A Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) tarpaulin is displayed at the ‘Bayanihan Para sa Balikbayang Manggagawa’ National Reintegration Network Regional Fair in Tacloban City, Leyte in this photo released on April 15, 2026. (Courtesy: Presidential Communications Office)

The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) has issued a stern reminder to Filipinos under the US Exchange Visitor Program (EVP) that failure to return to the Philippines after completing their internship or exchange program may seriously affect their future travel and immigration opportunities in the United States.

Speaking during a recent Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) at Far Eastern University, CFO officials emphasized that holders of the J-1 visa are bound by the two-year home-country physical presence requirement under US immigration law.

The agency warned that violating the J-1 visa terms, including overstaying or failing to return home after the program, could jeopardize a participant’s chances of obtaining future US visas such as work, immigrant, or permanent residency visas.

Under Section 212(e) of the US Immigration and Nationality Act, certain J-1 visa holders must return to their home country for at least two years before becoming eligible for specific US visa categories, including H, L, K, and immigrant visas.

The CFO also reminded participants that the Exchange Visitor Program is intended for cultural and professional exchange, not as a direct pathway to permanent residency or citizenship in the United States.

The CFO urged Filipino exchange visitors to comply fully with program conditions and avoid illegal recruitment schemes or misinformation that could jeopardize their immigration records. — Vito Barcelo