By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora
TAGAYTAY, Cavite – The United States is satisfied with the current run of its J-1 visa program for Filipinos, according to the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) on Friday.
Speaking on the sidelines of a media training on Philippine migration landscape, CFO chairperson Secretary Dante Ang III said the U.S. had repeatedly acknowledge that Filipinos had been compliant with their contractual obligations to return and render service back to the Philippines.
“Because of that, we are looking at maybe expanding the list. In fact, the US has added some items on the skills list to reflect the development needs of the Philippines,” he said, citing nuclear power technology as example.
The J-1 exchange visitor program is a non-immigrant visa designed for cultural exchange.
All its holders whose fields of expertise are in the U.S. Department of State “Skills List” are required to return and stay in their home country for at least two years before they could apply for an immigrant visa.
Amid the Trump administration’s intensified crackdown on illegal immigrants, the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. earlier warned Filipinos that the program is not a legal pathway to permanent residency.
The warning comes after it received reports that illegal recruiters posing as immigration lawyers are promising U.S. citizenship through J-1 visas.
Ang again echoed the advisory, telling Filipinos to strictly follow the immigration policies of the U.S.
“If your intent is to migrate permanently, then our recommendation is to follow the regular migration pathway,” he said.
“Apply for a green card if that’s what you want, or a permanent residency pathway. Don’t use the au pair, the J-1, or other exchange programs if their intention is not to return to the Philippines,” he added. (PNA)
