What is the Foreign Residence Requirement?

States are subject to a requirement that they return to their home country to share with their States are subject to a requirement that they return to their home country to share with their countrymen the knowledge, experience and impressions gained during their stay in the United States. Unless USCIS approves a waiver for this requirement, exchange visitors must depart from the United States and live in their country of residence for two years before they are allowed to apply for an immigrant visa, permanent residence, or change to a new nonimmigrant status, immigrant visa, permanent residence, or change to a new nonimmigrant status.