On Monday, December 9, 2024, the U.S. Department of State waived the two-year home-country requirement for exchange visitors, including researchers and other highly skilled workers, after completing the program on U.S. soil.

With the change, citizens of 44 countries, including Nicaragua, Haiti, Venezuela, and Ecuador, among others, no longer have to meet the two-year home-country physical presence requirement after completing their exchange visitor program before receiving certain immigration benefits, such as a change in immigration status.

The Spokesperson’s Office states :

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Foreign talent plays a pivotal role in the U.S. economy by contributing to the success of key sectors such as technology, healthcare, and agriculture. To further enhance U.S. competitiveness, the Department of State is pleased to announce updates to the Exchange Visitor Skills List, a list of specialized knowledge and skills deemed necessary for the development of certain foreign countries. This marks the first update to the Skills List since 2009.

As of December 9, 2024, many exchange visitors, including research scholars and other highly skilled workers, will not be required to fulfill a two-year home-country physical presence requirement when they complete their program. The modernized Skills 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 U.S. businesses and U.S. innovation.

To preview this announcement, Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard Verma met with representatives of industry and higher education to share this update and discuss how the Department can continue to enable the contributions of this key workforce to the United States economy [...]"

Download the 2024 list of skills for Haiti : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/Update-of-the-Exchange-Visitors-Skills-List-Skills-List-Haiti.pdf

For more information : https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/12/09/2024-28718/public-notice-of-revised-exchange-visitor-skills-list

HL/ HaitiLibre