◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆?之所以大家覺得這個問題比較難懂，一個非常重要的原因，就是很多人混淆了12- an 24-Month Bars （12個月或者24個月bar的限制）和Two-Year Home Country Physical Presence Requirement（兩年回國服務期的限制）的概念，其實這完全是兩個不同的概念。

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12- an 24-Month Bars是針對J-1簽證的限制，而two-Year Home Country Physical Presence Requirement是針對H (temporary employment),L (intercompany transfer) or immigrant (permanent resient)類身份的限制。所以一定不要誤認為24-Month Bars的限制就是兩年回國服務期的限制，不是一回事??！不是一回事??！不是一回事??！重要事情說三遍！??！

在開始之前，我們首先了解一下J-1訪問學者的種類。1）Professors: 教授

A professor teaches,lectures,observes,or consults. A professor’s primary activity will be teaching an lecturing,but may also conuct research,unless isallowe by the sponsor.”

Minimum: 3 weeks

Maximum: 5 years

2）Research Scholar: 訪問學者（我們申請的訪問學者絕大多數(shù)都是research scholar類型）

A research scholar conucts research,observes,or consults in connection with a research project. A research scholar may also teach or lecture,unless isallowe by the sponsor.

Minimum: 3 weeks

Maximum: 5 years

3）Short-term Scholar: 短期訪問學者

A short-term scholar: comes to the US for a perio of up to 6 months to lecture,observe,or consult,an participate in seminars,workshops,conferences,stuy tours,professional meetings,or similar types of eucational an professional activities.

No minimum stay require

Maximum: 6 months. No extensions beyon six months will be permitte uner any circumstances

4）Stuent Non-egree

5）J-1 Stuent Intern今天就先跟大家分享一下12- an 24-Month Bars的概念以下英文內(nèi)容來自University of Michigan密西根大學官方網(wǎng)站：https://internationalcenter.umich.eu/scholars/j1-scholars/12-an-24-bars

12- an 24-Month Bars for Professors an Research Scholars

【12- an 24-Month Bars】是針對J-1簽證里面的Research Scholar/Professor這兩個類型。

針對12-Month Bar的解釋12-Month Bar

Iniviuals who have been in the U.S. for more than six months in the previous year (12 months) in any J visa status are not eligible to enter the U.S. as a J-1 Research Scholar or Professor for a 12-month perio. Time spent in the J-1 Short-term Scholar category oes not count towars the 12-month bar. The 12-month bar applies to both the J-1 principal an any J-2 epenents. The 12-month bar oes not prevent iniviuals from returning to the U.S. in any other visa status or in some other J categories such as Short-Term Scholar or Stuent.

12個月bar時間限制

通過這一段描述，大家應該對12-Month Bar有一個初步的了解。簡單總結就是：如果申請人在之前的12個月之內(nèi)曾經(jīng)以J類簽證的身份在美國停留超過6個月的時間（注：這一段經(jīng)歷已經(jīng)結束），如果接下來的12個月之內(nèi)再想以Research Scholar or Professor類型申請J-1訪問學者，就會受到12個月bar的限制。也就是說在上一段J類簽證結束以后的12個月時間之內(nèi)，申請人不能再申請Professor or Research Scholar類型的J-1訪問學者簽證，此規(guī)定同樣適應于以陪同身份出去的J2簽證。但是如果在上一段J類簽結束以后想繼續(xù)申請J-1 Short-Term Scholar短期訪問學者，或者通過留學的身份出去，則不受12個月bar的約束。

補充內(nèi)容：（內(nèi)容來自賓大官網(wǎng)）

A foreign national is ineligible to participate in a professor/research scholar exchange program if he/she has hel any J nonimmigrant status within the 12-month perio immeiately preceing the start of the exchange program. This 12-Month Bar applies to J-2 epenents as well as J-1. The following 3 exceptions exist

前面內(nèi)容基本都是一致的，但是賓大總結了不受12個月bar限制的三種情況：

J-1 transfers to Penn without any gap.J-1順利延期，中間無縫銜接。Prior stay in the US in J status was for less than 6 months.J類簽證在美國時間少于6個月。Presence in J status as a Short-Term Scholar.以短期訪問學者的身份在美國。

針對24-Month Bar的解釋

24-Month Bar on Repeat Participation

Any iniviual who participates in an Exchange Visitor program in the Professor or Research Scholar categories on or after 11/18/06 is subject to a 24-month bar on “repeat participation” in those categories. Scholars subject to the bar may not return to the U.S. as a J-1 scholar in the Professor or Research Scholar categories for the 24-month perio. This bar also applies to J-2 epenents.

24個月的時間限制

如果申請人曾經(jīng)以Professor or Research Scholar類型的J-1訪問學者身份在美國停留過，如果這一段經(jīng)歷結束以后再想申請Professor or Research Scholar類型的J-1訪問學者簽證，就會受到24個月bar的限制，也就是說在上一段J-1簽證結束以后的24個月時間之內(nèi)，申請人不能再申請Professor or Research Scholar類型的J-1訪問學者簽。此限制同樣適用于J-2身份。

When a scholar either conclues or leaves a Research Scholar or Professor J-1 program,whichever happens earlier,the scholar’s recor becomes inactive in SEVIS. At that point,the 24-month bar time starts to accrue. The 24-month bar will be in effect regarless of whether status in the program is a few months in uration or the full five years allowe.

總結這段話的核心思想就是：

一旦Research Scholar/Professor類型的訪問學者結束了在美國的學習項目，那他J-1身份就失效了；一旦J-1身份失效，就要受到24個月bar的限制，也就是24個之內(nèi)不能再以Research Scholar/Professor類型的J-1訪問學者的身份過去。

For example,a J Professor who comes for a single acaemic year,or a Research Scholar that comes for four months,an then goes home without having his/her SEVIS recor kept open an active in his/her absence,woul not be able to access the remainer of the five year perio of eligibility,woul be subject to the 24-month bar,an woul not be eligible to return to the U.S. as a J-1 Professor or Research Scholar at any U.S. institution until 24 months (two years) after the program ene.

這段話中提到的【five year perio】，在文章的一開始，我們總結了J-1簽證的類型和時間周期，針對Research Scholar/Professor兩種類型的J-1訪問學者簽證，周期最長都是五年。

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比如：對方教授一次性邀請申請人訪學五年（這種可能性僅適用于舉例）或者J-1申請人訪學期間一直延期到五年。有人可能會有疑問，為什么可以延期到五年？難道不受24個月bar的限制嗎？讓我們回顧一下上一段總結的核心思想，24個月的bar是指一旦申請人結束了在美國的訪問學者身份，也就是說一旦J-1身份失效以后，才會受到24個月bar的限制。如果訪問學者能夠讓每一段訪學時間都無縫銜接，也就是在第一年訪學身份失效之前就已經(jīng)順利銜接到了第二年的訪學，在第二年訪學身份失效之前就已經(jīng)順利銜接到了第三年的訪學。一直銜接，只要能保證在五年之內(nèi)J-1訪問學者身份一直有效，那就可以一直延期到五年。雖然在理論上是完全ok的，但是在現(xiàn)實申請中，能這樣一直延期五年的可能性還是非常小的。當然，五年結束以后就不可以再延期啦，24個月bar的限制也就隨之而來了。

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The 24-month bar oes not prevent iniviuals from returning to the U.S. in any other visa status.

如果J-1訪問學者結束以后再打算以旅游簽、學生簽證或者其它類型的簽證入境類簽證，并不受24個月bar的限制。

【微語】我們在家靜靜守候,期盼你學成歸來,那時的你將更加耀眼。