US J-1 visa 2-year Home Country Residence requirement

[zipple]

Hi all! Quick question - does the home country residency requirement only mean that I can't obtain an immigrant visa in the US after my exchange programme is over OR does it mean that I literally can't leave my home country for the duration of 2 years?
https://omegle.onl/ vshare
I want to do my master's degree abroad afterwards but not in the US. Will that be fine and legal?

Thank you!

[newacct]

It means you cannot get H or L work visas, or US permanent residency (i.e. Adjustment of Status or an immigrant visa), until the requirement is satisfied or waived. You are not required to stay in your home country, but any time not spent in your home country will not count towards satisfying the requirement.