 Student | 🟢 No Wait |
| J-1 Student Intern | 🟢 No Wait |
| J-1 Research Scholar/Professor Category for any amount of time (one day to five years) | 🔴 24 Months |
| J-1 Short-Term Scholar | 🟢 No Wait* |
| J-1 Specialist | 🟢 No Wait* |
| J-2 Dependent of Research Scholar/Professor Category or any amount of time (one day to five years) | 🔴 24 Months |
For More than 6 Months
| If you have or had this J Visa Category | Wait time for new J-1 Research Scholar/Professor Visa |
|---|---|
| J-1 Student Non-Degree | 🟡 12 Months |
| J-1 Student | 🟡 12 Months |
| J-1 Student Intern | 🟡 12 Months |
| J-1 Research Scholar/Professor Category for any amount of time (one day to five years) | 🔴 24 Months |
| J-1 Specialist | 🟡 12 Months |
| J-2 Dependent of Research Scholar/Professor Category or any amount of time (one day to five years) | 🔴 24 Months |
| J-2 Dependent of any J-1 category except Short-Term Scholar | 🟡 12 Months |
*UMass Amherst requires at least 6 months between J-1 Scholar program.