International Office
Understanding the 12 and 24 Month Bars
The 12 and 24-month bars are different from the two-year home country residence requirement. Any indication below that there is “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 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 the 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 before had J-1 visa sponsorship, then the bars do not apply to you.
Previous Scholar Visa Status
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 | 24 months |
| J-1 Research Scholar/Professor Category for any amount of time (one day to five years) | No wait |
| J-1 Short-Term Scholar | No wait |
| J-1 Specialist | No wait |
For MORE Than 6 Months:
| If you have or had this J visa category | Wait time for new J-1 research scholar/professor visa |
|---|---|
| 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 Specialist | 12 months |
| J-1 Research Scholar/Professor Category for any amount of time (one day to five years) | 24 months |
| J-2 Dependent of Research Scholar/Professor Category | 24 months |
| J-2 Dependent of any J-1 category except Short-Term Scholar | 12 months |