Dear Applicant:

The Department of Education's (ED) Exchange Visitor Waiver Review Board (Board) is responsible for reviewing applications from institutions of higher education and organizations requesting waivers of alien employees' two-year foreign residence requirements associated with the exchange visitor J-1 visas. ED, through the Board, acts as the interested United States Government Agency in cases involving education and rehabilitative services, pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act and the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended. After review and discussion of an application, the Board makes a determination as to whether the program in which the exchange visitor is employed is of high national priority and significance in an ED-related area, and determines if that individual's work merits a waiver of the two-year home residence requirement. ED sends its recommendation to the United States Department of State, which, in turn, makes a recommendation to the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Enclosed is the application for requesting a waiver of the two-year home residence requirement associated with the J-1 visa. ED's web site, www.ed.gov, contains information concerning the Secretary's priorities and goals.

Please submit an original and two copies of the completed application and appropriate documentation to:

If you have questions, please feel free to contact me. I can be reached by telephone at: (202) 502-7817, or by E-mail at: karen.wenk@ed.gov.

Enclosure: Application Packet:

Exchange Visitor Waiver Review Guidelines

Application Form (OMB No. 1840-0500 (ED-L60-2P)    (Requires the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.)

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U.S. Department of Education
Office of Postsecondary Education
1990 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006