Manila, May 13 -- The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) has warned Filipino participants in the Exchange Visitor Program (EVP) that failure to return to the Philippines after completing their internship or training in the United States could have serious and lasting consequences on their bid to secure future visas.

In a news release on Wednesday, the CFO said the J-1 visa includes a mandatory two-year home-country physical presence requirement, which is a core condition of the US-Philippines exchange framework.

The J-1 Exchange Visitor Program visa is a temporary, non-immigrant visa designed for cultural exchange and is not for employment.

CFO senior emigrant services officer Kristine Gacer warned that non-compliance may lead to r...