{"id":718,"date":"2012-08-25T13:47:42","date_gmt":"2012-08-25T19:47:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.messersmithlaw.com\/?p=718"},"modified":"2026-08-15T23:19:02","modified_gmt":"2026-08-16T05:19:02","slug":"j1-visa-travel-issues-when-the-two-year-rule-applies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.messersmithlaw.com\/?p=718","title":{"rendered":"J1 Visa Travel Issues When the Two Year Rule Applies"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hi sir, <\/strong><\/p>\n

I am from Saudi Arabia, i have J-1 Visa for me & J-2 for my family, (scanned copy attached)\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

We are now in USA, my DS-2019 will expire on 08-31-2010 & our J Visa on 09-30-2010. <\/strong><\/p>\n

In our Visa written, INA SEC 212E \u2013 TOW YEAR RULE \u2013 APPLIES. <\/strong><\/p>\n

I understand that I cannot re-enter USA with another J Visa less than 2 years. <\/strong><\/p>\n

By next September 2010 I have admission to postgraduate program (3 years) in another dental school and I will get I-20. <\/strong><\/p>\n

I plane to go to my country (Saudi Arabia) on July 2010 for one month and I will be back before expiration date of J-1 visa <\/strong><\/p>\n

to finish my scholar program, then to start my new postgraduate program on Sep, <\/strong><\/p>\n

My question, should I apply to F-1 visa during my one month vacation on SA, and is one month enough for the Visa processing, because they are strict on program start date <\/strong><\/p>\n

Or is it ok to re-enter USA with my valid J-1 Visa which expire in 09-30-2010 <\/strong><\/p>\n

Would you please guide me in this issue? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Thank you, <\/strong><\/p>\n

The two year rule only restricts you from obtaining an H visa, L visa, a green card or changing\/extending your status in the US.\u00a0It does not prevent you from obtaining a new J1 or F1 at the Embassy nor does It prevent you from entering the country in J1 status.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hi sir, I am from Saudi Arabia, i have J-1 Visa for me & J-2 for my family, (scanned copy attached)\u00a0 We are now in USA, my DS-2019 will expire on 08-31-2010 & our J Visa on 09-30-2010. In our Visa written, INA SEC 212E \u2013 TOW YEAR RULE \u2013 APPLIES. I understand that I … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[92],"tags":[231],"class_list":["post-718","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-j-1-visa","tag-j-1-visa"],"yoast_head":"\nJ1 Visa Travel Issues When the Two Year Rule Applies - US Immigration Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.messersmithlaw.com\/?p=718\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"J1 Visa Travel Issues When the Two Year Rule Applies - US Immigration Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Hi sir, I am from Saudi Arabia, i have J-1 Visa for me & J-2 for my family, (scanned copy attached)\u00a0 We are now in USA, my DS-2019 will expire on 08-31-2010 & our J Visa on 09-30-2010. 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